Spotted: a 2019 Renault Mégane R.S.

Admittedly, this is not the most exclusive car that has filled this column so far. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a mention, because the sports version of the Renault Megane, unfortunately, we see very little driving. The regular Renault Mégane is a recent model and thus will be familiar. That is why we are focusing for now specifically on the Renault Mégane R.S.

The 2018 Renault Mégane R.S.

The fourth-generation Renault Mégane entered the market in 2017, and the sporty Renault Mégane R.S. followed in 2018. In full, the car is actually called Mégane 280 R.S., with the number referring to the number of horsepower delivered by the 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine. Albeit with a slightly different tuning, that is the same engine as in the Alpine A110. For the transmission, there was a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic with shift paddles on the steering wheel. With both transmissions, 100 km/h was reached in 5.8 seconds. However, there was a difference in top speed, with 255 km/h for the manual transmission and 250 km/h for the automatic. Also, the automatic was a fraction more economical.

Developed with help from F1 driver

The Renault Mégane R.S. was developed in collaboration with Nico Hulkenberg, who was driving for the Renault F1 Team at the time. Four-wheel steering and torque vectoring (which brakes the inside wheel in a turn) provide very high driving dynamics with good maneuverability, even at higher speeds. With driving modes, the powertrain and suspension tuning can still be adjusted to personal preferences or specific situations. The Mégane R.S. clearly distinguishes itself from the regular Mégane with wider fenders and sporty bumpers with large air intakes (front) and a distinctive diffuser (rear). In addition, the interior is rather ordinary, but still distinguishes itself with sport seats and red accents.

Overtaking: Renault Mégane R.S. Cup and Trophy(-R)

In addition to the “regular” Renault Mégane R.S., there was also the 280 Cup version. It is distinguished mainly by the addition of a mechanical limited-slip Torsen differential, a stiffer suspension and, optionally, a lightweight braking system as well. Back up there was the Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy. As the name suggests, it has an even more powerful engine, an even stiffer chassis and a lightweight DESS (Dual-Energy Storage System). The absolute superlative was the 300 Trophy-R, with an even stiffer suspension, improved aerodynamics and many weight savings.

The spotted specimen

The Renault Mégane R.S. was a great car, we found out for ourselves, but, of course, it came with a price tag. The “regular” Mégane was on sale from around 20,000 euros, while for the R.S. you were well over 50,000 euros. That makes the R.S. not an everyday sight in Dutch traffic. When our colleague Bart came across this 2019 example on the A12, of course it was allowed to be photographed (as soon as it was safe to do so, of course). This Megane R.S. has been in the Netherlands since 2021, but got its first (and current) Dutch owner in 2022. We wish him many more enjoyable miles!