On top of 10,000 sales since 2010, this snortier Renault Megane gets a power-up-award for all its hard work in the sales department, and on the track in the hands of apex-hunters all over Europe.

You can order your new Megane Renaultsport 265 as of now – with the new, naughtier Megane appearing in dealers in April – and it’s available in two types; the 265 Cup for £24,825 OTR and the 265 at £26,025 OTR.

As we’ve said, the new mega-Megane gets an extra 15bhp to play with, as well as an extra 20Nm of torque; all of it let loose by a new “Sport” mode in the Renaultsport Dynamic Management system that changes the exhaust note and ups the grunt to the full-whack 265bhp.

A couple of notches up on the ol’ turbo boost, + 0.2bar to 2.5bar, has blessed the 2012 Renaultsport Megane with the extra go-go, with improvements to 62mph now in 6secs (instead of 6.1secs), and with a pounding top speed now at 158mph; up by 2mph. A juicy thump of turbo torque at 360Nm is ready and waiting in the powerband between 3000 and 5000rpm, while Renault is proud to announce a hefty power-to-weight ratio of 191bhp per tonne. Now that’s big bang for buck!

But, you don’t have to use all of the power (yeah, right!), because the Renaultsport engineers have seen fit to fit a “bring the noise!” button that, via the Renaultsport Dynamic Management system, allows the driver to switch between two power (and noise!) settings. The default is 250bhp for five per cent improved fuel consumption – which should surely never be used – while turning on the Sport mode slams the Megane to 265bhp for full-fat-fun. Sport mode also enhances the car’s exhaust note to a fuller fruitiness.

Rounding off the 2012 revisions to the Renault Megane Renaultsport are three new items on the options list; firstly the Renaultsport Red Design Pack, that copies the styling of the limited edition 265 Trophy with red striping on the front blade, rear diffuser and side protection mouldings, for £350.

Then there’s the Visio System by Renault, priced at £300, which alerts the driver with an audible and visual warning if they unintentionally cross the white lines in the road without indicating. The new addition also incorporates an automatic high and low headlight beam system. 

The final addition of the three is an optional (£360) rear parking camera and front parking sensors set up to try and keep those car park prangs at bay. 

Of course, included in the price is the usual road-ripping goodness such as sports suspension springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, grooved brake discs, Brembo brake calipers, a mechanical limited slip differential and the PerfoHub independent steering axis front suspension set-up, which works hard to iron out the dreaded torque steer.

Renaultsport enthusiasts should also keep an eye out for new alloy wheel designs in both 18- and 19-inch, as well as a new colour; Arctic White.

www.renault.co.uk 

By Daniel Anslow

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