Renault knows something about building cars with that abstract passion influence. Well, it should; since the brand has been at it from 1899, it’s French and stylish, and that pretty much says it all. Away from the accordion music and cobblestone alleyways, though, Renault also breeds something known as RS hooliganism. DEON VAN DER WALT tested the latest rabble-rouser; the new Renault Megane RS around Aldo Scribante recently, and it left him positively astonished.
Track days. If you have ever participated in one of these, you’ll probably understand the allure. For those, however, that have never participated in this somewhat superficial exercise, it goes something like this:
Firstly, you familiarise yourself with the track layout – this usually takes around two laps. After this, it is recommended to gradually start piling on speed, making sure to clip the curbs for maximum track attack – and of course, to get that race-ready blood pumping. After this, though, it’s just a matter of adhering to the flags and importantly, trying to shave a few milliseconds or so off each passing lap – until, finally, either your tyres, fuel, or courage gives out.
RENAULT MEGANE RS
It is these shenanigans, the ones happening between the apexes, that is the speciality of Renault’s RS division. But that is only one side of the coin.
Fifteen years ago, the Megane RS started life on the platform of a chic family car and, somewhere in its lineage, evolved into a weekend racer.
Do not for a second think that it’s cutesy and pretentious with its aerodynamic lines and wide stance! It is first a face-conformist, and when all that is done with, it can settle down and you suddenly remember it has things like Comfort mode and five doors and quite the clever bit of mechanical wizardry Renault calls ‘4Control’.
This system, although not entirely unheard of, makes a significant difference in the way that the Megane steers, especially within city confines. At speeds under 60 km/h (100 km/h in race mode), the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels with a 2.7-degree angle.
The result is a sharper, more agile turn-in response from the car, since it can give drivers a much-needed edge when avoiding dangerous situations. At speeds over 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn with the front at an angle of just one degree that, according to Renault, increases turning stability.
A MODEST-ON-PAPER POWERHOUSE
Renault’s latest racer features the marque’s newly-developed 1.8-litre turbocharged engine that produces 205 kW of power and 390 Nm of wrenching eagerness. Squeezing this much power from the 1.8-litre mill is partly made possible thanks to the joint development effort between Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing.
The RS is available in two derivatives: Cup and Lux. The primary difference is in the power transfer to the wheels. The Lux, which was also the model available at the local launch, features the six-speed dual-clutch EDC gearbox, while the even more track-focussed Cup variant is available with the more performance-purist six-speed manual gearbox.
The Megane RS Cup also features the additions of red brake callipers, a more rigid chassis set-up with a 10% increase in damping stiffness, and a mechanical limited-slip differential that gives it an ever-so-slight edge in cornering prowess compared to the Lux.
LUX THE SLEEPER
Does this mean that the Lux is soft, squishy and tame? That’s a definite no. In fact, like its Cup brethren, it too accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in an exhaust snarling 5.8 seconds. This is especially apparent when using the launch function of the Lux in which a rather complex sequence of actions allows it to effortlessly slingshot off the line.
And in the corners? Well, it grips with the persistence of the flu, and when, finally, the grip gives out it goes into a controllable oversteer that is easily rectified with just a dollop of right pedal.
Not even aiming for the apexes around Scribante with its slightly outdated curbs posed a problem for the Renault. Each turn-in was sharp, partly thanks to the 4Control system, and the corner exits (which is also the most important) seamless.
Even slightly overclocking the curbs at track-speed, posed an added challenge under normal conditions. Yet, the Megane RS is not exactly ‘normal’ in the traditional sense. Nor is its suspension.
Hidden in each shock absorber, is what Renault calls a ‘hydraulic compression stop’. In layman’s terms, it acts ‘like a shock absorber, inside the shock absorber’ that absorbs any extra shock when it reaches the end of its travel. In turn, the result is continued control thanks to the wheels that remain firmly planted on terra firma.
LAST WORD
It is often said that the Volkswagen Golf GTI is the most accessible of the hot hatches and the Megane RS is, in the opinion of this writer, its dual practical-brawler persona.
And the left-field liberal with the Megane RS badge? Well, now it too can settle down into comfort mode after a morning of apex-hunting antics and swallow the whole family with its five doors and spacious interior.
It’s even nicely downplayed and tasteful away from the red contrast stitching and RS badging, so much so that our initial impression is one of a sporty hatchback that can nearly be all things to all people.
That is, however, when it’s not dialled into Race mode.Report by DEON VAN DER WALT | Images © RENAULT SOUTH AFRICA
