New Mégane Renault Sport 275 Trophy powers onto the South African market

THE new Mégane Renault Sport 275 Trophy is the second Mégane Renault Sport (RS) to be introduced to South African shores this year. Following in the footsteps of the Mégane RS 265 Lux 2.0 Turbo which motored into South Africa in February, it succeeds the Mégane RS 265 Trophy, which debuted in South Africa in May 2012 and takes up the mantle of being the flagship model of the Mégane Renault Sport range.

A powerful, sporty yet sophisticatedly-styled addition to the highly acclaimed and perennially popular RS line-up in South Africa, it boasts a multitude of innovative and intelligent technology features and fitments as standard and is sure to meet and exceed the expectations.

A number of definitive features and fitments underscore new Mégane RS 275 Trophy’s stand-out design that includes:

• LED DRL (daytime running lights).

• Halogen bulb headlights with white reflective inserts.

• Follow-me-home headlights.

• Boot light.

• Front floor and foot well lighting. The grille incorporates RS badging beneath the distinctive and enlarged Renault logo centrepiece. In the rear, the centre-mounted exhaust with its distinctive Akropovi carbon tail-piece, is a fully integrated part of the diffuser.

Like the aerodynamic F1-styled splitter with Trophy lettering in the front bumper, the rear diffuser and lip spoiler are also a hallmark that features across the RS line-up serving as reminders of Renault’s F1 heritage.

The new Mégane RS 275 Trophy’s mean machine looks are further enhanced with the fitment of:

• Halogen bulb headlights with white reflective inserts.

• 19-inch black Trophy aluminium alloy wheels.

• Red Brembo brake callipers.

• Gloss black door mirrors.

• Front- and rear-widened wings. Upon entry, the Trophy’s uniquely numbered door sill guards catch the eye as do the RS aluminium gear lever knob, RS aluminium-drilled pedals, carbon-look dashboard moulding incorporating RS clusters and logo and the leather-trimmed armrest centre console.

The driver and passengers will enjoy slipping into Recaro bucket seats trimmed in Alcantara (suede) and leather with distinctive red top-stitching on the upholstery.

Both the steering wheel and gear lever are suede-covered while the highly visible safety belts serve as a reminder to strap in.

By fine-tuning the exceptionally versatile 2.0 litre, 16-valve, four cylinder RS 2.0 Turbo petrol engine, the RST engineers sought to increase the peak power torque of 5 500rpm by working on the electronic control parameters.

By raising the torque to 349Nm, the engine was boosted to 205kW. Super-smart technology is standard in the new Mégane RS 275 Trophy and features and fitments afford an optimum driving experience at every turn.

These include:

• Integrated Carminat TomTom® Live Navigation.

• RS Monitor 2.0 with full 3-D Race Telemetry with data download functionality.

• RS Dynamic Management with Multi-mode ESP featuring normal, sport and race modes.

• RS counter with tachometer and analogue rev counter.

• Tilt and height adjustable steering wheel with electric power steering.

• Renault hands-free key card and remote card for central locking or unlocking of the doors, boot and fuel flap.

• Coded electric immobiliser system.

• Automatic lights and windscreen wipers.

• Rear camera parking assist (optional).

• Manual parking brake.

• Bluetooth connectivity.

• Cruise control and speed limiter.

• RadioSat Classic with CD, MP3 and USB, AUX port plus fingertip controls behind the steering wheel.

A comprehensive list of active safety features and fitments are standard including:

• ABS braking with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).

• Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

• Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) anti-skid system.

• CSV understeer control.

• Six airbags (front, side and curtain).

• Front self-adaptive driver and front passenger airbags.

• Manual unlocking of front passenger airbag.

• Tyre pressure monitor.

As is the case across Renault’s entire product range, the new Mégane Renault Sport 275 Trophy 2.0 turbo comes with Renault’s five-year or 150 000km mechanical warranty plan. A six-year anti-corrosion warranty and five-year or 90 000km service plans also apply. Service intervals are at 10 000km. Recommended retail pricing: Mégane Renault Sport 275 2.0 turbo Trophy – R449 900.