Carshop First Drives: Renault Megane 280 RS Lux

For a long time hot hatchbacks struggled to climb a hurdle. This particular hurdle was called 147kW and everyone got stuck there until Renault drank down some brave pills and vaulted the damn thing with the Renault Megane II Sport and its 165kW power plant - good for a 0-100kph sprint of 6 seconds.

All hail le new king. That was in 2004 and with it the floodgates were opened. And I say this after recently driving a 228kW Honda Civic Type R, so it's a fact. Let's call that a point of reference and move on (very quickly).

I find myself in Port Elizabeth, at the Aldo Scribante race circuit specifically. And while waiting for my chance at the helm I couldn't help but consider the fact that Renault has been around for 120 years now. That's some very rarefied air - and a pedigree heavy on motorsport.

The RS, available for our viewing pleasure in searing yellow and somewhat less searing orange, has an inherently sporty look, unique - really unique, which I felt was fitting since that original car always reminded me of a pumpkin at pace.

This is a marriage of form and function, style that bows down to science so that the latest Megane RS, with the help of a new 1.8-litre engine (we'll get to that later), can pounce from standstill to 100kph quicker than ever at 5.8 seconds, matching the aforementioned Type R.

The RS bodywork treatment features F1 inspired items, most notably functional air diffusers, an F1 blade and side aprons reminiscent of a racecar's carbon fibre undertray. Here also lives an independent suspension, wider axles - 60mm at front (hello fat arches punctuated with functioning extractors) and 45mm at back (hello rear wheel steer) with a 41mm wider track.

And finally there's the centre-exhaust outlet, featuring acoustic rendering and what not - it's the bit where the snaps, crackles and pops explode from.

Let’s get back to the performance 

Right, that new MR18 Twin-scroll turbocharged 1.8-litre engine is all new and will find its way into Nissan products as well, exciting. From its modest 1798cc it churns out 205kw @ 6000rpm and 390Nm. More Formula One engineering know-how has been gleaned here with a fettled cylinder head that dissipates heat away from combustion chamber, coating on valve tappets, new bowl-shaped pistons and a reinforced crank housing to name a few.

This gets mated to either a 6 speed manual transmission with manual handbrake (in the Cup model) or the EDC (wet dual clutch) 'box comes (with electric handbrake and launch control) in the Lux. Both cars will cost you R549,900 - just pick your flavour a la aficionado or everyday racer.

Both derivatives come with rally-style hydraulic compression stops in their shock absorbers - great for performance and comfort. Rear-wheel-steering features across the range as well for added alacrity and to monitor it all there's the RS Monitor telemetry system.

Still milking the cow that is F1, Renault's paddle shifters feature multiple down-changes for when you absolutely need to make Gatling gun noises. There's obviously a performance pay-off as well, especially on a tight circuit like Aldo where you can dispatch apex after apex, and the technology will conspire to assist and add to it a soundtrack filled with drama.

Here be crackle, bangs and pops

Quick verdict

There's a lot to love here, like the fact that it trounces the VW Golf GTI (0-100kph in 6.4sec) and the Ford Focus ST (6.5sec). I appreciate the chequered flag (a la Clio RS) RS Vision fog lamps and that the interior won't crush your spine like the old car. And that the leather steering wheel comes with a red centre point marker.

Red centre stripe = right way up

I enjoy the soft touch carbon fibre (faux-bre?) bits that mess with my senses inside the cabin. I love that there are now five (multi sense) driving modes that alters the engine mapping, throttle response and steering named Comfort, Neutral, Sport, Race and Perso. I also enjoy the fact that it comes with R-Link 2 with its 8.7 inch touch screen linking 40 sensors (dotted around the car) recording everything from lap times to throttle valve position to brake disc temperatures. Nerdy!

And I'm a fan of the Cup chassis we sadly never got to experience today (this Lux model must make do with the Sports chassis) and the obligatory red brake callipers it proposes to come with and crucially the limited slip differential it also entails. And I find it marvellous that Renault claim a fuel consumption figure of 6.7l/100km, but let's not count on it.

With that all said, the hot hatch game has moved on in recent years with that pesky Honda having recently decimated the Nurburgring record - the one ring that rules them all - with the Golf GTI Clubsport S not far behind.

But, this Lux RS doesn't compete with those of a hard core. A Trophy iteration will follow, with all the fire-breathing credentials required to take on the challenge anew. But until then, the Cup will have to do, and it does.

To which I ask the regular Golf GTI and Focus ST, "Was that a flinch?"

Renault Megane RS Lux Spec:

Renault Megane range pricing:

*includes 5 year/150,000km warranty and 5 year service plan