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With the Renault Megane RS Ultime, the French model is saying farewell to each its feisty petrol-powered scorching hatch and its Renault Sport sub-brand.
Australia is in line to get some examples of the farewell version earlier than the petrol Megane line exits the native line-up this 12 months and the Megane E-Tech Electrical takes its place.
“We’re working by means of securing an Australian cargo of those last version Megane RS Ultime, which ought to be right here for a mid-year launch. Remaining spec and pricing to be confirmed,” stated a spokesperson for Renault Australia.
The RS Ultime, set to be revealed on January 13 on the Tokyo Auto Salon, would be the final mannequin from the model with the Renault Sport brand, with future fettled Renault merchandise to be bought beneath the expanded Alpine model alongside bespoke fashions.
It wears daring matte black stripes – impressed by Renault’s refreshed brand – on its roof, bonnet, rear bumper, doorways and fenders. The 12 months Renault Sport was established, 1976, is inscribed within the striping on the right-hand aspect of the automobile.
The logos, door handles, window frames, wheels, fender caps, rear diffuser, and the entrance bumper’s Method 1 blade are all completed in black.
Exterior colors are restricted to Star Black, Pearl White, Sirius Yellow and Tonic Orange.
In its press launch, Renault additionally notes the inclusion of a central exhaust and 60mm wider entrance and 45mm wider rear fenders, nevertheless these seem like shared with the RS Trophy and never unique to the RS Ultime.
Inside, there are Recaro bucket seats completed in titanium black Alcantara upholstery and that includes an embroidered RS monogram, in addition to distinctive door sills.
Every RS Ultime wears a numbered steel plaque on the centre console signed by Laurent Hurgon, the driving force and improvement knowledgeable who labored on the Megane RS all through his profession and at present holds the Nürburgring, Suzuka and Spa-Francorchamps data.
The stripe sample of the outside can be prolonged to the important thing fob.
Customary gear consists of RS Imaginative and prescient LED headlights, a 9.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bose sound system, 10-inch digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise management and a surround-view digicam.
A sunroof and head-up show are the one choices, however these are unique to left-hand drive autos. Renault will supply a custom-designed cowl, however it’s unclear if that will probably be supplied right here.
It rides on Bridgestone Potenza S007 semi-slicks initially developed for the Megane RS Trophy R, wrapped round Fuji Gentle 19-inch wheels. Brembo dual-cast brakes with purple callipers present stopping energy.
The RS Ultime is unchanged beneath the bonnet, that includes a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 221kW of energy and 420Nm of torque.
Renault says the RS Ultime will use the RS Trophy’s six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission in Europe, probably leaving the door open for a three-pedal choice elsewhere. The RS Trophy is at present supplied with a selection of six-speed guide or dual-clutch transmissions regionally.
“Megane RS represents 15 years of my work at Renault Sport. Because the Megane II section 2, we have now always improved its dynamic efficiency as a way to stay the chief in front-wheel-drive sports activities vehicles,” stated Laurent Hurgon, driver and improvement knowledgeable at Renault Group.
“The data on the Nürburgring Nordschleife are unforgettable challenges, stuffed with ardour, adrenalin and emotion. And now, Megane RS Ultime… I’m significantly proud to signal the model crowning this excellent saga.”
Australia has lengthy been a serious purchaser of the Megane RS – significantly for the older, manual-only three-door mannequin that preceded as we speak’s higher-tech five-door providing. For years, Renault Australia bragged about being a high three market, usually alongside France and Japan.
Renault has continued to supply the recent RS Trophy regionally even because it has systematically culled the remainder of the Megane vary. It bought 102 examples in 2022, down 17.1 per cent on 2021’s tally.
With the smaller Clio RS killed off just a few years in the past, the Megane’s dying will go away Renault’s as soon as enviable cabinet of pocket rockets trying naked.
In doing so, the French model will take the identical path as Ford Australia, which has killed off the Fiesta ST and Focus ST. These discontinuations happen as the recent hatch phase is heating up additional in Australia, with the Toyota GR Corolla and newest Honda Civic Kind R due this 12 months.
The Volkswagen Group has additionally lately launched the Cupra Leon to Australia, an in-house rival to its personal Volkswagen Golf GTI and R.
The Renault Group’s subsequent scorching hatch will come from the Alpine model and have electrical energy solely, with the model set to supply a fettled model of the upcoming, reborn Renault 5 in 2024.
Renault Australia normal supervisor Glen Sealey stated he desires to carry any new electrical mannequin he can right here, though the Alpine model is dormant regionally – the A110 was discontinued because it couldn’t meet the brand new ADR 85/00 aspect affect requirements.
“There’s an electrifying future, we’ve received terrific product coming by means of,” Mr Sealey informed CarExpert lately. “…Any new product that’s introduced from the EV aspect, we have now our palms up for.”
MORE: Every thing Renault MeganeMORE: Renault talks Alpine’s future, sees parallels with Polestar
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