Hottest Renault ever to cost $62K

Renault has announced its all-conquering Megane RS 275 Trophy-R will be priced at $61,990 plus on-road costs when it arrives here in January - less than the $65,000 pricetag previously mooted.

Stripped of its rear seats, packed with Ohlins suspension and stronger brakes, and having been on a strict diet – shedding just over 100kg compared to the RS 275 Trophy – the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R is the world's most extreme street-legal front-drive hot hatch.

Only 50 of the track-focussed models will be sold here but that accounts for 20 per cent of the global production run of just 250 vehicles. Australia is now the second-largest market for RS or Renault Sport vehicles – only French motorists buy more RS vehicles than Australians.

Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine - the same unit found in the less exclusive RS 275 Trophy - pumping out 201kW of power (275hp, hence the name) and 360Nm of torque. That's enough for the car to reach 255km/h and rocket to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

Australian 'R' models will feature the same Akrapovic titanium exhaust as the $9000 less-expensive RS 275 Trophy, but the extra cash nets a vastly superior chassis.

Lighter epoxy composite front springs are fitted along with adjustable Ohlins 'Road&Track' dampers and 19-inch Speedline Turini wheels finished in red and shod with specially tailored Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Aussie-spec versions of the hard-core Megane also benefit from the 'Nürburgring Record Kit' which adds an extra $5000 of value according to Renault Australia.

This brings lighter and slightly larger 350mm (+10mm) Renault Sport-etched front brake discs mated to Brembo callipers and a Lithium-ion battery which saves 15kg.

Race-ready Recaro 'Pôle Position' polycarbonate monocoque seats are also part of Nurburgring package. Finished in Alcantara, they save 42kg compared to the regular Recaro seats and allow the fitment of six-point harness belts which are also standard for Australian buyers.

A rear strut brace is designed to increase body rigidity, and there's even safety nets plus four wheel covers and two lashing straps to keep your race tyres secure.

Yep, this is a track-day special that just happens to be road-legal (regular lap-sash seatbelts are also fitted). But perhaps even more important are the bragging rights it brings.

In mid-2014 it was driven by Frenchman Laurent Hurgot to set a new Nurburgring lap record of 7:53.3, and to attain that freakishly quick lap time it's undergone a substantial motorsport-influenced transformation. While the sub-8:00 lap time may sound like a long time, bear in mind the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit is almost 21km long.

At the time of publication, and likely to be the case until the new Honda Civic Type-R arrives later in 2015, the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R is the world's most fearsome front-wheel drive vehicle, so for owners of the car it gives them supreme street cred.

Although vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf R, Nissan 370Z and Subaru WRX STI are similarly priced at around $60,000, none have the kudos of a Nurburgring lap record – although the STI does have an Isle of Man lap record to its name.

Of the 50 Trophy-R vehicles coming to Australia, 11 are already sold, with keen customers putting down cash deposits before the price was revealed. Renault Australia expects the entire allocation will be gone by March or April 2015.

It may cost an extra $9000 more than the 'regular' RS 275 Trophy ($52,990), which is limited to just 100 vehicles in Australia, but it's sufficiently radical to warrant the premium, says Renault Australia Managing Director, Justin Hocevar.

"It is a very rare occurrence for an automotive manufacturer to release a limited-edition like the Mégane RS 275 Trophy-R with such a strong focus and purpose.

"We've already seen several customers place deposits for the Mégane RS 275 Trophy-R without having seen the vehicle and with the exceptionally competitive pricing we've been able to achieve, I'm certain that the Mégane RS 275 Trophy-R is destined to be a future classic," Hocevar stated.

Although we haven't driven the car yet, and may never do so with no planned media drives in Australia, you can see our review and video of Renault's hottest ever model from the passenger seat of the RS 275 Trophy-R at the Nurburgring with record holder Laurent Hurgot.