Leaked: Renault Megane RS shows up early

Official images of Renault Sport's all-new Megane RS have been leaked online, in the same manner as Honda's Civic Type R, following submission to the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Until now, Renault has only allowed us to see camouflaged wrapped versions of its flagship RS model, most recently in May at the Monaco Grand Prix when the hot Megane was driven by current Renault Sport F1 driver, Nico Hulkenburg.

The new images, discovered by a forum user on Worldscoop, show a completely undisguised RS for the first time.

Renault fans will immediately notice a significant absence - the three-door model. To cut costs, Renault has developed the next RS flagship exclusively as a family-friendly five-door.

But it's clear from the images there has been a comprehensive reworking of the standard Megane hatchback body, include the addition of wider front and rear wheel arches and completely redesigned front and rear bumpers.

Beginning at the front, compared to standard Megane, the RS version gets a front bumper featuring a new upside down trapezium-shaped air intake thought to feed a large intercooler for the turbocharger.

Below, two enlarged air intakes are thought to send air to the radiator and oil cooler, plus a cooling breeze to large brake rotors lurking behind what look like modest 18-inch alloy rims.

Bigger 19-inch alloys will be available as an option.

Other visible items are a pair of black door mirrors in place of the regular hatch's body-coloured items.

Originally, it was thought the RS would share the standard Megane's narrow body, but the patent suggests otherwise, with the newcomer sporting wider front arches with large air vents to extract turbulent air which reduces front axle lift.

Those wider arches were required because the Megane RS is anticipated to run a torque steer-reducing RevoKnucke front suspension and a wider front track to enhance high-speed stability and cornering grip.

At the rear, another all-new bumper similarly features a pair of extractor vents to reduce lift.

Also prominent are a large rear diffuser and subtle tailgate spoiler. Both point towards countless hours spent in a wind tunnel developing an aerodynamic package to help the Megan RS generate real downforce at high speed.

The aero work could also explain the weird wiper spoiler in the images.

All of which is of vital importance following Renault's declaration the Megane RS will attempt to break the current Nurburgring lap time set by the Honda Civic Type-R.

While not confirmed, it's expected the front and rear bumpers, as well as the front fenders, will be made of injection-moulded plastic composites to cut weight.

Aluminium, or an advanced composite, will be used for the Megane's bonnet, roof panel and rear tailgate. This will help lower the centre of gravity and reduce mass.

Weight reduction was a focus from early on, as Renault engineers pursued a favourable power-to-weight ratio over outright power.

Under the bonnet, we expect to find the same 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powering the forthcoming Alpine A110 coupe, except, in the Megane, the wick has been turned up from 185kW/320Nm to around 225kW/400Nm.

Renault's dual-clutch EDC automatic transmission will be an option alongside a standard six-speed manual that come with a rev-match system.

Despite offering a launch control and far quicker gear changes than any human can manage, according to an RS engineer speaking to motoring.com.au, the lighter manual (around 25kg less than an EDC) will be quicker car to 100km/h.

Expect a 0-100km/h time of around 5.8 seconds.

Renault Sport has already ruled out all-wheel drive for its latest Megane RS.

Instead, the hot hatch will rely on its 4Control four-wheel steering to boost agility and reduce understeer at high speeds.

Internally, adding four-steer has been a controversial decision among some Renault Sport engineers. They argued passionately the system's 40kg weight penalty sitting over the rear axle outweighed (literally) any appreciable gain in handling.

Last October, a senior RS employee let slip to motoring.com.au that engineers had developed a Megane RS chassis tune which ditched 4Control to prove to bosses it was capable of posting even quicker lap times.

Those calls obviously fell on deaf ears and recently a source suggested to motoring.com.au that the 4Control delete option would not feature in the Megane RS product plans.

Scheduled for reveal on September 12 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Megane RS is set to go on sale in all markets, including Australia, in the first quarter of 2018 with local pricing expected to dip below $50,000.

As well as the new Megane RS, the patent images leaked also reveal the current Megane GT will be facelifted prematurely to help add some of the RS styling cues.