Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R set for Oz

Renault's fastest ever road car, the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R, is coming Down Under.

Unveiled overnight in Europe, the Trophy-R renews the Renault's status as the world's fastest front-wheel drive (FWD) car around the Nurburgring (Nordschleife) road-circuit. And 50 of the ultra-fast hatches will come to Australia.

Driver Laurent Hurgon belted out a lap time of 7:54.3 around the challenging 20.8km circuit, ensuring Renault's new Trophy R wrested the crown back from the VW Group's 206kW Seat Leon Cupra 280 by four seconds.

Unlike the 'regular' Renault RS 275 Trophy, which is coming to Australia in September for under $60,000, the hardcore 201kW Trophy-R has been on a strict low carb diet, shedding more than 100kg.

The rear seats have been stripped out, it features light-weight Recaro bucket seats and even a Lithium-ion battery can be added to save weight.

Tipping the scales at 1280kg, it's 101kg lighter than the Megane RS 265's 1381kg, with other weight savings made from lighter brakes, dashboard materials, springs, and exhaust. The stereo and air-conditioning have been turfed as part of the slimming.

Throw in adjustable Ohlins dampers (20 front and 30 rear settings), world-first Allevard composite epoxy front springs, a titanium Akrapovic exhaust system along with bigger 350mm diameter aluminium alloy front brake rotors (up from 340mm) chomped by Brembo calipers, and you're looking at the most powerful and fastest Renault production car yet.

The 255km/h hatch will be priced at around $65,000 when it lobs in Australia in December 2014. The most expensive Renault ever sold in Australia will also be the first Renault to be stung with Australia's luxury car tax, something Renault Australia spokesperson Emily Fedayev believes is absurd.

"It points out the stupidity of the luxury car tax," she said, noting that the Trophy-R doesn’t come with air-conditioning or a stereo in standard trim.

Although only 250 of these machines will ever be built, a whopping 20 per cent of global production will make it here -- 50 vehicles in all. This is a clear signal of the importance of the Australian market to Renault Sport.

As previously reported, 100 versions of the 'regular' RS 275 Trophy will be headed to Australia in September, and Renault is toying with the idea of selling both low volume models online, similar to the strategy employed by Subaru for its BRZ.

Powered by a high revving 201kW (275hp) version of Renault's 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, torque remains unchanged at 360Nm. Power delivery is said to be marginally improved thanks to the Akrapovic exhaust, and the 0-100km/h dash takes 5.8sec.

Fuel consumption is rated by Renault at an average of 7.5L/100km.

The record-breaking French hot hatch rides on 19-inch Speedline alloy wheels that shed another 5kg, shod with specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

It's not yet clear whether the Trophy-R will exclusively available with the Michelin hoops, said Fedayev.

"The Michelin tyres and the Öhlins dampers are both options on the 275 Trophy and standard on the Trophy-R. For Australia we haven't announced specification yet so can’t confirm if they will be standard or an option on the 275 Trophy," she said.

Optional extras such as tyre warmers and six-point Sabelt safety harnesses for the (standard fit) Recaro seats are for track use only and will be part of a "Nürburgring Pack" in Europe.

Renault won't let journalists drive the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R during the international launch in Germany, but we will drive the RS 275 Trophy on the Nurburgring this week, so stay tuned for more...