Renault Megane RS gets more power for 2016

UPDATE 02/09/2015 9:00am: Unlike in Europe, where the base model gets an upgraded 201kW engine, Renault Australia has announced the Megane RS 265 will continue on sale at $43,990 plus on-road costs, while the new 2015 Megane RS 275 Cup Premium replaces the RS 265 Cup Premium priced at $52,990 plus ORCs -- up $5000.

Apart from an extra 10hp, the 201kW RS Cup Premium adds a lightweight Akrapovic exhaust system, Alcantara and leather Recaro front bucket seats, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, gear shifter and handbrake, a Zamac alloy gear knob, platinum grey F1-inspired front blade and 19-inch Black Speedline Turini alloy wheels.

This is in addition to previous RS 265 Cup Premium extras like red Brembo front brake callipers, a mechanical limited-slip differential, LED daytime running lamps, reversing camera, RS Monitor, R-Link enhanced sat-nav with 7.0-inch touch-screen and dual-zone climate-control.

The Megane RS 275 Cup Premium will be available in five colours -- Glacier White, Diamond Black, Titanium Grey, Pearl White and Liquid Yellow -- and is now being rolled out to Renault Australia's 50 dealers.

As with all Renault passenger cars, the Megane RS range is covered by a five-year/Unlimited km factory warranty, five years of Roadside Assistance and Capped Price Servicing for the first three scheduled dealer visits.

To sweeten the deal, all Renault Sport models sold in Australia in September will be available with 0% comparison rate? finance through Renault Financial Services.

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Renault has announced that the base Megane RS Cup will soon come with a more powerful 201kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo as part of 2016 model year upgrades.

Replacing the old 195kW engine that powered the RS 265, the new 2016MY overhaul sees the base Megane RS now share its engine with the extreme Trophy-R Limited Edition.

In Europe, along with the increased power, there’s now two new trims that will sit below the Trophy-R -- a luxurious 275 Nav and an extreme 275 Cup-S.

To unleash the full 201kW the Megane driver needs select ‘sport’ mode (in normal mode the RS only delivers 184kW), only then will both 275 Nav and 275 Cup-S sprint to 100km/h, from standstill, in six seconds and top out at 254km/h.

While the 275 Nav is supposed to be a less frenetic and more relaxing version of the Megane RS the new Cup-S gets more aggressive chassis settings with firmer springs, new dampers and a stiffer anti-roll bar. A standard limited slip differential completes the package.

For serious track day junkies there’s also the option of Ohlins adjustable dampers that were first offered on the Trophy. Renaultsport will also offer an Akrapovic sports exhausts that cuts 4kg from the vehicle weight.

Finally, Renault will also offer owners the option of fitting Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres that significantly increase grip levels on track and are said to offer more precise steering.

The 275 Nav, meanwhile, does without the LSD and comes with a more forgiving ‘Sport’ chassis and comes with leather heated seats, sat nav, Renault’s latest R-Link infotainment system and dual-zone climate control.

Just to confuse matters, Renaultsport also offers the hardcore Cup-S chassis and limited slip differential on the supposedly comfort-biased 275 Nav.

In Europe both cars will be available from November. It’s not known when we’ll get Megane RS hatches with the 2016MY updates.

In the UK pricing carries over unchanged.