Renault Megane to go RS-only

The third-generation Renault Megane RS hot hatch has finally arrived in Australia, topping a French small-car range that will soon comprise only Renault Sport models.

Now available priced from $44,990, the 2018 Megane RS 280 is the first five-door Megane RS and the first to be available with an automatic transmission.

As such, Renault Australia expects to sell at least 600 examples in the first 12 months, easily making it the best-selling Megane RS ever sold here.

Last available here in 2016, the second-generation Renault Megane RS — a two-door manual-only model like the original launched in 2004 — achieved its best annual sales figure of 545 in 2012.

During its life cycle, the MkII Megane RS attracted more buyers in Australia than any of the other 50 countries in which it was sold except France and Germany.

Renault Australia managing director Andrew Moore said the broader appeal of the new Megane RS 280 five-door — the only hot hatch in its class available with manual and automatic transmissions — will be limited only by supply.

“We previously had only manual, so that’s a huge thing for us with this car. Now we’ve got manual and auto, so we think volume-wise that’s going to give us a huge jump,” he told motoring.com.au.

“The big question mark on all this is that at the moment demand is greater than supply. I’m pretty confident we’re going to get at least 600 units, so 50 a month [for the first 12 months].

“I think we could probably go more, but I’m just not sure we’ll be able to get supply much beyond that.”

Despite its more mainstream body style and transmission offerings, Moore said it was difficult to judge just how popular the latest Megane RS could be, given unlimited supplies.

That’s because although the small hot hatch segment has increased in volume by 44 per cent in the last five years, the number of competitors has doubled since 2004.

“The thing is the value in this car compared to the old one is outstanding, given it’s basically the same price but you’re going from three-door to five-door,” he said.

“The last time we had a Megane RS in 2016 it was a manual-only three-door in Cup chassis, so we don’t have a clear comparison.

“And it’s a different market now — there’s more competition and people have moved away from passenger into SUV, so the actual sports segment is up but there’s more choice.”

Whatever the case, Moore made it clear the new RS would be the top-selling variant of a Megane small-car range that in future will comprise only Renault Sport models, including the RS-tuned GT and RS-badged GT-Line hatch and wagon (but no sedan).

He said Renault Australia expects the RS to account for up to 70 per cent of all Megane sales, followed by the GT at 20 per cent and GT-Line at 10 per cent.

“Our focus is going to be more on the Megane RS because that’s where we’ve got such a strong cult following,” said Moore

“My vision is to have an RS range continue with Megane. The reason we want to focus on Megane RS is it’s such a great brand halo – it has such a strong following.”

Moore said the continued decline of the mainstream (sub-$40K) small-car market, which is another three per cent down so far this year, would lead to the discontinuation of entry-level Life and mid-range Zen variants of the Megane.

“We’re still selling them. We haven’t made a firm decision, but our direction is heading towards Renault Sport models,” he said.

“I think you just find in that segment people are moving to SUV and it’s very price sensitive, so to compete with Korean product on price, that’s not where we’re going to play. It’s too good a vehicle from Europe with turbo engines.”

More said there was no plan to also make the smaller Clio hatch — Renault Australia’s only other remaining passenger model — an RS-only model line, despite an even bigger eight per cent decline in the mainstream (sub-$25K) light-car segment. RS sales account for 15 to 20 per cent of Clio sales locally.

“The light segment is difficult,” he said. “It’s in decline, it’s very price-sensitive and we’ve got a European car with a turbo engine competing against a 1.2-litre Suzuki Swift with no turbo.

“[But] Clio will always be our entry to the range. There’s still a passenger market out there and the beauty of Clio is it brings people into the range for the first time.

“For me it’s an important strategic brand entry model so I’ve got no plans to not offer a good value version of that vehicle. It’s a very high-specced vehicle for the segment, but for the customer that wants a bit more it’s a terrific entry to the Renault range.”

As we reported when Renault Australia announced full specs in July, the 2018 Megane RS 280 is based on the latest five-door Renault Megane hatch and powered by a more powerful 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine delivering 205kW (280hp) and 390Nm on 98 RON PULP, reducing the official 0-100km/h time to 5.8 seconds.

Other unique features include Renault’s 4Control rear-wheel steering, a torque steer-reducing PerfoHub front suspension, hydraulic bump stops from the current Clio RS, 45mm and 30mm wider front and rear wheel tracks, wider composite front and rear quarter panels, front wheel-arch extractor vents, a redesigned front bumper with F1-style aero blades, a larger rear spoiler and a flat under-floor that channels air to a large rear diffuser.

Inside, the Megane RS 280 features Renault’s Multi-sense driving mode system, which controls engine response, accelerator mapping, gearshift pattern, steering effort and ambient lighting across five parameters: Comfort, Normal, Sport, Race and Personal.

Extra standard equipment includes chromed Interlagos 19-inch alloy wheels, RS door sills, RS sports front seats with built-in head restraints, RS roof lining, a Nappa perforated leather steering wheel and gearshift gaiter.

Standard equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, hill-start assist, reversing camera, 8.7-inch portrait touch-screen with sat-nav, dual-zone climate control, heated folding electric door mirrors and front/rear parking sensors.

Models specified with the EDC auto, which adds 23kg to the standard RS 280’s 1427kg kerb weight, add launch control, paddle shifters and an electric parking brake.

On the options list is 10-speaker Bose sound ($500), metallic paint ($600), signature Tonic Orange metallic paint ($880), RS Alcantara leather trim ($1190) and a panoramic sunroof ($1990).

Once again there’s also a Cup Pack option, which for $1490 on manual variants only brings 25 per cent stiffer shock absorbers, 30 per cent firmer springs and 10 per cent stiffer anti-roll bars, plus a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, black alloy wheels, red Brembo brake callipers and aluminium/iron rotors.

The Renault Megane RS 280 six-speed manual costs about $1000 more than the model it belatedly replaces, at $44,990 plus on-road costs, and the first six-speed dual-clutch automatic version adds $2500 to the price at $47,490 plus ORCs.

Renault Australia will also release the hard-core Megane RS Trophy in the second half of 2019. The top-shelf Megane RS will come with the Cup chassis, higher 220kW/400Nm outputs (420Nm for the EDC auto version), a 5.7-second 0-100km/h time, 260km/h top speed, lighter Jerez alloys and Recaro hard shell seats, but a price hike to more than $50,000.

Come back to motoring.com.au from midnight tonight to read our first Australian review of the 2018 Renault Megane RS 280.