VIDEO: Renault teases new Megane RS

Renault Sport has provided the first glimpse of its new Megane RS hot hatch.

Our first look at the French car-maker's new rival for the Volkswagen Golf GTI comes via a charming new video created to celebrate one million likes on the French car-maker’s Facebook page.

Charting the history of the French performance brand's greatest hits, the video ends with a teasing pic of the new Megane RS under a drape, under the caption "coming soon".

Unfortunately, all we can tell from this early pic is the new RS will come with the standard Megane five-door hatchback's daytime running lamps, and the same LED driving lights as the current updated Clio RS.

As motoring.com.au revealed last October, the next Megane RS will be offered with both a manual gearbox and a dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The flagship fourth-gen hot hatch's six-speed manual will come with a new rev-matching system that automatically blips the throttle for perfect downshifts. The technology has been lifted from Renault’s alliance partner, Nissan, which developed a similar driver’s aid for its 370Z coupe.

Controversially, the French performance division has also green-lit the next Megane RS to come with the firm’s 4Control four-wheel steering -- despite adding as much as 40kg to the kerb weight.

According to the insider, engineers decided the added weight is offset by the handling benefits.

The 4Control system could give the Renault hatch added showroom appeal and offset the fact the Megane misses out on the Focus RS’ all-wheel drive and tail-out antics in drift mode.

For purists though, all models may not come equipped with the heavier rear-steer because even within Renault Sport not everyone’s a fan.

Instead, the heavy rear-steer system is only likely to be offered on more luxurious versions while the stripped-out Trophy models will do without.

Like before, Renault Sport will offer a Sport Cup chassis that will improve handling and agility at the expense of ride quality.

It's still not confirmed what engine the Megane RS will come with, but whatever it is it's unlikely to offer best-in-class power.

Instead, engineers told motoring.com.au that they were focusing on offering superior power-to-weight ratios.

It's thought the new car will also ditch the old F4R 2.0-litre turbo that can trace its roots back to 1993.

A safe bet is the next-gen Megane RS will get the turbocharged 1.8-litre that powers the Alpine A110 that was revealed at Geneva.

Instead of running the same 185kW/320Nm, it's thought engineers will boost power to around 225kW/400Nm.

The more powerful version of the 1.8 turbo will appear in the small lightweight Alpine in a forthcoming sportier version thought to be called the A110S.

Expect to see the production version of the Megane RS at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show in September, when Renault Sport's flagship hatch should be launched with a new Nurburgring lap record for a front-wheel drive production car.