Let’s start with the bad news. The same as is the case with the Honda Civic Type R, the new Mégane RS, set to become available in 2017, will only be offered in a five-door body form.
The good news, expectedly, is that to keep up with the competition, the power delivery from the engine will increase to around 224 kW.
These details were made public by Regis Fricotte, RenaultSport’s global chief. This change is similar to what RenaultSport did with the Clio, aiming to capture a wider audience with the five-door layout. However, the result with the Clio is sadly not that successful for driving enthusiasts, especially since no manual gearbox is availble and the car is softer in terms of its setup than before.
It is also likely that the new Mégane RS will be offered with an automatic transmission (EDC), although it is unclear if it will be the only transmission at this stage.
Let’s hope that RenaultSport doesn’t allow the Mégane RS to loose its segment leading status in the new model.
The new car will remain front-wheel drive though, which will assist in keeping its weight down versus the all-wheel drive alternatives, the Mercedes-AMG A45 as well as the upcoming Ford Focus RS to name two.
Source: motoring.com.au via WorldCarFans.com
Watch our drag race video of the current Renault Mégane RS 275 Trophy vs. the Honda Civic Type R.