Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Geneva 2009: Renault Megane RS - <i>liberté, égalité, velocité</i> [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/geneva-2009-renault-megane-rs-liberte-egalite-velocite-w-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/geneva-2009-renault-megane-rs-liberte-egalite-velocite-w-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/geneva-2009-renault-megane-rs-liberte-egalite-velocite-w-v/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Renault Megane RS

Renault has earned its place as the pan-European king of the hot hatch. But with new contenders like the MINI JCW and Alfa GTA vying for the throne, Renault knew it would have to up its game to hold on to the title. Fortunately, it brought out a slick new Megane to replace the old pillbox version, leaving Renaultsport enthusiasts frothing at their wine-and-cheese-stuffed mouths for a performance version. Renault finally obliged at the Geneva Motor Show with the highly-anticipated new Megane RS.

Packing a 250-horsepower 2.0-liter 16-valve turbo four, it's the most powerful version yet... 20 horses more than the last ultimate R26.R. Buyers can choose right off the bat between the Sport and Cup chassis (the latter with a limited slip differential) and fully defeatable stability control. Styling cues are borrowed from the Trophy racer concept that debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show, complete with front grille splitter and center-exit exhaust, all of which makes for the most aggression seen out of France since Napoleon. Check it out for yourself in the galleries below, with full details in the press release and video footage after the jump.


Gallery: Geneva 2009: Renault Megane RS


Gallery: Renault Megane RS


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Geneva 2009: Renault Megane RS - liberté, égalité, velocité [w/VIDEO]

Geneva 2009: Renault Megane RS - liberté, égalité, velocité [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowrenaultrenault meganerenault megane rsrenault sportRenaultMeganeRenaultMeganeRsRenaultSportrenaultsport meganeRenaultsportMeganeWed, 04 Mar 2009 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Renault Megane RS teased]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/geneva-preview-renault-megane-rs-teased/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/geneva-preview-renault-megane-rs-teased/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/geneva-preview-renault-megane-rs-teased/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In the run up to next month's Geneva Motor Show, Renault has launched a teaser site counting down the days until the reveal of the Renault Megane RS. We captured the image above from the darkened animation and after a few Photoshop tweaks, we were able to tease out some of the design details of Renault's new hot hatch.

The front fascia pulls a few cues from the Megane Coupe Trophy concept from the Paris Motor Show, including the sculpted lip that bisects the air dam, the contoured hood, bulbous fenders and headlamps, which appear to be toned-down for the production version.

The Renault Megane RS will initially be available in three-door form, with a five-door model following later. Power is likely to be supplied by the Renault Megane R.26's turbocharged 2.0-liter, putting out around 250 hp and returning a 0-60 time of around six seconds when equipped with a manual transmission. Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential and a revised power steering system are all rumored to be included, and sales should begin in Europe sometime this fall.

[Source: Renault]

Geneva Preview: Renault Megane RS teased originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowmeganerenaultrenault megane rsRenaultMeganeRsrsTue, 17 Feb 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Renault to unveil new Megane RS in Geneva]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/renault-to-unveil-new-megane-rs-in-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/renault-to-unveil-new-megane-rs-in-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/renault-to-unveil-new-megane-rs-in-geneva/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Renault Megane Trophy concept

Hot hatch enthusiasts know what it means when Renault unveils a new compact car: a new Renaultsport variant will follow. The French automaker's performance division continues to roll out some the hottest compacts in the business, so when the wraps came off the third-generation Megane in Paris this past fall, it was only a matter of time before the tuned-up sport version would follow, and reports now indicate that it'll arrive this March at the Geneva Motor Show.

For this latest generation of Megane, Renault continues to differentiate the sporty three-door from the more utilitarian five-door model, but the RS version promises to raise the bar yet again. Taking cues from the Megane Trophy racer (pictured above) also unveiled at the Paris show, the new Megane RS is tipped to feature a wider track, flared wheel arches, a wing bisecting the front air dam, and a center-exit exhaust. Power is expected to come from the company's 2.0-liter turbo, but tuned to produce 250 horsepower. The requisite chassis tuning, optional limited slip differential and beefy Brembo brakes promise to round out the package.

[Source: Autocar via WCF]

Renault to unveil new Megane RS in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>meganemegane trophyMeganeTrophyrenault meganerenault megane rsRenaultMeganeRenaultMeganeRsrenaultsportrenaultsport meganeRenaultsportMeganetrophyWed, 07 Jan 2009 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Paris 2008: Renault Megane Trophy concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/paris-2008-renault-megane-trophy-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/paris-2008-renault-megane-trophy-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/paris-2008-renault-megane-trophy-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click either image for high-res gallery of the Renault Megane Trophy concept

We've said it before but it warrants repeating: Renault makes some of the meanest hot hatches in the business. The (very) outgoing Megane RS has been a favorite among the track day crowd and really any European customer looking for a fast ride with sharp handling that can still serve on the daily grind. With the new Megane now out in the open, the big question on the minds of Renaultsport fans is what manner of fire-breathing demon will follow the established favorite they know and love? Clearly this isn't the answer, but if the production Megane III RS comes even remotely close to this concept car, we'll have yet another European machine to lust after.

The Renault Megane Trophy concept features a Nissan-sourced 3.5-liter V6 mounted amidship like in the old Renaultsport Clio V6, but producing a prodigious 360hp driving through a six-speed sequential gearbox, all wrapped in a competition-grade body with more wing than the Concorde and more louvers than a Parisian museum tour. Currently the car is just a concept, but could end up going into limited production for a spec racing series. Check it out in the gallery below and rest assured that it looks even more awesome in person.

Gallery: Paris 2008: Renault Megane Trophy Concept

Paris 2008: Renault Megane Trophy concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>meganemegane rsMeganeRsrenaultrenault meganerenault megane iiirenault megane rsrenault megane trophyrenault parisrenault sport meganeRenaultMeganeRenaultMeganeIiiRenaultMeganeRsRenaultMeganeTrophyRenaultParisRenaultSportMeganeSun, 05 Oct 2008 19:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Spied? Renaultsport Megane III]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/spied-renaultsport-megane-iii/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/spied-renaultsport-megane-iii/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/spied-renaultsport-megane-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This image has been circulating the French motoring sites, showing what could be the new Renaultsport version of the automaker's new Megane which is set to debut next week at the Paris Motor Show. Although indications are that this is a Photoshop-manipulated image, it could give a fairly accurate preview of what the new hot hatch could look like.

Renault has gone to great lengths to differentiate the different body-styles in the Megane range, and the RS version would of course be based on the three-door hatch variant. The image shows a single exhaust exiting from the center of the rear diffuser, with jumbo 18-inch anthracite multi-spoke wheels and some extra aerodynamic body elements. We'll all want to know what will reside under the hood, likely to be a derivation of the current model's 2.0-liter four. The most recent evolution of the engine produces some 230 horsepower in the latest Megane R26.R track-hatch, but only time (and assuredly plenty of speculation) will tell how much power the first performance version of the Megane III will be putting down on European roads.

[Source: L'Auto Journal via Le Blog Auto]

Spied? Renaultsport Megane III originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>renaultrenault meganerenault megane 3renault megane IIIrenault megane rsrenault sportrenault sport meganeRenaultMeganeRenaultMegane3RenaultMeganeIiiRenaultMeganeRsrenaultsportrenaultsport meganeRenaultSportMeganeFri, 26 Sep 2008 09:28:00 EST