2023 Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy EDC
Renault South Africa is on the verge of launching the next iteration of its legendary Megane R.S. hot hatch on the local market. The R.S. 300 Trophy, building on a legacy spanning 18 years, sees only 55 units being made available to local customers – substantially more than the seven that came in 2020.
The Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy continues with the F1-inspired 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, kicking out 221kW and 420Nm. However, while three of the seven models in 2020 were manual, the entire batch in 2023 will be fitted with the French automaker’s six-speed dual-clutch EDC gearbox.
Renault claims a top speed of 260km/h for its front-wheel drive hatchback, while 0-100km/h is dispatched in 5.7 seconds.
The traits
A key trait of the new Megane R.S. 300 Trophy is the 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system. At low speeds, the system turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels. At speeds of over 60km/h (100km/h in Race mode), all four wheels turn in the same direction.
Renault also stiffened the chassis borrowed from the discontinued Cup model. A Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential is standard, as are the Brembo brake callipers.
19-inch Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres not only round off the visual appeal, but add to the car’s dramatic appeal.
The Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy is available in three colours: Pearl White, Liquid Yellow, and Orange Tonic.
Motorsport nod
Inside, the Megane R.S. 300 Trophy boasts a double-diamond steering wheel that houses the paddle shifters, and a gear knob finished in aluminium. The seats are finished in a racy red top-stitching, and are also decked in Alcantara upholstery.
The EASY LINK 7-inch touchscreen accommodates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, along with Bluetooth, USB, and AUX connectivity. Other features include an automatic parking brake, reverse camera, lane departure warning, (front and rear) parking sensors, and new (front and rear) indicators.
Supported by a five-year or 90 000km service plan, the Megane R.S 300 Trophy EDC sells for R899 900.
