Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 (2009): first UK details

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

15 October 2009 14:00

Renault today confirmed the full spec of UK-bound hot Méganes. The new Mégane Renaultsport 250 will cost from £21,995 and – like other Renaultsport models – will be available in regular and Cup specs. For wimps or wheelmen, you could say.

The 'regular' Mégane Renaultsport will cost £1000 more, adding leather trim, heated and electrically adjusted driver's seat, dual-zone climate control and automatic wipers. That's still cheaper than a less power, three-door Golf GTI, don't forget. More 'committed' enthusiasts will probably stick with the less well equipped Mégane Cup version, which packs the more nimble Cup chassis settings.

That means a limited slip diff, stiffer springs, recalibrated dampers and anti-roll bars and chubbier 235/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber on 18in black satin alloys. Not that the Mégane Cup is poorly equipped – it still packs cruise control, speed limiter, eight airbags, ESP with three settings (on, Sport and hairy-chested off), a keycard, electric mirrors, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors.

Still undecided? Well, you can have your toys and your performance credentials held intact, if you choose the better equipped car and add the Cup chassis along with the Recaros for £1950. Even if the list price does then creep up perilously close to £25k.

New Mégane Renaultsport 250: what's in the engine bay?

The Mégane hot hatch sticks with the outgoing car's 2.0-litre turbo four-pot, now tuned for 247bhp and 251lb ft. Emissions on both Renaultsports stand at 195g/km, and each falls in insurance group 17E.

One innovation of note is a new telemetry pack for the masses. Dubbed Renaultsport Monitor, it's like Nissan GT-R meets Gran Turismo – letting drivers flick through lap times, engine power and torque ratings, g-forces and so forth. Boys and their toys and all that.

The order books open on 1 November, with first UK deliveries slated for January 2010. Options include Recaro seats (see picture in our gallery), LED day running lights and 19in Speedline alloys.      

By Tim Pollard