megane R26-R
RenaultSport Megane R26.R Vs. Porsche 911 996 GT3 RS
A fabulous Nurburgring video from RSR Nurburg of a RenaultSport Megane R26.R playing about with a 996 GT3 RS.
RSR Do Nurburgring hire cars if you didn’t know (a bit of link love for them): Nurburgring Hire Car
Always a Hooligan,
/y0z
New 2009 RenaultSport Megane 250 Unveiled At Geneva Auto Salon
2009 RenaultSport Megane Unveiled At Geneva Auto Salon
With less than an hour to go until the revealing of the new Megane R26-R at the Geneva Auto Salon (Motor Show), the anticipation is starting to rise. With an expected 250 BHP the New Megane RS R26 is RenaultSport’s second escapade in as many years into the hardcore trackcar market.
With an accompanying press release and pictures to follow, ReadyForTheTrack will keep you bang up to date as soon as the pictures are released.
NEW MEGANE RENAULTSPORT: 250HP OF PURE PLEASURE
As the latest in a long line of Renault performance models, New Mégane Renaultsport 250 stands out through its exhilarating performance and handling. The fusion of its extra 25hp with unmistakable sporting coupé credentials and choice of two chassis settings (sport and Cup, the latter with a limited slip differential) is clear evidence that New Mégane Renaultsport has been honed to delight enthusiasts.
Coming after Mégane F1 Team R26 and Mégane R26.R, New Mégane Renaultsport 250 profits fully from Renault Sport Technologies’ extensive experience when it comes to manufacturing performance models.
Powerful
New Mégane Renaultsport 250 is powered by a new-generation two-litre 16-valve turbocharged petrol engine which boasts maximum power of 250hp at 5,500rpm and peak torque of 340Nm from 3,000rpm. The sum of the different improvements made to this engine has produced a gain of 20hp and 40Nm over Mégane R26.R which itself emerged as the yardstick in the world of performance hatches. The Renaultsport engine’s twin-scroll turbo is exceptionally responsive, particularly at lows revs, with 80 per cent of maximum torque available from 1,900rpm. Its wide power band makes it a genuine joy to drive in everyday use, and the pleasure remains undiminished all the way up to the rev-limiter whenever it is pushed a little harder. The engine of New Mégane Renaultsport 250 transmits its power through a six-speed manual gearbox.
Work has also gone into the acoustics of the Renaultsport engine to produce a tell-tale sporty note audible inside the cabin under acceleration.
Efficient
New Mégane Renaultsport 250 has inherited the same suspension arrangement as the current version. Thanks to an independent steering axis layout at the front, the suspension and steering functions have been separated to ensure a particularly high standard of handling allied with great traction.
Like the Renaultsport versions of the Clio and Twingo ranges, New Mégane Renaultsport is available with a choice of two chassis: the standard sport chassis or the Cup chassis, which comes with a limited slip differential for even greater traction.
The electric power steering features specific calibration and benefits from the latest improvements seen on New Mégane aimed at achieving greater precision and even more feedback from the road.
New Mégane Renaultsport 250 is equipped with ESP which is fully disconnectable in order to enable owners to enjoy their car’s full potential on a circuit.
Provocative
New Mégane Renaultsport 250 benefits from undeniably sporty looks. The front bumper incorporates the LED daytime running lights, as well as the splitter which recalls the low-slung nose of the R28 Formula 1 car. The dynamic looks are further emphasised by extended wheel arches and sills, 18-inch alloy wheels, central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser.
The interior design, too, recalls the world of motor sport, from the extra lateral support for the seats, to the analogue rev-counter with visual and audible gearshift indicator, the aluminium pedals and the Renaultsport steering wheel complete with thumb grips. The Renaultsport signature is also visible inside the car: on the headrests, rev-counter and dashboard.
Renault Sport Technologies has combined its experience of motor sport with its longstanding production expertise to develop a comprehensive range of sporting cars. The hallmarks of Renaultsport models are their pedigree engines and efficient chassis which together deliver an undeniably high level of sports performance, as testified by the reputation forged by Mégane F1 Team R26 and Mégane R26.R which were voted ‘Sporting Car of the Year’ in France in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
New Mégane Renaultsport 250 goes on sale in the UK later this year.
Always a Hooligan,
/y0z
RenaultSport Announce the Megane R26-R
RENAULT UNVEILS MEGANE RENAULTSPORT R26.R
New limited edition Mégane Renaultsport R26.R makes its worldwide debut at the British International Motor Show on the, 22 July, 2008. Developed from the Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26, the R26.R retains the same engine, gearbox and limited slip differential but with a significant weight reduction of 123kg
Achieves new lap record of the Nürburgring of 8m 17s, the fastest for a front-wheel-drive production car
Features from the world of racing with a carbon bonnet, polycarbonate windows, Sabelt race seats and six-point harnesses, Optional roll cage and titanium exhaust it is priced very competitively at £22,990
Limited to 450 examples worldwide, 230 of which will come to the UK. It is on sale from October 2008.
The Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26 was launched in November 2006 and has enjoyed a great success. Using this base, Renaultsport launch an extreme version, the Mégane Renaultsport R26.R. Developed by Renault Sport Technologies, the Mégane R26.R joins the family that also comprises the Clio Renaultsport 197, Mégane Renaultsport 225, Mégane Renaultsport dCi 175 and, from September, the Twingo Renaultsport 133. Since the launch in April 2004, the family of Mégane Renaultsport has sold more than 20,000 units in almost 30 countries.
The launch of this ultimate version underlines Renault Sport Technologies’ role as a leading manufacturer of high performance cars.
Mégane R26.R has been developed to:
- offer customers who enjoy trackdays a car with an unrivalled performance per pound ratio
- be an enthusiast’s icon
Radical looks
Renault Sport Technologies have given the Mégane R26.R visual differences that mark out the car at first glance. The carbon fibre bonnet and new 18” alloy wheels in red are the main visual clues together with a new rear spoiler, plus R26.R decals and logos and tinted polycarbonate in place of glass in the tailgate and rear side windows. The car is available in seven colours, two of which are new to the Mégane, Racing Blue and Renault i.d. Lunar Grey and one is brand new, Renault i.d. Pearlescent White.
Inside the R26.R the atmosphere is as radical as the outside. Competition seats with a carbon fibre shell are supplied by Sabelt who also supply the six-point harnesses, the first time that this form of restraint has been homologated in a production car. Conventional lap and diagonal seat belts can be fitted as an accessory. No rear seat is fitted. The steering wheel and gearlever gaiter are in leather and suede. A plaque shows the production number for each country, 230 for the UK, 126 for France and the remainder split between Germany, Spain and Switzerland.
Lightweight DNA
To improve the power to weight ratio, the Mégane R26.R has been on a strict diet, losing 123kg compared to the standard R26. This has been achieved by the removal of:
- Rear seats and seat belts
- Passenger airbag and curtain airbags (the driver’s airbag remains)
- Climate control (air conditioning remains as standard)
- Rear wash/wipe and heated rear window
- Front fog lamps
- Headlamp washers
- Radio/CD player
- Most of the soundproofing
Other new elements are:
- carbon fibre bonnet (saves 7.5kg)
- tailgate and rear side windows in polycarbonate (saves 5.7kg)
- Sabelt seats with carbon fibre shell and aluminium base (saves 25kg)
- Six-point harnesses
- Rear spoiler
- Optional roll cage
- Optional titanium exhaust
A chassis without compromise
The suspension and brakes have been optimised to make the most of the new, lighter weight and to provide maximum performance. The front independent suspension is maintained but with the following new parts:
- new front springs (14mm/100kg compared to 13.4mm/100kg)
- new rear springs (16.2mm/100kg from 15.1mm/100kg)
- the shock absorber settings are also re-calibrated
- the brake discs are grooved, not drilled
- new alloy wheels are fitted with a different offset increasing the track by 4mm
- Toyo Proxes R888 225/40R18 tyres are available as an option in place of the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40R18
- Stiffer lower arm bushes
To guarantee the best possible traction, the R26.R retains the limited slip differential from the Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26. This is a mechanical differential with helical teeth and retains the same transfer rate of 33%. The combination of this limited slip differential and independent steering-axis front suspension minimises torque steer and enables power to be applied earlier during cornering.
A performance car needs brakes that are both powerful and fade-resistant. The Mégane R26.R has large 312mm ventilated discs at the front with Brembo four-piston callipers that provide stopping power at the highest level. To resist fade, the discs are grooved as opposed to drilled.
230hp
The R26.R takes its engine and gearbox from the Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26. This develops a peak power of 230hp and torque of 310Nm. A characteristic of this engine is the wide power band, with 90% of the torque available from 2000 to 6000rpm.
However, to reduce the gear change time, a short-shift gear linkage is fitted.
The R26.R accelerates from zero to 62mph in 6 seconds and passes the 1000 metre mark in 25.9 seconds. The combined fuel consumption is 33.2 mpg and emissions are 199g/km.
Nürburgring lap record
On 23 June, the Mégane R26.R established a new lap record for a front wheel drive production car of the Nürburgring circuit with a time of just 8 minutes 17 seconds. To commemorate this exceptional level of performance, the circuit outline and lap time is etched into the rear side windows.
The Mégane R26.R is unveiled on 22 July, in London at the British International Motor Show and goes on sale in October limited to just 450 examples in total.
The Mégane R26.R is £22,990. The pricing for the optional equipment is:
Roll cage and Toyo Proxes tyres £700
Titanium exhaust £tbc
Deletion of decals No charge
Black alloy wheels £120
Climate control £460
Metallic paint £375
Renault i.d. Glacier White £150
Renault i.d. Pearlescent Paint £1200