2008 Renaultsport dCi diesel hot-hatch
4 Jun, 2008
15 Comments 
As the push towards more diesel powered cars on our roads continues Renault has confirmed it will become the second European manufacturer to launch a ‘hot hatch’ with diesel power.
- David Twomey
Later this year the Mégane RenaultSport dCi will follow the Volkswagen Golf GT Sport 2.0 TDI in breaking open the sports hot-hatch market in Australia.
To create the new model Renault has fitted its existing top-end 2.0dCi diesel engine to the chassis originally developed for the Mégane Renault Sport 2.0 Turbo.
This powerplant develops 127kW at 3750rpm plus a generous 360Nm of torque at 2000rpm and, in terms of breadth, its operational power band is comparable with that of a turbocharged petrol engine.
It compares favourable with the VW Golf GT diesel which develops 2kW less and 10Nm less at slight lower rpm.
The Renault engine is packed with advanced technology, including a variable geometry turbocharger which provides a wide spread of torque throughout the rev range. Piezoelectric injectors are capable of operating up to five times per cycle, which helps reduce engine noise, fuel consumption and particulate emissions.
Coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox it produces a combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km and CO2 emissions of just 172g/km.
Beneath the skin you’ll find the underpinnings of the petrol-powered Mégane Renault Sport 2.0 Turbo and our experience with this car means we wouldn’t disagree with Renault’s claims that the standard Renault Sport chassis blends dynamic handling with the kind of comfort everyday driving demands.
Independent steering-axis front suspension guarantees precise and efficient handling in all circumstances, while body movement is minimized by a 20mm-diameter anti-roll bar.
The front suspension has also been tuned to suit Mégane Renault Sport dCi’s characteristics and weight distribution. Spring stiffness and damper settings are consequently specific to this diesel version.
The rear suspension is based around a programmed-deflection flexible beam, the torsional stiffness of which is equivalent to that of the Cup chassis version of Mégane Renault Sport 2.0 T. The suspension components themselves are identical to those employed on the Sport chassis Mégane Renault Sport 2.0 T.
Powerful and fade-free, the Brembo braking system features four discs that are impressive in terms of both diameter (312mm and ventilated at the front, 300mm at the rear) and thickness (28mm at the front, 11mm at the rear). The front discs are also equipped with four-piston calipers.
The 18” alloy wheels run 225/40R18 tyres and the electronically variable power steering has been set up specifically to suit the car’s weight distribution.
The car will come with standard ESP and the Megane already has a EuroNCAP five-star safety rating.
Like the VW GT diesel the Renaultsport with a diesel engine will offer drivers a sporty driving experience coupled to frugal fuel efficiency.
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June 4th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hot? Far from it!
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June 4th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Jeeze..
Some people are hard to please..
This is just the right car for the times we are living in..
I would have expected a tad more torque though, considering the Mazda3 diesel puts out the same (admittedly massive) 360NM.
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am
still will be slower than its petrol cousin, diesel cost more in australia, and most likely the car will cost more than its petrol cousin.
cant see any appeal for this car in australia except for all these people who are buying into the diesel marketing hype.
“the right car for the times we live in” …… the CO2 emmissons from this car would be only marginally better than a petrol one so maybe you can sleep better about the environment, or take bus/train/bike or walk to work and actually do something positive.
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June 5th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Here’s an ugly French car with the exact same formula as has been available from VW for quite a while.
Except that the VW is FAR better looking, and comes with FAR better option of DSG.
French ugg with no resale vs VW beauty with excellent resale - it’s a no-brainer.
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June 5th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Reckless1: Personally, I think this car is aesthetically far superior to any of the current VW range.
Styling is subjective. Don’t even bother trying to substantiate an argument with it.
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June 5th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Yes, some people like short term kitsch, others prefer long term, more neutral design.
Others prefer higher resale and higher build quality too.
Still others dislike anything French because they only just stopped exploding nuclear weapons in our back yard, even though we asked them not to, and they didn’t have a need to.
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June 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Are you implying that the styling of the Megane is short-term and kitsch and that the current VWs are somehow \’long-term\’?
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June 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Anybody who doesn’t think this design is beautiful has poor or underdeveloped aesthetic sensibilities. nuff said.
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June 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Yep, the styling appeal of this will fade as quickly as the resale value.
A 5 year old Golf still looks elegant and classy.
I may have “underdeveloped aesthetic sensibilities” but I’m like most of the population.
Please tell me how many of these insane bum design cars have been sold in AU, and how many Golfs. That should tell you that people vote with their sense of what is stylish and what is rubbish.
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June 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Golf owner here, Reckless. Thanks for your kind words on the Golf, but guess what? I’ve always LOVED the Big Bum look of these Meganes. I’d have put one on the shopping list 2 years ago if a diesel had been available.
Yes, I’m in on the diesel hype. I guess that makes me not terribly smart, hey Booter? Ahh, but check my punctuation.
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Enough said Golfschwein
Did you get the 125kw TDI?
I personally find the Megane to be “Mundane” and so it has stuck. “There goes another mundane!” I say.
BUT… long live choice. The golf is a lovely looking car, but I think that’s because of the variety of cars we see every day. I’d hate for all cars to look like a VW.
Viva La Difference!
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June 5th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hey Golfy, I’ve never liked big bums on my women and I don’t like them on my cars
But many men like it.
There are still the insurmountable problems of the Renault - it’s French (un)reliability, it’s (lack of)resale value, total numbers sold ????? perhaps 40 bumbacks since release. Try and get parts for them in 7 years time. Try and find a mechanic who knows/cares how to repair them - there might be one or two in Melbourne and Sydney.
But when you sell your diesel Golf, its retained value will be excellent, the buyer will know parts will be available, and there are many thousands of them on the roads, so eventual parts availability from wreckers will see a Golf running for 20 years or more. And it will still look good.
Voting with a style heart and buying the Renault will be accompanied by a generous financial hit sooner or later. The driving enjoyment would have to be damn good every day…….
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June 5th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Totally agree with you Golfie…love that rump, the only thing putting me off was the tight rear legroom.
Reckless - you being particulary neg today, Renault have upped the anti for build quality lately, Our Laguna was a crock of …. but Renault have promised better things.
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June 6th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Are we still talking about cars here?
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June 11th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Well my Turbo Reno is wonderful to drive. More room than the golf and better handling too. My dealer is Nissan in Adlaide and I couldnt be happier with their service. In fact better than when I bought my merc. However the article mentions nothing about 0/100. I dont care about c02 otherwise id buy the standard diesel. Diesel is getting too expensive and this is something we should all be protesting about.
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