Renault Megane RS275 touches down from $52,990

The latest in a string of special edition Megane RS models, the RS275 Trophy gets a host of changes over the familiar RS265, led by a range of 2.0-litre turbo powertrain tweaks that up the power by 6kW to 201kW (at 5500rpm), though keep torque unchanged at 360Nm from 3000rpm. 

Despite the boost, the 0-100km/h sprint still takes 6.0 seconds, while fuel use remains a claimed 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. 

Other changes include the addition of an Akrapovič titanium exhaust system. In addition to benefiting from the lighter weight, Renault says the Megane RS275 Trophy also features a specific and “more raucous” bark. There’s also a cosmetic carbon exhaust tip. 

The RS275 sits on the company’s Cup chassis with limited-slip differential. 

See our special review of the RS275 Trophy from Germany’s Nurburgring earlier this year here. 

The car’s body also includes Trophy branding on the grey F1-style front blade, body-side decals and grey checkered flag graphics on the bottom of the doors. Each door sill guard is individually numbered. 

Inside are leather and alcantara bucket seats with red stitching, as well as red stitching on the rear bench and Renault Sport badging on the headrests. There’s also a new Zamac gear knob. 

Interested customers better hustle, since only 100 examples are coming to Australia, each priced from $52,990 plus on-road costs. This pitches the special version above the regular RS265 range, comprising the $43,990 Cup and $47,990 Cup Premium. 

No stranger to limited editions, the RS275 follows on from the Megane Trophy 8:08 version in 2011, the Red Bull Racing RB7 (2012) and Red Bull Racing RB8 (2013) versions. 

“Created to commemorate our recent front-wheel-drive lap record of the notorious Nurburgring, the Megane RS275 Trophy brings all the expertise of Renault Sport to life in an exciting and engaging package,” said Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar. 

“As soon as this vehicle was launched globally we saw customers wanting to place a deposit to secure one in Australia.  We’ve been able to secure an incredibly attractive price for such a special vehicle and I’m confident these 100 vehicles will be very popular with Renault Sport fans…”

The RS275 Trophy comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and goes on sale nationally on Tuesday September 30. 

Australia is already one of the world’s top Megane RS markets, and last year finished in the top three globally alongside France and the UK — a remarkable achievement considering Renault’s relative sales here are tiny by comparison. 

In addition, the the stripped-out, two-seater Renault Megane RS275 Trophy-R that reclaimed the title of fastest front-driver around the circuit will be available in Australia from December, with 50 units coming priced from around $65,000.