Renault’s ultimate Magene priced from $61,990

French hatchback raises the bar for front-wheel-drive performance.

David McCowen

03:2408 December 2014

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Renault's ultimate Magene priced from $61,990

There are a lot of numbers that define Renault's sharpest hot hatch.

A 7:54.36s lap of the Nurburgring is a big one for the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R, given that no front-wheel-drive production car has gone faster, or there is its turbocharged heart that makes an impressive 201kW and 360Nm of grunt.

You could consider that just 50 examples from a global run of 250 cars are coming to Australia, and that a clever lithium-ion battery helps trim 15 kilograms from its kerb weight.

But the biggest digit of them all is its price. Securing an example of Renault's Megane RS 275 Trophy-R will cost $61,990 plus on roads, making it the most expensive performance car ever offered by the brand.

That's nearly $7500 more than what Volkswagen charges for the more powerful, all-wheel-drive Golf R hatch, and even more than what Mercedes-Benz commands for its excellent new C-Class sedan. But less than the most expensive hatch on the market, the $74,900 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

It offers no more power than the $9000-cheaper Megane RS 275 Trophy, building instead on that model with a series of track-focused upgrades.

Renault says the ultimate Megane will appeal to a small crowd of die-hard enthusiasts, given that it is "a radical limited-edition car, ideal for circuit use".

The fast frog has plenty of gear including adjustable Öhlins suspension, a titanium Akrapovic exhaust and sticky Michelin semi-slick tyres.

Militant track-day fiends can up the ante with the no-cost-option Nurburgring Accessory Kit which includes lightweight steel and aluminium brake discs, six-point harnesses with aviation-style buckles and the supermodel-slim battery.

The car has just two seats seats, race-ready monocoque Recaro units that prevent practical access to the rear bench area. The car is finished in pearl white paint with a black roof and red 19-inch Speedline wheels that complement red highlights throughout its alcantara-clad interior.

Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar expects the car to sell out soon.

"It is an exciting opportunity for us to introduce this exclusive limited edition in Australia and it is a fantastic demonstration of the support for Renault Sport in Australia that we've been able to secure 50 vehicles out of the 250 vehicle globally," he said.

"Renault Australia is the second highest selling country in the world for Renault Sport in 2014 and I'm confident that all 50 vehicles will be sold very quickly."