- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
165kW, 300Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Renault Megane Sport 225 F1 Team
With fuel prices making headlines, it's perhaps no surprise that hot hatches are big news. After all, the idea first took off when the fuel scares of the 1970s sent manufacturers scrambling to offer keen drivers a serious drive that wouldn't break the bank.
This year, however, it seems everyone's having a go at the hot hatch. Ford's Focus XR5 Turbo was the first to arrive, and it has swiftly been followed up by Smart's ForFour Brabus, Holden's Astra SRi Turbo and, most recently, Mitsubishi's turbocharged Colt Ralliart.
Now Renault is edging its way into the spotlight with a new limited-edition version of the Megane 225.
As far as limited editions go, this has some credibility. It was designed to commemorate Renault's success in the formula one drivers' and constructors' titles last year and, with only 30 examples freed up for Australian buyers, is destined to remain exclusive.
Not that you could miss a Megane F1 Team if you saw it. For a start, it's based on the three-door body not usually offered to Megane Sport customers. Throw in eye-watering blue paint, positively naughty gloss black alloy wheels and lurid Renault F1 Team decals and there's no getting around its unique status.
Unusually, Renault isn't charging extra for the F1 Team's exclusivity. At $41,990, it costs exactly $1000 less than the Megane Sport Cup model it's based on and shares its equipment level with. That's still more than most rivals, though.
Underneath the glitzy exterior there's little to differentiate the F1 Team from the Cup. Motivation comes from the same 165 kW, 2.0-litre, turbocharged four that powers all hot Meganes, hooked up to the same six-speed manual gearbox. The suspension is the same updated set-up introduced with the Cup last year.
Put the foot down and the F1 Team delivers the same hefty wallop of turbo power as its siblings. It's a responsive, free-revving gem of an engine, with an unburstable character. Some turbo lag is evident at low revs but it's supremely flexible during lazy urban driving, and impressively refined, too. No gripes with the six-speed manual gearbox, either.
The Renault is quite economical, aside from its preference for premium unleaded. Renault claims 8.8 L/100 km for the combined urban/highway test, and that figure is within reach if you're not too heavy on the pedal.
The Cup represented a successful improvement on the standard Megane Sport 225's somewhat unresolved road manners, and the F1 Team plays to the same tune when the tarmac turns twisty. Body roll and other unwanted body movements are kept tightly in check and the balance is nicely responsive to driver inputs. Grip is stupendous, as is the stopping power offered from those Brembo brakes.
Of course, putting 165 kW down to road through the front wheels can still be a challenge at times, while the regimented ride means the Renault isn't at its happiest on craggy B-road tarmac. But for many keen drivers, this highly focused character will be a plus.
It's a similar story inside the cabin which, despite being supremely comfortable, well-furnished and chock-full of storage, can't quite match the best when it comes to back-seat and boot space.
The Megane F1 Team is not quite as well-rounded as some hot hatches, but it scores high for driver involvement, excitement and exclusivity.