Renault Mégane RS Ultime: the farewell special series

The epic of Renault Megane RS (acronym for Renault Sport) has come to an end after three generations and countless special series, some of which inspired by the lap records at Spa-Francorchamps and at the Nürburgring that the French sedan has established and improved over time, excelling among all-wheel drive cars front. To celebrate the sportiest and most powerful model in the Renault range, the transalpine house has created and started marketing a limited series of 1976 specimens based on the current Mégane RS Trophy, but featuring an exclusive look and extremely complete equipment. It’s called Ultime and will be available from spring 2023, to replace Mégane RS and Megane RS Trophy.

The number 1976 recalls the year when Renault Sport was founded with the aim of making its debut in Formula 1 by bringing the turbo engine to its debut. Each specimen of the Renault Mégane RS Latest is signed by Laurent Hurgon, the driver and tuner who has set several track records with the Mégane RS and the first public appearance is expected in Japan, on the occasion of the Tokyo Auto Salon on January 13, 2023, in a country that boasts a community estimated at 10,000 fans of the sports models of the French brand. The Mégane RS Ultime owes its importance as a high-performance model to the fact that it is the latest series of Mégane RS and, more generally, the last model to bear the Renault Sport logolooking forward to a story that will continue in a different way with Alpine, the sports vehicle brand of the Renault Group.

The aesthetics of the Renault Mégane RS Ultime are made even more exclusive by incorporating the aesthetic codes of Renault Sport with the double diamond which, in this case, includes specific graphics inspired by the design of the new Renault logo. The matt black stripes are found on the roof and bonnet (except for the retractable roof option) but also on the rear bumper, doors and fenders. The matte black color matches perfectly with 4 body colors available: Black Étoilé (free tint) in which the stripping integrates elegantly, White Nacré, Yellow Sirio (which incorporates the emblematic colors of Renault Sport) and Orange Tonic for an even more accentuated color contrast. Furthermore, the stripping on the right discreetly hides the date on which Renault Sport was founded.

The aesthetic characterization of Renault Mégane RS Latest includes flared fenders, side vents, RS Vision headlights, central exhaust, shark fin antenna, Recaro bucket seats and rear diffuser. For this limited series, there are many details that are tinged in black such as the logos, door handles, window frames, rims (including wheel nut covers), fender trims, rear diffuser and the F1 bumper blade front that stands out for its glossy black finish with the Ultime monogram. The graphics have been chosen with a shaded effect to convey a feeling of greater dynamism.

Sports seats with titanium black Alcantara upholstery, which also include the embroidered RS monogram, come as standard. The identification key for accessing and starting the Renault Mégane RS Latest it takes up the diamond motifs of the bodywork stripping. There are specific sill plates and, near the dual clutch gearbox selector, in the lower part of the console, there is a numbered metal plate to underline the exclusivity of each model.

The equipment of the Renault Mégane RS Latest includes the best of the Mégane RS and Mégane RS Trophy features: navigator with 9.3” display and Bose Sound System, reconfigurable digital instrumentation with 10” monitor, RS Monitor on-board telemetry, adaptive cruise control and assistance systems to maneuvers with a 360° plan view. The list of options is limited to the head-up display, the panoramic sunroof and the specific-style cover, a “gem” for those who purchase this authentic collector’s item.

The Ultime, a limited series based on the Mégane RS Trophy, incorporates the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine with maximum power of 300 HP and maximum torque of 420 Nmthe EDC dual clutch automatic transmission (for Europe) and the Torsen mechanical differential. Acceleration from 0 to 100m/h takes just 5.7 seconds. It is equipped with semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires developed for the Mégane RS Trophy-R, combined, in the case of the Ultime, with 19” Fuji Light light alloy wheels and Brembo brakes with composite material discs and red calipers. The front axle with independent wheels, the lowered Cup chassis, the hydraulic compression limit switches and the 4Control system with 4-wheel steering promise to give it ultra-sporty behaviour, even on the track.