Renault Megane R.S. Ultime marks the end of the road for R.S. models

Renault Megane R.S. Ultime marks the end of the road for R.S. models  

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As the headline suggests, what you are looking at here is the swan song for the French brand's R.S. models to bear the Renault Sport insignia. 

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All future performance Renault models will bear the Alpine nameplate, the Renault Group's sports car brand. However, the Renault R.S. is bowing out with a bang by introducing the limited-edition Megane R.S. Ultime. It's based on the Trophy model but adds notable tweaks to add an even more assertive character. 

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Renault plans to make only 1,976 units as a tribute to the year 1976 when the Renault Sport division was formed. 

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The new Megane R.S. Ultime wears the brand's new logo, further complemented by diamond and specific graphics. There are matte black stripes on the roof and bonnet, rear bumper, door and fenders. Opting for the optional sunroof omits the stripes on the roof. 

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The special Megane R.S. Ultime is available in standard Star Black shade, Pearl White, Sirius Yellow and Tonic Orange, which has become synonymous with the R.S. brand. 

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In terms of dimensions, the Megane R.S. Ultime's bodywork has been beefed up, thanks to a 60 mm wider front and 45 mm wider rear fenders. Other exterior features include side air vents, R.S. Vision headlights, a typical R.S. central exhaust, a shark-fin antenna, a sporty spoiler, plus a rear diffuser. 

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As an added appeal, the logos, door handles, window frames, wheels, fender caps and rear diffuser are finished in black, while the F1 blade on the front bumper is painted in a glossy finish and Ultime monogram.

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Moving inside, the R.S. Ultime is kitted with Recaro bucket seats with titanium black Alcantara upholstery and an embroidered R.S. monogram. There is a hands-free key card that mirrors the diamond pattern on the stripes.

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It also gets exclusive door sills, numbered metal plates near the transmission controls, and at the bottom of the console. These are signed by Laurent Hurgon, the driver and development expert who worked on Megane R.S.

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As standard, the Megane R.S. Ultime features a 9.3" navigation screen with a Bose Hi-Fi system, a 10" digital cluster, R.S. Monitor on-board telemetry, adaptive cruise control and 360-degree manoeuvring aids. Besides the aforementioned sunroof, buyers can add a head-up display and a custom-designed cover at an added charge. 

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At its heart beats the same 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine that also powers the Trophy. The engine is good for 223 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque, enough to propel the hot hatch from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. 

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The road patches come courtesy of Bridgestone Potenza S007 semi-slicks developed exclusively for the Trophy R. These are paired with Fuji Light 19" wheels that are home to Brembo dual-cast brakes with red callipers.

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The new Megane R.S. Ultime will make its public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon on 13 January 2023. 

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