Renault Releases World Series Special Edition Clio and Megane Models

This summer sees the launch of a new series of special edition Clio and Megane models named after Renault's World Series single-seater challenge. Due to make their public appearance at Silverstone track on the first weekend of July, the World Series Clio, Megane Hatch and Megane Coupe versions feature sportier body styling (but that's about it) with the French automaker claiming savings for the customer between £940 to £1,190 over the price of the additional items if they were ordered separately in the UK.

The Clio World Series by Renault is based on the Dynamique trim level adding a front spoiler, side skirts, a sports rear bumper plus WSR badging. It is available with two gasoline engines, a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter with 75HP and a 1.2-liter turbocharged four with 100HP, plus a 1.5-liter diesel producing 86HP, with prices starting from £12,170 on the road.

Priced from £16,595, the five-door Megane hatch version benefits from a front apron, Coupe-style bumper inserts, side skirts, a sports rear bumper, rear spoiler, WSR badging and 17-inch alloy wheels. Buyers can choose from the 1.6-liter petrol with 110HP or the 1.5-liter diesel making 106HP.

And finally, there's the Megane Coupe World Series by Renault which sports a front spoiler, side skirts, specific rear bumper and 17-inch alloy wheels. Priced from £16,995, it is offered with the same engines as the hatch model.

All three models are available for order in the UK from 1st July with deliveries starting from July 6th, 2009.

Renault's Megane R26.R Up to 3 Seconds Faster than the 300HP Focus RS at UK Tracks

According to Renault, the most potent version of the previous generation Megane RS, the 230HP R26.R that went on sale in October 2008 for a limited run of 450 examples, 230 of which are destined for Britain, has set new benchmark lap times at four UK tracks. The French carmaker announced that at Silverstone, Drivers-Republic recorded a lap time of 1 minute and 19.4 sec, almost three seconds faster than the more powerful Ford Focus RS that is equipped with a 300HP 2.5-liter turbocharged five pot while at the West Circuit at Bedford Autodrome, Evo magazine timed the R26.R at 1m 29 sec beating the RS by almost two seconds.

At Bruntingthorpe, Performance Car said that it timed the R26.R faster than the Focus RS, the Subaru Impreza STi Type UK and found it even faster than a 360hp Revo-tuned Seat Leon Cupra. Finally, at Millbrook, Autocar magazine recorded a time of 1min and 15.6 seconds, a second faster than the Focus RS.

The French carmaker said that the R26.R, which boasts the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 230HP as the normal R26 but weighs 123kg or 271 lbs less than its standard counterpart, has now set benchmark times for a front-wheel drive production car at Silverstone, Bedford Autodrome, Millbrook and Bruntingthorpe.

Last year, the Megane R26.R established a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car at the 13-mile Nurburgring circuit in Germany recording a time of 8 minutes 17 seconds.

Renault Launches new Entry-Level Megane Extreme Models in the UK

Cash isn't exactly flowing out of consumers' pockets these days, so Renault decided to draw the attention of UK car buyers by introducing a new low-priced, Extreme trim level for its Megane hatchback. Priced from £13,250, the new Megane Extreme is available with two engine options, a 100HP 1.6-liter gasoline and a 86HP 1.5-liter dCi diesel unit. The vehicle's standard equipment includes a 4x15W radio RDS CD MP3 system, air conditioning, ESP and front electric windows.

The French automaker said that the new Megane Extreme that will be available for order from May with first deliveries expected in June, undercuts the five-door Ford Focus Studio 1.4 Duratec 80PS by £1,540 (£14,790 OTR) and Volkswagen's New Golf S 5 door 1.6 102PS by £1,825 (£15,075 OTR).

Megane RS 250: New Photos of Renault's Golf GTI Contender

We just received these new photos of the Megane RenaultSport (RS) 250 finished in gunmetal grey and white in our e-mail. We could have probably performed the color change on the initial pictures of the Megane RS 250 in canary yellow with a little help from photoshop, but why get into all that trouble. There's nothing new to add about Renault's Golf GTI adversary that is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-pot delivering a promising 250HP other than that we really dig its dramatic -for a hot hatch, that is- looks.

Geneva Show: Renaultsport Megane RS 250

Aimed squarely towards the VW Golf GTI and the Ford Focus ST, the new Megane Renaultsport 250 made its world premiere in Geneva. The hottest version of the Megane comes with a new-generation two-liter 16-valve turbocharged petrol engine producing 250hp at 5,500rpm and peak torque of 340Nm from 3,000rpm. That's an increase of 25hp and 40Nm over the outgoing Megane R26. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Under the skin, the new Megane Renaultsport 250 has inherited the same suspension arrangement as the current version. Like the Renaultsport variants of the Clio and Twingo ranges, the Megane is available with a choice of two chassis, the standard sport chassis or the Cup chassis, which comes with a limited slip differential for even greater traction. Equally importantly, the hot Megane is equipped with an ESP (electronic stability control) that is fully disconnectable.

Based on the attractive three-door variant of the Megane, the RS 250 comes with an aggressive bodykit which includes a new front bumper incorporating LED daytime running lights and a splitter, extended wheel arches and sills, 18-inch alloy wheels, central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser

Inside, there are sport seats, an analogue rev-counter with visual and audible gearshift indicator, aluminium pedals and the Renaultsport steering wheel complete with thumb grips.

2009 Renault Megane Sport Tourer (SW) Scooped Undisguised in Portugal!

The next-generation Renault Megane Sport Tourer - you can simply call it an estate or a station wagon- has been scooped without a single trace of camouflage ahead of its world premiere at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show. Caught by our friends over at the Auto Hoje forums, the 2009 Megane Sport Tourer was discovered in the city of Lisbon in Portugal during a filming for an advertising campaign.

While sharing the same front-end styling with the new Megane hatchback models, the station wagon variant features a distinct rear-end design with split tail lights. Compared to the outgoing Megane estate, the new Sport Tourer features a 'swoopier' and lower roofline that offers the car a more dynamic appearance than its predecessor, but this could also mean that it is less practical.

Don't expect any surprises under the hood as the Sport Tourer will be offered with same gasoline and diesel unit as the hatchback. The petrol engine range will include 100HP and 110HP 1.6-liter units, a 140HP 2.0-liter and the turbocharged 130HP 1.4TCe and 180HP 2.0TCe. Diesel options will include 1.5 dCi 85HP, 90 HP, 105 HP and 110 HP units along with more powerful 130 HP, 150HP and 160 HP variants.

Via: Autohoje , 'Muito Obrigado' for the tip Jose!

New Renault Megane RS Spied without Camo

Along with the facelifted 2009 Renault Clio RS, the folks over at Forum Auto also seem to have captured a prototype version of the new Megane RS undergoing testing at an unnamed race track. Like the cosmetically updated Clio RS, the hottest Megane III is distinguished in these 'fuzzy' photos by the more aggressively styled front bumper with the black detailing that appears to be a new trademark of the RenaultSport (RS) cars.

The new Megane RS which is set to make its world premiere in Geneva next week, will feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing an output of 250-horsepower. Power will be channeled to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

Source: Forum Auto , Via: es.Autoblog.com

Renault Launches Teaser Site for 2009 Megane RS 250HP

Renault is offering us our first glimpse of the forthcoming Megane RS that is set to make its world premiere at the Geneva Show by launching a new dedicated microsite. As we first told you here at Carscoop, Renault's Ford Focus ST and VW Golf GTI adversary will come with a tweaked version of the current Megane R26's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot delivering an output of 250-horsepower. Power will be transmitted to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. For more info on Renault's hot Megane, click here.

Renault Megane Coupe Trophy: V6-Powered Racer in the Flesh

Now it’s time to drool all over the most desirable Renault Megane Coupe ever. ‘Its awesomeness’ is a competition version powered by a mid-rear mounted, Nissan / Infiniti sourced 3.5-liter V6 engine tweaked to develop 360 HP. The new Megane Coupe Trophy will take part in the 2009 season of the World Series by Renault (WSR) which is a single-seater car championship that has been running in Europe since 2005. Hit the jump for more live pictures of the Megane Coupe Trophy from Paris or click here to read all the details on Renault’s latest competition model. -Continued