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Megane RS 250 shines at exclusive Renault Sport trackday

November 17, 2011 at 4:53 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Renault, Test Drive Reviews

Track days are a luxury for the car enthusiast, especially since there are no smaller (and cheaper) circuits around the Klang Valley, and our only hope is a Formula 1 circuit. A lucky bunch of people recently got to enjoy a track day – these folks are the owners of Renault Sport cars. The event was arranged and sponsored by distributor TC Euro Cars, a subsidiary of Tan Chong Motors.

“People who buy a RM230,000 car with a manual transmission mated to a 250 hp engine are definitely driving enthusiasts; it is with our customers in mind that we felt that what better place to enjoy the full capability of Renault Sport cars than on a Formula 1 track,” said TCEC’s GM, Reza Mutalib.

From what we heard, TCEC is also planning to have a number of exclusive track days in 2012 to further accommodate the growing RS family. We heard about this trackday from a contact who owns a Renault Sport, so we called up TCEC to see whether we could come along for the ride.

Over 60 people showed up at Sepang, the bulk of them owners of the Megane R26, Clio RS and Megane RS250. There were also some who had booked the hot Megane and waiting (im)patiently for their cars to arrive. These soon to be owners had a taste of what their future ride can do on track as they were given demo laps, and from their smiles and expression, not one regretted his decision!

I asked, and apparently the car has been sold out for months. New stocks that are expected to arrive by the end of the month are mostly booked, too. Not that I have the bank balance…

If you haven’t already gathered from our test drive report, we adore the Megane RS 250 for its superb performance (not just speed, but handling and flow) and comfort as a daily driver (unlike say, a Civic Type R). It also amazed me that Renault Sport managed to better the Megane R26 in about every aspect, and the old timer is a cracker, mind you.

Back to the track. Before I drove, I strapped myself in the passenger seat with Denis Lian, who is of course the pro who set the Sepang lap record for the Megane RS 250 at 2 mins 43 secs last year. Denis not only used every ounce of the car’s grip and brakes, but every inch of the track as well – and this is what separates racers from the regular enthusiast. After that we swapped seats for a chance for him to laugh at my skills.

He didn’t (because he’s nice, not because I’m good), but instead gave me pointers as we took on full laps of Sepang. My first full throttle of the day was at the exit of Turn 2 on to the right sweeper and straight before standing (literally) on the brakes for T4. Unlike the R26 and Golf GTI, the Megane RS doesn’t feel as fast as it really is, probably due to the much improved refinement.

But make no mistake, this car is very quick even if it doesn’t kick. We also recently found out that it actually makes much more than the stated 250 hp – click here to read.

Traction out of corners is superb in this LSD equipped car, as I discovered in T4, and one can confidently lean into the following S bends without the fear of Megane throwing you off the road. It will lose traction eventually, but the process is progressive, and you’re likely not to be caught unawares, unless one’s fully drowned in adrenalin, or just plain foolhardy.

Next up was a dab of the brakes before aiming for two apexes in a U. The Megane RS does allow for some degree of roll, which is not a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of “work”. The way the suspension “breathes” on the road (as opposed to hopping around) was evident here as I clipped the raised kerbs, without my head hitting the roof or bum shifting in the Recaro.

The final corner before the back straight really brought out the reactive nature of the chassis. This is one FWD car that can dance and flow along, and not just rely solely on grip from the nose. The straights saw me reach about 190 km/h before starting to brake at the 100m mark.

Those four-pot Brembos with 340 mm slotted discs are incredible, to say the least, marrying strong bite and a nice easy to modulate natural feel. 100m isn’t much when one’s hitting 200 km/h, and I’m happy to report that I made the corner with room to spare.

By the way, the Megane RS 250 comes standard with the R.S. Monitor, which displays real-time data (stopwatch with memory function, acceleration timer, g-force meter, turbo pressure, oil temp, torque/power figures) plus the option of five throttle map settings.

Didn’t really have time to play with all that, but I left the g-force meter on, and as you can see, we pulled about 1.2g of lateral acceleration. We achieved the same on the road in our earlier test drive.

Amazing performance on track for a car that’s so usable on the road. With the car and now the track days, these Renault Sport owners have double happiness. As for me, I left the track one part happy, two parts envy!

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Stock Renault Megane RS 250 Cup makes almost 300hp!

October 31, 2011 at 9:07 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Local News, Renault, Videos

When we talk about high-performance hot hatches, only few come to mind. These few include the Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco R, the Ford Focus RS, the Mazda 3 MPS and as the title suggests, the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup. Just like its competitors, the RS 250 is often referred to as a hot hatch which you can drive to work on the weekdays and at the same time, something which you can bring to Sepang on the weekends and practice your driving lines :)

Under the hood lies a 2.0 litre 4-pot turbocharged (twin-scroll) unit which has over 25% of new parts compared to its predecessor. 0 – 100 km/h can be achieved in 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 245 km/h. As highlighted in the “250″ designation of this French beauty, it makes 250 hp at 5,500 rpm at-crank and 340 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm with 80% of it available from 1,900 rpm. Or does it?

There are two ways to look at horsepower. One is at-crank (direct output from the engine) or on-wheel (horsepower measured on-wheel after transmission losses). The latter would naturally be lower than at-crank and auto makers use the former in the spec sheets. Most of the time, it is very hard for an owner to get similar horsepower figures when they carry out their own dyno tests. The conditions have to be right and the right fuel has to be used. So, you can safely say that most of the numbers are slightly optimistic.

Interestingly, with the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup, it’s the other way around. We were recently at a dyno session where the RS 250 was being tested, and it turns out that the RS 250 can actually give you an on-wheel horsepower figure that is almost similar as the at-crank figure showed in the brochure! The demo vehicle used in the video is an all-original unit, with no modifications whatsoever and it was used for media as well as customer test drives by Tan Chong Euro Cars and the vehicle has already clocked 25,000 kilometers.

During a test at GT Auto in Sunway, using RON97 fuel, the car actually achieved 248 hp and 355 Nm of torque on-wheel. After a simple math work, we managed to come up with an equivalent at-crank figure of approximately 295 hp which is almost similar to the at-crank number of the Ford Focus RS! The 295 hp number was derived from the 16% transmission loss calculation (from crank to wheels). Now we all know that the actual numbers will run off a little, but 45 hp is no joke.

Furthermore, reliable sources have confirmed that higher on-wheel horsepower figures were also achieved in two other units (you can view the dyno charts in the gallery). It was also said that the Renault Sport cars are tuned to work well in various climate conditions and ambient temperature. These sportier Renaults can also run on RON 95 fuel and the engines are built on a mass production line and that slight variances in horsepower from one engine to another is common.

It was also said that due to the slight differences, Renault Sport is being rather conservative with the published figures. Moreover, tests were also carried out overseas and these tests also confirmed that the RS 250 actually produces more power than promised. EVO UK also carried one out and they learned that their RS 250 media car recorded 270hp at-crank. You can check out the video here.

Other than a power mill with interesting figures, the Megane RS 250 comes with a sports-tuned chassis and suspension setting which helps give it its sharp maneuverability and chuckability, with comfort still in mind although there is a hint of acceptable stiffness to it. Suspension features include a 10mm lowered chassis as well as uprated dampers, springs and anti-roll bars.

Strong stopping power is also vital for a vehicle of such nature and this is provided by Brembo. The front wheels tease 340 mm vented and slotted discs along with 4-pot calipers. The brake tune strikes a good balance of stopping power and reliability in terms of maintaining brake pressure even during demanding driving scenarios such as pushing the car’s limits on the track.

No fancy or sophisticated dual-clutch transmissions here, just a good old, precisely weighted six-speed cog box which works well in shifting gears. All you need to do is acquire the skills of heel and toe, a dying art if you ask me, to ensure smoother shifting. There is also a mechanical LSD working in the background. Overall, the RS 250 retails for RM229,800 OTR without insurance and with that additional 45 hp, it gives the RS 250 better value for money.

If you want to learn more about the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup, you can read a full test drive review right here.

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Renault Clio R.S “Ange & Démon” – be good, and bad

October 4, 2011 at 12:52 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

We wrote earlier about the Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider limited edition, which goes on sale in the UK; here are the photos of the identical Clio R.S. “Ange & Démon” limited 666-unit run version that will be sold globally.

Effectively, the Angel and Demon, as it is called, is a dead ringer to the 200 Raider in terms of specifications – the matte paintwork, black roof, black 18-inch Interlagos alloy wheels, Bridgestone RE 050A tyres and leather-upholstered Recaro bucket seats etcetera etcetera, it’s all to be found here.

In fact, the only thing that’s different is the “Ange & Démon” logo on the left hand side of the rear quarter window pillar to identify it (and the numbered badging for the devilish series), replacing the Raider badge seen on the UK car.

Orders for the vehicle have opened, and the edition makes its public debut at the Lyon Motor Show in France on October 7, with the first vehicles in the showrooms for Halloween, though this one won’t turn out to be a scary prospect ….

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Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider – limited edition in matte

October 4, 2011 at 11:10 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

This is the Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider, a limited edition of the hot hatch. With a limited run of 50 cars for UK customers, the Raider packs in more equipment than the standard Clio RS 200 and wears distinctive matte paintwork.

A first for Renault, Raider is finished in matte Renault i.d. paintwork. The choice of Stealth Grey or Diavolo Red is contrasted by a gloss black finish to the roof, rear spoiler, F1-style front blade, rear diffuser and door mirrors. Gloss black is also applied to the 18-inch ‘Interlagos’ alloys, one inch larger than the standard 200 wheels.

The rims are wrapped with Bridgestone RE 050A tyres, as used on the record-breaking Megane Renaultsport 265 Trophy. Naturally, the acclaimed Cup chassis – featuring a lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers, quicker steering ratio and red finish to the Brembo brake callipers – is standard. Exterior changes are capped by extra-tinted rear side/tailgate windows and a Raider badge.

Inside, leather Recaros are complimented by the zinc grey finish to the centre console and fascia inserts. There’s a white rev counter as focus point. Bluetooth, USB connectivity, automatic climate control and Renaultsport carpet mats are also included. Customers can order their Raider with a no cost choice of either Renaultsport Monitor or Carminat TomTom Live satellite navigation.

A numbered plate identifies the number in the 50 production run. Outside of the UK, Renault is selling the 666-unit “Ange & Démon” limited edition, which is pretty much the same thing.

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2011 Renault Koleos facelift – more images released

September 8, 2011 at 12:38 am By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Renault

Renault has released a set of new images previewing the 2011 Renault Koleos facelift that will make its public debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Koleos is available in Malaysia with the sole option of a 2.5 litre engine, a CVT gearbox and 4X4, but internationally there are quite a few variants available.

There are both 2WD and 4WD models, CVT, 6-speed manual or 6 speed auto depending on model, and instead of the 2.5 litre 4 cylinder, you also have the choice of a M9R diesel in 2 different tunes – 150 PS and 175 PS.

Look after the jump for a huge photo gallery.
[Read more...]

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Renaultsport Megane RS 250 Cup with Stage 2 tuning package – meatier at 320 hp and 488 Nm

September 7, 2011 at 1:31 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

This should definitely be of interest to Renaultsport Megane RS 250 Cup owners – 320 hp and 488 Nm running off the car compared to the stock 250 hp and 340 Nm should sound very much like a symphony to them ears.

Those are the numbers promised by a Stage 2 tuning package just introduced by UK-based performance specialist RS Tuning. The 320 hp at 5,500 rpm is dyno proven, and the maximum torque kicks in at just 3,250 rpm. Lots of tractability on call, what with over 350 Nm of the torque available from between 2,500–6,250 rpm.

It isn’t cheap, not at £2,499 (RM11,920) for the whole road legal (with sports cat) package, especially when you’ve also got to factor in shipping and taxes, but the outlay bags an alloy Forge Motorsport high flow intercooler, a choice of sports catalyst or cat bypass pipe (which cheapens things a bit), a Milltek stainless steel performance exhaust system and a specially developed RS Tuning ECU remap for the 250’s F4Rt engine.

There’s no timing data currently available for the RS Tuning RS 250 Stage 2 upgrade package, but the company says that road and track testing has revealed supercar style levels of in-gear and outright acceleration. For those who can afford it, the exercise should deliver an absolute stonker.

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Formula Renault 3.5 single-seater to debut in 2012 World Series by Renault season

August 23, 2011 at 12:53 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under International News, Motorsports, Renault

Next season’s World Series by Renault will see the competitive debut of the new Formula Renault 3.5. The latest version of the single-seater – developed by Renault Sport Technologies and its various technical partners – will be more powerful than its predecessor and boast a number of cutting-edge features, whilst complying with the latest safety regulations and fitting comfortably within season budgets.

The maker says that the car will share even more common features with a Formula One car, making it the ideal vehicle in which to prepare drivers for the demands of F1. It will feature a new Dallara chassis, which is an evolution of the current frame with radically different front and rear wings and cockpit, but 70% of the Renault 3.5’s parts are brand new, compared to the outgoing car.

The new car’s two main innovations are with its Drag Reduction System (DRS), similar to the one used in F1, and the absence of a battery and starter. In addition to its new, Zytek Engineering-developed 530 hp V8 mill, the 3.5 also gets a new gearbox, a pneumatic clutch control and a state-of-the-art electronic system. It will also wear cutting-edge carbon brakes and new tyres specially developed by Michelin.

In all, the new car is 50 hp more powerful and 15 kg lighter than the current model, despite the discipline’s latest, more stringent safety measures. It also features anti-intrusion panels and a considerably improved power-to-weight ratio.

The new car went through its development phase in June, July and August, and was tested on several European circuits. In tests, the new car has already proven to be 2.6 seconds quicker than the pole time set by the current car at the Motorland Aragón meeting earlier in 2011.

Once data collection from testing has been validated, Renault Sport Technologies will move on to the production phase, with a view to making their first deliveries in January 2012 ahead of the season, which is due to begin in March.

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Renault plans vehicle production in China in 2016

August 4, 2011 at 1:14 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

According to reports, Renault is gearing up for China, and in a big way – the company is drawing up a strategic plan to launch production in China in 2016, says its COO Carlos Tavares.

Tavares was quoted as saying that the French automaker is preparing its strategic plan for China, and that will include a manufacturing component, adding that it is a reasonable goal to expect production to begin in five years time.

The reports add that Renault’s likely partner in such an enterprise would be Dongfeng Motor Corp, which is already in a joint venture with Nissan. According to a J.D. Power survey, the Japanese automaker was the second-best selling brand in China for the first half of 2011, with more than 386,000 vehicles sold.

Renault, on the other hand, has managed to sell only a few thousand imports in that same period, but that all looks set to change. It is expanding its network of dealerships in China to 80 outlets, up from the 50 now, and is set to open additional showrooms next year, but the coming growth in its dealer network isn’t just aimed at selling more imported cars in China, according to Tavares.

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Renault Twingo facelift to debut in Frankfurt

July 29, 2011 at 9:53 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, International News, Renault

Renault has released the first image of its refreshed second-generation Twingo, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The automaker says that the A-segment offering is the first production vehicle to feature cues inspired by the brand’s new design identity, as seen on the likes of the Frendzy Concept.

As is the case, the face gets a large dose of treatment, with a clearer demarcation of bonnet and bumper lines and a Renault logo that has been enlarged and centred in a more vertical position. There are no details, but its arrival at Frankfurt should take care of that.

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Renault-Nissan to independently develop cars for India

July 18, 2011 at 9:40 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Bajaj, Cars, India, International News, Nissan, Renault

According to reports, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced in a statement that it will be independently developing several passenger cars for the Indian market, which will include entry-level designs. This follows on an announcement made by Bajaj Auto last week that it has effectively canned a project to develop a low-cost minicar model for the Alliance members.

Initial plans for the minicar had Bajaj Auto, India’s second-largest motorcycle manufacturer by sales, teaming up with Renault and Nissan in a JV project on a 50:50 basis, with Bajaj holding half the stake and Renault and Nissan sharing the other half – the effort was to see Bajaj introduce the low-cost model next year to compete with the Tata Nano in its home market.

With several differences coming about, the three companies then decided to settle on a partnership that would have seen Bajaj developing the model and Renault and Nissan responsible for its branding and marketing.

Now, that’s off too – Bajaj’s MD Rajiv Bajaj stated that the company has shelved the minicar project because it found the venture commercially unviable. “From 2007 until 2009, we had an initial plan with Renault and Nissan to develop a low-cost small car which would be like the Nano,” Bajaj was qouted as saying, but during a meeting in November 2009 he told Carlos Ghosn that the minicar was unviable.

Bajaj stated that the partnership with Renault and Nissan continues intact, adding that his company will unveil a low-cost commercial vehicle – which will have passenger applications as well – in New Delhi in January that will also be showcased to both Renault and Nissan which, should they decide to go ahead with the project, will develop the passenger application aspects of the platform.

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