Short test: Renault Megane Coupe RS 2.0 T 165 Red Bull Racing RB7
You probably know that Sebastian Vettel was the most successful Formula 1 driver in recent years. And as a result, you probably know that his Red Bull Renault team is in the same position among Formula 1 teams.
Matthew Groschel
For car manufacturers participating in Formula 1, it was customary to make more or less sporty versions of their cars, trying to somehow connect them with this competition and the participants in it. Honda, for example, released a Civica a few years ago, which they called the Gerhard Berger Edition. And he really wasn't athletic at all.
Renault celebrated its collaboration with the Red Bull team with a special version of the Megan. Fortunately, the low-power diesel versions were not taken as a basis and a bunch of useless accessories were added to them. No, they took the Megana RS as the basis - but the truth is that we could try a little.
Their recipe could not be called an example of the highest automotive culinary art. They just took the Megana RS, renamed it Megana RS Red Bull RB7 and moved the Cup chassis from the list of optional equipment to the serial list (which is lower, stronger and which, in addition to changes in suspension and damping settings, also brings a differential lock) and better) front brake calipers and some internal and external equipment (say, Recar sports seats, which would otherwise cost you over a thousand).
Several parts of the exterior (and interior) of the car were dressed in yellow (the visual suitability of such an intervention could be discussed at length and in detail) and several stickers (which, in all honesty, are not of the best quality or are best glued) and a plate with a serial number ... That's all. Almost. They also added a start-stop system to reduce CO2 emissions (yes, it’s known: 174 grams of CO2 per kilometer, compared to 190 without this system).
It's a shame they missed the opportunity to play a little with the chassis and engine capabilities and make the car a kind of Nadmegana RS, a car that, in terms of its driving characteristics (make no mistake, even this one deserves the label excellent) and academic performance set new benchmarks in the class. Maybe we could even show enough courage and simplify the car, take the rear seats, install some lateral reinforcement, half-race tires, maybe even a roll cage (remember the previous Megane RS R26?) ...
Yes, such a Megane RS will provide the driver with a lot of (front-wheel drive) pleasure on the race track, but at the same time it seems that Renault missed a great opportunity to do something really special. Maybe there will be more? After all, Vettel has already won his third league title this year – could the next similar Megane RS have 300 horsepower?
Text: Dusan Lukic
Photo: Matei Groshel
Renault Megan Coupe RS 2.0 T 265 Red Bull Racing RB7
Basic data
| Sales: | Renault Nissan Slovenia Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 31.790 € |
| Test model cost: | 33.680 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 6,2 with |
| Maximum speed: | 254 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 12,9l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - turbocharged petrol - displacement 1.998 cm3 - maximum power 195 kW (265 hp) at 5.500 rpm - maximum torque 360 Nm at 3.000–5.000 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | engine-driven front wheels - 6-speed manual transmission - tires 235/35 R 19 V (Bridgestone Potenza RE050A). |
| Capacity: | 254 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6,0 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 11,3/6,5/8,2 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 190 g/km. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.387 kg - permissible gross weight 1.835 kg. |
| External dimensions: | length 4.299 mm – width 1.848 mm – height 1.435 mm – wheelbase 2.636 mm – trunk 375–1.025 60 l – fuel tank XNUMX l. |
Our measurements
| T = 20 ° C / p = 1.070 mbar / rel. vl. = 42% / odometer status: 3.992 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 6,2s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 14,2 years ( 159 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 5,5 / 9,2s (IV/V) |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 6,8 / 9,5s (Sun./Fri.) |
| Maximum speed: | 254km / h (WE.) |
| test consumption: | 12,9 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 37,2m |
| AM table: | 39m |
evaluation
A Megane RS like this is great if you can live with (or even want to) some visual accessories. But there is still a hint that Renault missed the opportunity to do something really special.
We praise and reproach
position on the road
seat
steering
ESP two-stage and fully switchable
brakes
engine sound
Transmission
too much distance between the brake pedal and the accelerator
it could be even more extreme
