The Renault Mégane R.S., a front-wheel-drive high-performance model that has battled for lap times with the Civic Type R on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. We test drove the latest model, which has undergone improvements such as an engine power upgrade.

In 2019, the Renault Mégane R.S. sensationally set the fastest lap for a front-wheel-drive sports car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany, with a time of 7 minutes 40.100 seconds. The Mégane R.S. driven by Renault Sport test driver Laurent Hurgon at that time had undergone extensive weight reduction. It was a Trophy R model, approximately 20kg lighter than the 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (6-speed EDC) version, and stripped of its four-wheel steering system to shed another 130kg. Of course, there were criticisms that removing the rear seats and the core mechanism of the Mégane R.S., the 4Control (four-wheel steering system), was excessive.

However, the Nürburgring Nordschleife time attack had become a showdown between the Renault Mégane R.S. and the Honda Civic Type R, with the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S, Seat Leon Cupra, and Ford Focus RS occasionally entering as challengers.

Furthermore, in the autumn of 2019, Renault also conducted a time attack with the Mégane R.S. driven by Hurgon at Suzuka Circuit, Honda's home turf, setting a new FF record of 2 minutes 25.454 seconds. In a clear and fair manner, akin to a 'home and away' format in soccer, Renault has been fueling the hot hatch sports car segment through its pursuit of the title of fastest front-wheel-drive production car.

Adding to this background, the arrival of the 6-speed manual transmission in the Japanese market with this minor change heightened our anticipation for the test drive. The 'Trophy' model is now available with either a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (EDC) or a 6-speed manual. While the manual version is not identical to the Nürburgring record car from two years ago due to the retention of the 4Control system, it is arguably a step closer. However, due to parts availability, we were unable to test the 6-speed manual Trophy this time, and could only examine the right-hand drive EDC model, finished in John Sirius Metallic with 19-inch wheels featuring red accents on the five spokes.