Renaultsport Megane goes rallying

By Jack Rix

07th December 2010

Renault is going rallying! The French firm has unveiled a faster and more focused version of its Renaultsport Megane. Called the Megane RS N4, the upgraded hatch is designed as an out of the box tarmac rally product for private drivers.

Power form the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine has been boosted to 266bhp and there's 340Nm of torque. There's also firmer suspension, thanks to a collaboration between Renault and Swedish suspension specialist Öhlins, and a limited slip differential.

A roll bar and Sabelt racing seats with a 6-point harness, plus bigger brakes are also part of the special edition package, improving safety at high speeds. Power is channeled to the front wheels through a six-speed Sadev gearbox - meaning it offers an alternative to the traditional four-wheel drive rally cars.

This new model completes Renault's rally car range which currently consists of Twingo Renault Sport R1 and R2, and Clio Renault Sport R3 ‘Access’, ‘Maxi’ and ‘Evo’. The car will be officially unveiled at the end of November at France’s Rallye du Var and homologated for the start of the 2011 season.