When Renault decided to beat its own Nurburgring lap record for a front-wheel drive production car – held by the much-loved old generation Megane R26.R – they took the standard Megane 250, slightly wound up the boost to release another 14bhp and fitted it with some grippier, Bridgestone RE050A tyres. That’s it. No chassis changes, no cross bracing, no R26.R-style extreme weight loss programme to ditch the radio, sound-proofing or back seat. Just a mildly enhanced version of an already accomplished car that promptly knocked nine seconds of its predecessor’s record with a staggering lap of 8 minutes and 8 seconds.
Specifications
| Engine | In-line 4-cyl, 1998cc, turbo |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, FWD |
| Peak power | 261bhp @ 5500rpm |
| Peak torque | 265lb ft @ 3000-5000rpm |
