14 Mar 05
Rewind twelve months to the launch of the original Megane Renaultsport 225. As the car trundled out in its bright orange hue, Renault's marketing boffins claimed that this was hot hatch nirvana. The market, they said, had moved on and GTi buyers no longer wanted focussed dynamics and boy racer detailing. Instead they wanted a swift, mature GT that would cuddle before it seduced. It was an intriguing philosophy, but fatally flawed.
The car they'd produced might have worn the automotive equivalent of a Lycra cat suit, but underneath the posing was a car with saggy man boobs. In producing a GT, they'd removed a healthy quotient of fun and while it was a hit in France and Germany, it wasn't quite raw enough for Brits to like it. And so, twelve months on, Renaultsport has unleashed the Megane Trophy, its chassis heavily redesigned - which is as close to an admission of failure as any manufacturer is ever likely to give.
Just 500 limited edition Trophy cars will be built, of which 160 will come to the UK. But the Trophy is really no more than a marketing wheeze to maximise the car's exposure. As soon as the limited edition runs out, the revised chassis settings will be offered on the normal Megane Renaultsport as a 'Cup' chassis. The Trophy will only be available as a three-door and will cost £20,000, which places it in direct competition with the Golf GTI 3dr (£19,995). The Cup chassis is a £500 option on the standard Megane Renaultsport, which sells for £19,500.
Having billed this car as one of their "most focussed road cars ever", it seems odd that Renault has daubed it in a subtle shade of 'Nimbus' or smoked silver. This is the only colour available for the car and while it complements the new lightweight anthracite-coloured alloys, it sends out a mixed message about this car's intentions.
