14 Mar 05
Rumours that the Trophy's interior would be stripped out in the manner of the smaller Clio Cup have proved to be wide of the mark. With the exception of a CD autochanger, the Trophy boasts all the luxury paraphernalia of its mainstream sibling. The specification includes cruise control, a trip computer, climate control and a tyre pressure monitor, alongside eight airbags and ABS.
The Trophy also shares the 225's sports seats, but they're now finished in part-leather and blue weave cloth, which complements the blue seatbelts and detail stitching. In place of the standard car's faux aluminium, the Trophy features carbon fibre cladding on the dashboard and door pulls. These additions might help it appeal to Max Power readers but they're not enough to lift the ambience of the Megane's cabin. The Renault is less than three years old, but this class has progressed so quickly of late that its fascia now feels decidedly low-rent. The Volkswagen Golf GTI's cabin is a much more appealing place to spend time.
While the revisions to the aesthetics are little more than token gestures, the changes to the chassis are dramatic. The spring rates, for example, have been increased by a significant 25 percent at the front and an extraordinary 77 percent at the rear. The latter, coupled with retuned dampers and a decrease in the size of the front anti-roll bar, has been introduced to shift the handling balance away from understeer and towards neutrality. Specially developed Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres and the new lighter alloys should also contribute to an improved performance.
In tune with the chassis changes are revisions to the steering and braking systems. Renault has removed the standard car's Brake Assist system, while increasing the size of the brake master cylinder. The result is shorter pedal travel and a more consistent, progressive response. The electronic stability programme (ESP), which is the enemy of press-on driving in the standard car, can now be turned off and only reactivates during emergency braking. A heavily revised steering column and new control software have also been adopted to improve steering feel.
