The Renault Megane RS is the only hot hatch on the local market with an F1 racing pedigree. Or so Renault loves leading us to believe. Regardless of what does or does not trickle down to humble road cars from the lofty heights of F1, the Renault Megane Sport is good enough for as many limited editions as Renault can stomach making.
This is the second time Renault and Red Bull have teamed up, the first one was called the RB7. This one you see before you is the Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 with inspiration from the energy drink company’s F1 livery, painted in an exclusive Crepuscule Blue finish with Red Bull Racing graphics at the rear and sides. Renault is of course the F1 engine partner to Red Bull Racing and this cars acts as a belated celebration of their third Constructors’ world title secured in 2012.
Because this is purely a marketing object, the cars specifications are the same as stock but because it’s based on the Megane RS 265 Cup that’s no bad thing. That car is all about its handling and therefore comes with stiffer springs, dampers, anti-roll bar, grooved discs with Brembo callipers and trademark Renaultsport technologies. The limited edition retains the potent 195 kW and 360 Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, six-speed manual transmission, and clever limited slip front differential.
The limited edition Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 gets a front bumper blade, door handles, wing mirror housings and rear lip spoiler painted Platinum Grey. Unique black 19-inch wheels with grey pin-striping also feature, wrapped in the same Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres rubber that helped the French manufacturer claim the front-wheel drive lap record around the Nurburgring.
On the inside you’ll notice the Red Bull Racing branded aluminium sills, floor mats, and leather Recaro seats accompany the latest 2.0 versions of Renault’s on-board RS Monitor and Connected R-Link multimedia systems. Changes to the Renaultsport Monitor 2.0 include GPS tracked lap timing, data which can be saved on a USB dongle and real-time access to power output data, 0 – 100 km/h times, G-Force, etc.
