The final iteration of Renault Sport’s agenda setting, segment creating, hot hatch has arrived down under in the form of the ultra exclusive limited edition Megane R.S. Ultime. Just 40 examples will come to Australia.
“The Megane R.S. Ultime represents the culmination of a long and storied history of Renault hot hatches,” Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey said.
“Indeed, Renault set the blueprint for what a hot hatch should be and has consistently delivered on that blueprint for almost 50 years: nimble, lightweight, highly-tuned engine and a chassis set-up designed for the most challenging of B-roads.”
Available in 6-speed manual and 6-speed EDC automatic and priced at $67,500 and $70,500 plus on-roads respectively, the R.S. Ultime features black 19-inch Fuji Lightweight alloy wheels and high performance Bridgestone S007 tyres.
There’s also Recaro front bucket seats, unique exterior decals, blacked out Renault logos, and an individually numbered door sill plate. It will be available in Liquid Yellow, Orange Tonic, Diamond Black and Pearl White.
Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, the Megane R.S. Ultime delivering 221kW of power and 420Nm of torque (400Nm for the manual), driven through the front wheels, complete with mechanical Torsen limited slip differential.
That should see the R.S. Ultime hit 100km/h in just 5.7 seconds. Driver engagement is further boosted with Renault Sport’s unique Cup chassis, 4CONTROL four-wheel steering, launch control (on the EDC), active valve exhaust system and Brembo performance brakes.
Inside, Recaro front sports seats, paddle shifters (EDC only) and R.S. Drive mode assist the driver in connecting to the experience, while the signature of Renault Sport test driver Laurent Hurgon and the vehicle’s production number remind you of the car’s exclusivity.
Externally, the choice of colours, race-inspired decals, blacked-out styling and Ultime badging all sit naturally with the F1-derived styling cues, ensuring this final run of the Megane R.S. Ultime model looks the goods.
As with every Renault, the 2023 Megane R.S. Ultime enjoys the 5-year Easy Life ownership programme that includes a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, 5-years roadside assistance, and five capped price Renault services, costing $2,645 over the term.
The demise of this, one of our favourite hot hatches, follows Ford’s decision to end the life of the Focus and Fiesta ST models. You can find out more about the Ultime on the Renault Australia website. If you’re keen on one and need finance, talk to CreditOne.
