The 2012 version of the Mégane RenaultSport has had its power and torque nudged up in an obvious effort to retain its competitiveness in a hot hatch segment that is becoming increasingly hotter.
Thanks to a newly elevated turbocharger boost pressure of 2,5 bar, maximum power has increased by 10 kW while the torque peak gains an additional 20 Nm, meaning the 2012 Megane RS will have an estimated 198 kW and 360 Nm of torque on tap.
It’s also now fitted with a toggle switch that triggers the available boost increase manually, allowing the driver to select between the standard 184 kW of the previous model, or the new 194 kW maximum.
While all other options remain the same, the inclusion of a Red Design pack adds some red detailing to the side skirts and front bumper. It might give the car more of a personalised feel, but it does look very tuner-esque and is likely to be shunned by the more serious drivers.
Also new on the options list is Renault’s Visio lane departure warning system, which alerts the driver when crossing a marked road line without indicating, preventing sleep-deprived road racers from ending up in a ditch.
Keeping things safe at much lower speeds will be the job of the optional parking camera, and an array of front and rear parking sensors. This should come in very handy, especially considering the small rear window aperture of the RS.
The fact that the Mégane RS, in both Sport and Cup versions, is a fixed member of the Renault range on offer in SA suggests that the uprated RS is a dead cert for release on our shores, although timing remains unconfirmed. Equally unclear is whether new spec additions such as the parking camera and the Visio system will be offered locally, too.
