Renault's flagship hot hatch, the Megane RS, was spotted undergoing performance testing at the Nordschleife track in Nurburgring, Germany. Featuring huge air vents up front and a beefy diffuser at the rear, the Megane RS will debut later this year as a 2018 model.
The spy shots show an aggressive front fascia with ‘chequered flag’ style DRLs on the front bumper. It has been lowered, and gets sporty body kit to improve aerodynamics. Under the hood, Renault might opt for the new 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder from the Alpine A110 in place of the 2.0-litre turbo. Either way, Renault has confirmed an output of over 300bhp for the new Megane RS. Power goes to the front wheels through an EDC dual-clutch automatic gearbox from the Clio RS. For driving enthusiasts, a six-speed manual box will also be offered.
Earlier this year, Renault fired its first shot during the Monaco Grand Prix where a camouflaged Megane RS was driven around the track by Nico Hulkenberg. While the new Honda Civic Type R holds the current lap record at Nordschleife, its lap time of 7:43.80 is sure to come under a threat from the Megane RS. The hatchback will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
