The Renault Mégane RS 300 Trophy has – rather unexpectedly – returned to SA, though only 55 units will be available. Here’s what you need to know, including pricing…
Back in mid-2020, the Renault Mégane RS 300 Trophy officially touched down in South Africa, though with only 7 units available, it soon quietly left the local market. Now, somewhat unexpectedly, a mildly updated version of the French hot hatch is back, this time limited to 55 units.
Of course, we already know the end is near for the Mégane RS (and indeed the Renault Sport name as a whole), as the Boulogne-Billancourt-based automaker further shifts its focus towards electric vehicles. Indeed, the new Ultimé edition – based on the RS 300 Trophy – is the official swansong, with Renault SA previously saying the special version would hit local roads at some point in 2023. Now, however, the brand’s distributor tells us it is “unable to confirm” the Ultimé for a local launch.
Anyway, back to the RS 300 Trophy. How much does it cost in South Africa? Well, every 1 of the 55 units set aside for SA will feature the 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (and thus not the 6-speed manual version), with pricing set at R899 900. For the record, that’s exactly R100 000 more expensive than the EDC model that arrived in June 2020. For the sake of comparison, the 180 kW Volkswagen Golf GTI is currently priced at R744 200 (or R727 500 in Jacara form), while the 206 kW Hyundai i30 N starts at R779 900 and the outgoing 228 kW (and manual-equipped) Honda Civic Type R at R857 500.
As a reminder, the Mégane RS 300 Trophy employs a turbocharged 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine sending an unchanged 221 kW and 420 Nm to the front axle through the aforementioned dual-clutch gearbox. The obligatory 0-100 kph sprint takes a claimed 5.7 seconds, with the maximum speed limited to 255 kph (according to the official spec sheet, though a figure of 260 kph is mentioned elsewhere in the press material).
Standard features include the (stiffer) Cup chassis, a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential and 4-wheel steering. Inside, you’ll find a 7.0-inch touchscreen (complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality), along with items such as Alcantara seats (with red stitching) and a sporty leather-trimmed steering wheel. Buyers will have the choice of 3 exterior colours: Pearl White, Liquid Yellow or Orange Tonic.
How much does the Renault Mégane RS 300 Trophy cost in SA?
Renault Mégane RS 300 Trophy EDC – R899 900
The French hot hatch ships standard with a 5-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty, 6-year anti-corrosion warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan (with intervals of 10 000 km).
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