I all told you it would happen, all those thinking they would never make another .R equivalent ! its gona be wicked, akrapovic has gotta sound mean!
Pipe down clever clogs It won't be an 'R' equivalent. Yeah, will obviously be quicker but I very much doubt it will be stripped out etc...
LOL, it will be far superior to an R26r. Ohlins suspension specifically set-up for the car for 1, not to mention the MK3 Chassis clearly is an improvement over the old MK2, just look at the nurburgring times, it's 10 seconds faster on road tyres with a full interior, well over 100kg's extra weight.
Don't think Rob is doubting that at all, just the fact it might not be a stripped out car like the r was and I agree, I saw a megane mule with the speedlines on at the nurburgring afew week ago and just don't think it's a clever way to go building another r type car. Seat can get the quick time with a car with standard car usability, I don't think it would be that surprising if renault then did a stripped out 2 seater car and beat the time, then people will say well then you could strip the seat blah blah blah.
That's what the R26.R was though. Released around the same time as the Focus RS which had every luxury imaginable but a chunk more power. They were always put up against each other in magazine contests. It was lightweight, stripped out vs full fat and everyday practicality.
Superior ? Better built, more practical, more comfortable and quicker round 'the ring' yes. But big deal. I'm not one of the 'willy waving brigade' down my local boozer, so I'm quite happy with what I've got thanks. But top marks to Renault for keeping ahead of the game.
Don't really understand that post tbh, you say it wont be an "R equivilant", what's so special about the r26r - trackday tyres and an LSD.
It will never go that way. Take into consideration reason why Impreza WRX/STI, Lancer Evo, Escort RS Cossie, Celica GT4 or Delta Integrale were built. It was required to built N4 car to get homologation for A group rally car. 1997 has changed everything and WRC category came so nobody needs to build proper N4 cars. EVO is dead already and will be replaced by hybrid cross over. STI is last one in his category, however with no chance to win something as its class R4 is much slower than new R5. Even Megane N4 is only FWD. Market doesn't demand for AWD from popular car makers. Who does sell compact AWD super cars? VAG, Volvo and Mercedes only.
Yeah that's about it really, apart from they only built 450 of them with carbon fibre seats, roll cage, titanium exhaust, 1 airbag, Polly carb windows, less sound proofing, and the only other difference between the R26 and the R26.R is about £10,000 and apart from that the rare factor, anyone who doesn't own one will tell you theirs no difference but those that do own one will tell you different.
Renault will always produce one off mad cars in short runs, clio v6, clio trophy, Megane .r. It it is inevitable that these get compared. As will the new Megane 'under 8' to all of the above. All of this talk about it'll never be as hardcore as the .r is irrelevant. Two different cars that shouldn't be compared yet they will. Deal with it. And to all the owners of the R26.r's out there, yes the .r is special it will always be. No need to slag off anything new that comes along to knock it off its pedestal.
I'm not slagging the new R off mate, might even buy one , I'll have 1 of each then and yes I'm serious
I have an r too according to the insurance people. If I had a stable income I'd be up for buying the new one too.
Wasn't aware I was actually slagging it off. Someone else mentioned 'far superior'. Like you say, will be 2 completely different cars.
Technology moves on, in its generation the R26R was the ultimate Megane and dare I say Hot Hatch. The Mk3 is a later generation and in any guise (250/265/Trophy/R) it should not be compared to its predecessor. Hell guys, at the end of the day we are all members of these forums because of our love for the Renaultsport brand. Lets show a little love!
Perhaps you're right. Look at Citroen's dominance of the WRC in recent years. But they haven't build a decent road car in years, or ever really. Ultimately I wouldn't buy a Meg if I had the money for an M135i. I just see AWD as more likely than RWD.
But we are talking quite a time ago now and a certain Mugen civic that struggled to sell was also released around that time. They were put up against each other due to there different approaches in most magazine tests and that was also reflected in the final ratings of the cars. With the new civic type r threatening to set a quick time which doesn't appear to be a stripped out car, I don't think it would benefit renault to do a stripped out special again, I think they could sell more if it was normal car with afew weight savings features that doesn't get in the way of the cars usability. As steve says im in no way against any of the new megane's and if the price is right may well be interested.
I agree ed, the games moved on significantly in recent years. It's no secret that Renault like to send off there cars with a final flourish so I do think it will be pretty special. However with the new civic due which like it or not looks to be ticking all the right boxes and is a proper hatchback, I think this meg will need to be a viable daily car ie not a fully stripped track focused car. The latest quick golfs, bmw's and Audi's mean there's even more competition than ever in the hot hatch sector which can only be a good thing! I guess I'm being selfish as if it has four seats I will want one! As for the R26.R that is and always will be a classic, regardless of what follows.
Wasn't the Civic Mugen nearly 40k though? Honda completely priced themselves out the market with that one.
I think some people are missing the point. Any .R version is only going to be made in small numbers. Renault aren't going to be trying to shift tens of thousands of them and it won't really be competing against anything else sales wise. (performance and ring time wise it will of course). To that end, it doesn't need to have back seats or be a practical everyday car.
So let's say the new R, stripped out with all it's trick suspension and other stuff beats the family Leon by 5 seconds, not much to brag about is it , one a family hatch back and the other one ain't , we will have to wait and see though.
That's the only 1 in the UK if I remember correctly . I bought my civic type r off him a few years back Dead nice fella , who owned it Properly rare bit of kit
