NEW MEGANE TROPHY: ON TRACK FOR THE 2009 WORLD SERIES BY RENAULT

Having starred in the World Series by Renault's premier saloon car championship since the creation of the WSR in 2005, Megane Trophy has undergone a raft of radical modifications in readiness for the 2009 campaign. The most visible change concerns its new body design which takes its inspiration
from the lines of New Megane Coupe. Under the bonnet, a fresh look has also been taken at the Renault-Nissan Alliance's V6 3.5 24V powerplant which now delivers 360hp. At the same time, Renault Sport Technologies has carried over many of the acclaimed features of the current Megane Trophy to produce a reliable, competitive and affordable racing car.

There can be no mistaking New Megane Trophy's resolutely sporty calling and pedigree thanks its stunning looks which are based on the design of New Megane Coupe. The front and rear light units and windscreen are those of the road car, while the designers at the Renault Technocentre have made full use of digital simulation technology in the realm of fluid mechanics to hone the flowing lines of the bodywork. New Megane Trophy also carries over the ground effect aerodynamics of the existing car:

- The front splitter channels airflow to the extractors,
- Rear downforce is generated by the diffuser and wing.
Refinements to the set-up have produced a 20% improvement in downforce and a 15% reduction in drag which, together, represent a gain of almost 40% in terms of the new car's aerodynamic performance over the previous generation machine.

New Megane Trophy is equipped with butterfly doors redolent of the world of GT and sports-prototype racing.

Under its composite outer skin, New Megane Trophy features the same mechanicals as the current car, including an FIA-homologated sports-prototype tubular chassis, a mid-rear V6 3.5 24V engine, a semiautomatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift, double wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers, 18-inch wheels and
Michelin tires, etc.

A new inlet manifold, which is fed by roof-mounted air-ducts, has taken engine power from 330 to 360hp. The new car's reliability is as excellent as ever with rebuild intervals of every 5,500km. Combined with the aerodynamic gains, the extra power output of the V6 3.5 24V engine will enable New Megane Trophy to lap in times similar to those of a Porsche GT3.

After completion of its development program, New Megane Trophy will go on sale at the end of the year in the form of a kit that will enable existing cars to be upgraded. The modifications required to adapt the chassis to the new bodywork will be carried out by the Alpine factory in Dieppe.

As in previous years, the Eurocup Megane Trophy will form part of the World Series by Renault program and its calendar takes in some of Europe's most prestigious venues. This single-make series, which is a hit with drivers and teams alike, is based on the same core strengths that have forged the success of Renault Sport's race championships, namely:

- A perfectly level playing field thanks to rigorous scrutineering checks and the outlawing of tuning of the majority of components,
- Contained costs thanks to restrictions relating to tires and private testing,
- Extensive media coverage thanks to live television, plus the opportunity to race in meetings that have attracted two million spectators since 2005.

In the course of each race weekend, drivers contest two races of a duration of approximately 40 minutes each and which include a mandatory refuelling stop. Megane Trophy has been widely praised for its simplicity and the ease with which drivers are able to familiarize themselves with the cars, while the series is aimed at upcoming youngsters who have come up through the ranks of single-seater formulae and gentleman drivers.

NEW RENAULT MÉGANE
ALLURING, INTUITIVE AND REASSURING

New Renault Mégane's lines are the product of a desire to produce an immediately eye-
catching car. Its dynamic, elegant styling takes its inspiration from the passion
associated with the automobile, including cues from the world of sport. New Renault
Mégane is robust, too, with the accent very much on the fit and finish of its panels, as
well as on that of the materials it employs. The new model has also benefited from the
progress that has been achieved across the Renault range on both the reliability and
durability fronts.

New Renault Mégane's interior is extensively equipped with practical, comfort-enhancing features. These include combined analogue/digital instruments incorporating a new, easier to read colour-coded cruise control/speed limiter interface. The list continues with a host of equipment normally associated with the next segment up, such as hands-free entry and ignition, automatic locking as the driver walks away from the car, a Carminat Bluetooth® DVD navigation system and a custom-developed audio system (3D Sound by Arkamys®).

New Renault Mégane's on-road performance lives up every bit to the high standard
promised by its looks, with precision, control and efficiency combining to deliver a
particularly enjoyable and reassuring ride. A broad, extensively renewed range of dCi
and TCe powerplants combining performance and respect for the environment is
available, with four diesel engines that can claim CO2 emissions equal to, or less than,
120g/km.

New Renault Mégane has been designed to offer best-in-class safety performance, too.
Features include double side impact sensors and dual-chamber airbags as seen on Laguna III and aimed at minimizing the consequences of a side-on collision.
It is also a socially responsible vehicle which is 95 per cent end-of-life recoverable by
weight, while almost 12 per cent of the plastics it contains are sourced from recycling,
equivalent to an average of 22kg per car.

New Renault Mégane marks the beginning of Renault's renewal of its C-segment line-up.
With market share of more than a third, this segment has long been the biggest in
Western Europe and makes a significant contribution to Renault's performance in terms
of both volume and profitability.

By 2010, the New Mégane family will include six different models, each of which will have its own distinct and assertive personality. These six models have been conceived
essentially for customers in European markets and will be manufactured in Palencia
(Spain) and Douai (France). Other models will be available in non-European markets
equipped with specific technical solutions suited to local conditions of use.

For almost two years, Renault's design and engineering teams focused their attention on three main areas of development, namely reinforcing the personality of each member of the Mégane line-up, ensuring a balanced offer in terms of performance and equipment, and targeting best-in-class positioning for all of its key features.

New Renault Mégane, which goes on sale from November 2008, comes after the 15th car
of the Renault Commitment 2009 plan and consequently benefits fully from the progress
achieved in terms of quality on preceding models.

[Source: Renault]

No details have been released about engine choices but it is expected that they will not deviate too far from the current lineup and are likely add some "greener" options. Overall, it's a sharp looking sedan though it seems to have lost a bit of the French whimsy that makes the current generation so lovable. [KM77 via Motive]