Frankfurt show: Megane RS to be shown at Monaco GP

RENAULT has announced it will unveil its fourth-generation Megane RS hot hatch at the Monaco Grand Prix on Friday, ahead of a full public reveal at the Frankfurt motor show in September and likely local arrival next year.

Fans at Monaco will be able to see the new RS, decked out in yellow and black livery to celebrate 40 years of involvement in Formula One, being driven by Renault Sport Racing Formula One team driver Niko Hulkenberg.

Renault has also revealed a camouflaged version of the new hot hatch, showing some RS design cues that separate it from its regular Megane siblings.

The RS has a redesigned lower bumper that includes foglights borrowed from the Clio RS, shaped in the style of Renault Sport’s chequered flag logo, as well as large lower air intakes, a split lower grille, muscular wheel arches and what looks to be black side skirts.

Apart from some sporty touches the RS looks to retain much of the regular Megane’s styling, including the signature headlight design that is shared with the Koleos mid-size SUV.

While specification is still yet to be revealed, it is rumoured that the new RS will use a re-worked version of the previous generation’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, that will make more power than the 202kW in the RS275 Cup Trophy.

The old Megane RS was mated exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox, and while it remains likely that the stick shifter will be offered in the new version, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic used in the Clio RS is also a possibility.

As with previous Meganes, power is likely to be sent exclusively to the front wheels, and like the current range-topping Megane GT, four-wheel steering is expected to be employed.

When it arrives, Renault will be looking to reclaim the Nurburgring front-drive hot hatch lap record, which it claimed with the previous-gen Megane before being eclipsed by the Honda Civic Type R in March 2015, then the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S in May last year, and again by the tenth-gen Civic Type R last month with a time of 7:43.8.

The Monaco Grand Prix kicks off this weekend, with the Megane RS set to be revealed on Friday ahead of the big race on Sunday.