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Renault Megane Renaultsport 250

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This modified Megane, spied testing at the Nordschleife, is the best proof yet that Renaultsport is ramping up its hottest hatch in preparation for the next-gen Focus RS’s arrival. The Megane 250 has been one of the current Focus’s toughest rivals, even though it gives away around 40 kW to the RS.

Renaultsport is likely to attempt to narrow that gap with the revised model. Sources say the firm’s 2,0-litre engine could produce considerably more power – possibly as much as 220 kW (330 BHP) – enough to rival the Focus and the next-gen Astra OPC, which is likely to have a similar figure.

The Mégane’s chassis is likely to receive only minor tweaks for the hotter model. Its mechanical limited-slip differential is said to have the capacity to cope with greater power, even at its most aggressive setting.

The car’s styling is also likely to be tweaked only mildly. But the revised front bumper on this test mule does hint at the extra cooling for the brakes and engine that will need to be factored into the design.

As with the current 250, the new car will be built on the main Mégane production line in Palencia, Spain. Like Ford, Renault switched production of its rapid production cars from a specialised plant — in its case, the former Alpine factory in Dieppe — to the regular line, in a bid to improve profitability.

A race-inspired, lightweight version of the car is possible, using plastic windows and selected carbon fibre panels, but as with the R26.R variant of the previous generation Mégane, it’s likely that Renault would choose to roll out such a model at the end of the car’s lifecycle — and in very limited numbers, given the R26.R’s hardcore appeal.