We knew there was a special model of the Renaultsport Mégane on the way, with whispers that a lunatic .R version might be on the horizon. Well, it's not quite that hardcore - instead, RS has given us the second limited edition Trophy model of its exceptional hot hatch, this time toting 275hp and a raft of driver-focused upgrades.
Exterior
The new 275 Trophy uses the recently facelifted Mégane as its basis, which will immediately distinguish it from the old Trophy and the Red Bull Racing RB8 special edition 265 that came out late last year. To further help you pick one out, there's Trophy branding on the silver blade in the front grille, while you can't fail to have missed the two Trophy side stripes over the rear arches. Numbered door sill plates and silver chequered flag graphics at the bottom of the doors are also on display.
There's a carbon exhaust tailpipe at the back and those wonderful 19-inch black Speedline Turini wheels in the photos are optional; although we'd suggest you'd be mad not to spec them, given they're derived from versions used by competition Méganes and they look superb against Liquid Yellow paint.
Interior
Fabulous leather and Alcantara Recaro buckets are in the front of the 275 Trophy, with contrast red stitching on them and also on the rear bench, steering wheel trim and handbrake gaiter. The headrests have Renaultsport badging and there's an alloy gear knob as well.
Mechanicals
The Trophy begins with the Cup chassis and limited slip differential as standard, while the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine benefits from an additional 10hp - the clue is in the 275 v 265 badging. Peak power is made at 5,500rpm with 360Nm of torque in its corner from 3,000- to 5,000rpm. Renault claims the more powerful car returns the same economy and emissions figures as the 265, however, at 37.7mpg combined and 174g/km of CO2.
Furthermore, the Trophy has a standard-fit Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which is not only naughtily louder, but lighter too. Properly drool-inducing optional spec includes a set of adjustable Öhlins Road and Track dampers with steel springs, following Renaultsport's association with the suspension specialist on the Mégane N4 rally car. And if you're a track day fan, you might want to team the Öhlins with the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres for extra-sticky grip.
Anything else?
Renaultsport released its performance version of the third generation of the Mégane in 2010 with 250hp, and in normal or Cup chassis guises. In 2011, a more focused Trophy version arrived with 265hp, which became the quickest front-drive hatch around the Nürburgring - beating even the awesome, hardcore Mégane R26.R's time by 10 seconds. But then in 2012 the standard RS took the 265hp engine option, leaving room for this even more powerful 2014 Trophy version. So will the final hurrah be an RS275.R with no rear seats, five-point harnesses, thinner rear glass and a roll cage? Here's hoping.