Renault launches Audi A3 and Porsche Cayman rival

Fantastic!

For those in the know, the Megane 230 F1 is already the world's best hot hatch, with a much more talented chassis than the Civic Type-R and Astra VXR.

Now with 25 more BHP and weight shed, this car will re-affirm Renault as the best hot-hatch maker in the world.

It looks like the final hurrah for this generation Megane, as it was launched in 2002 and the all-new model is just around the corner.

How can Renault have a competitor with Porsche and Audi? They don't sell in the States?

This is no match for the new Subaru STI hatchback :)

And you come to this conclusion based on?

Horsepower?

STI does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, 13.3 quarter mile, has 305hp, pulls around 0.90g skid pad, superior drivetrain and chassis, and will be quicker around the track with less tire smoke (i.e. less understeer)

What a load of cobblers!

Firstly, the Impreza has always been very understeery on the track. While the Mitsubishi EVO bites hard on turn-in, often provoking the rear into play, the Impreza has been set-up softer, understeering at the limit and needing big provoking to get the rear-end to play ball.

Because you're American, and you don't get the Megane R26, you have no idea how it handles. Yes, it is FWD, however RenaultSport's engineers have made the chassis very neutral, and it can lift-off oversteer like the best of them.

And last time I checked, understeer didn't produce tire smoke.

I would predict the STi would pip the Megane R26R around a track, if only by two seconds or so, (based on EVO magazines lap times of comparable cars) which considering its power deficit and lack of trick AWD, it quite exceptional.

Huh?

They say it's an S3/Cayman competitor (which doesn't make sense in the first place seeing as those two don't compete), and then they say it's quicker than the "A3." Which one is it?

BTW, Renault saying this is quicker than the S3 doesn't mean a thing, because as we know Audi always underestimates 0-100km/h times.

Don't pay too much attention to the headline, the R26R won't be a S3 (A3 was a typo...) competitor as such, as it is track-focussed and far more hard-core than the Audi.

As for Porsche....I'd say the Megane would give a Cayman a good run for its money on any road or track-day, however it's hardly a rival, different markets.

Audi's S3 may be quicker then official figures suggest, but don't for a minute play down the R26R's abilities, the lesser R26 230 is already an amazing car.

(think of it as a hatchback GT3 RS)

I think the headline was referring to 0-60 times only.

I'm a big Audi fan, but also a Renault Fan, and as much as I love the S3, Matthew1 is right, the Megane is THE best Hot hatch on the market followed closely by the Clio RS.
The Megane is the size of a Nissan Versa BTW.
It is one hell of a car at the track (The Renault that is!)
BTW, a British magazine ran an M6 against a Clio RS Cup last year in a twity mountain road and well, the M6 could not really pull away from the Clio.

indeed, renault hatches are top notch.

Next headline: "Company XYZ Develops a Car to Compete with Kia Sportage and Bugatti Veyron"

The Megane is an awesome car, and has a thoroughly sorted chassis.
This is its last hurrah though, it will be replaced next year.

quite good actally. And if it wasn't for Renault, Nissan would not exist anymore...(Renault saved Nissan)
And they make cars that drive a whole lot more exciting than Lexus...

oh and, the U.S is not the center of the world. You should get out more.
Have you heard of Formula 1?
Renault did pretty good 2 years ago.