#under8 is the teaser claim of the French and their plan to make the Renault Mégane the fastest front-wheel drive vehicle on the Nürburgring Nordschleife again. Today Renault announced the “Mégane RS Trophy 275 TCE”.
The Nordschleife in under 8 minutes
It's been a magical border for some time now. Less than 8 minutes for a lap on the Nürburgring Nordschleife - driven by a front-wheel drive car and in the production version. Which means something like, this car could theoretically be purchased from the dealer around the corner.
Bring suitable, optimized for the Nordschleife.
The Mégane RS was already one of the really fast front-wheel drive vehicles on the Nordschleife until Seat came and announced in Geneva that the Leon Cupra had raced over the Eifel circuit in 7 minutes 58 seconds. Now one can argue about whether a Leon Cupra that managed without air conditioning (there is no such thing in series production) and had a “sports package” that was not (yet) available in series, really belongs to the class of series vehicles, or not.
But the French of Peugeot have put together a fast package. Of the Peugeot RCZ-R in a comparative test, the “sport auto” astonished already over a fabulous time (1: 14,8) in Hockenheim and should gasp on the Nordschleife thanks to 272 HP and Torsen differential.
And then there are the Japanese. Honda announced a year ago that the new Civic Type-R would be the fastest front-wheel drive car on the Nordschleife. It has to be delivered soon if you don't want to lose face. The new Honda Civic Type-R However, it also gets 320 hp - while the competition gathered so far still works under the 300 hp mark.
But Renault does not remain idle. The claim #under8 comes from the French and must now be filled with life. To do this, the Mégane RS was revised again and now presented as the Trophy 275 TCE.
Mégane RS Trophy 275
With an Akrapovic exhaust system, more pressure in the boiler, sports tires and Öhlins dampers, the ex-record holder is now climbing again into the ring. # under8 - Will it be enough for the Mégane in the end? Are the Japanese facing a disgrace with the Civic? Will Seat follow suit with the Leon Cupra?
The hunt for the most important advertising message in the segment of sporty “hot hatchbacks” - to be the fastest front-wheel drive on the Nordschleife - is on!