hot-wiring it into a front-drive hatchback
remains unparalleled.
The real result? Based on hypothetical
money in my pocket and a single space
on the driveway? Much closer. On
a circuit, the Trophy-R’s equipment
abstinence seems virtuous, but
everywhere else it’s a limitation. The A45
gets to make its high price a virtue by
parading its wake everywhere, from its
isolated and well-appointed interior to the
handfinished engine that powers it. It laps
a dry track fractionally slower than the R,
but would overcome it on a damp B-road.
In the Trophy-R, the reason for its
premium is experienced only sporadically
away from a circuit. Only a tiny fraternity
of zealots will embrace the car regardless- and that’s as it should be. All 250 can
be rest assured that, in those scattered,
sacred moments, they’re pedalling the
ultimate expression of driver-focused
hatchback. But the best? No.
The Trophy-R lives up to its reputation,
but not its price. The Mercedes inverts
the equation, being moneyed but not
demonstrably marvellous. In the long run,
I would return the missing 92kg to the
Megane, save myself $9000 and buy the
standard 275 Trophy. Or, if I wanted a bit
more usability, a five-door Golf R. M
RENAULT MEGANE
RS 275 TROPHY-RMERCEDES-BENZ
A45 AMG
BODY 2-door, 2-seat hatch 5-door, 5-seat hatch
DRIVE front-wheel all-wheel
ENGINE 1998cc in-line 4, DOHC, 16v, turbo 1991cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo
BORE/STROKE 82.7 x 93.0mm 83.0 x 92.0mm
COMPRESSION 8.6:1 8.6:1
POWER 201kW @ 5500rpm 265kW @ 6000rpm
TORQUE 360Nm @ 3000rpm 450Nm @ 2250-5000rpm
POWER/WEIGHT 155kW/tonne 170kW/tonne
CONSUMPTION 7.5L/100km (claimed) 7.1L/100km (claimed)
CO2 EMISSIONS 174g/km (claimed) 169g/km (claimed)
TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual 7-speed dual clutch
WEIGHT 1284kg 1480kg
SUSPENSION struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar (f); torsion
beam, coil springs, anti-roll bar (r)struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar (f); multi-
links, coil springs, anti-roll bar (r)
L/W/H 4320/1848/1422mm 4359/1780/1417mm
WHEELBASE 2636mm 2699mm
TRACKS 1546/1547mm (f/r) 1557/1561mm (f/r)
STEERING electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion
BRAKES 340mm ventilated discs, 4-piston calipers
(f); 290mm ventilated discs, single-piston
calipers (r)350mm ventilated/drilled discs, 4-piston
calipers (f); 303mm ventilated/drilled
discs, single-piston calipers (r)
WHEELS 19 x 8.25-inch (f/r) 19 x 8.0-inch (f/r)
TYRES 235/35R19 (f/r) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 235/35R19 (f/r) Yokohama Advan Sport
PRICE $61,990 $74,990
^ World's best front-drive chassis;
track day charm; brilliantly involvingOutrageous performance; build
quality; interior appointments% It's a lonely and noisy experience;
diminishing returns over RS275Not hugely involving; thirsty when
pushed; ride; slow gearbox11113 11113
The Trophy-R lives up to its reputation but
not its price – the Merc inverts the equation
d motorofficial f motor_mag^65