Megane Renaultsport 225
Published: 20th September 2003
Standard-setting ride and handling
Adaptability, precision and speed are the words which come to mind when describing the Mégane Renaultsport 225 chassis. The development of a double-axis strut system guarantees precise and efficient road-going behaviour in all circumstances. Spring and damper rates have been tuned to combine driving dynamics and comfort.
The powerful and fade-resistant brakes consist of four large-diameter discs (312mm ventilated at the front and 300mm at the rear) of significant thickness (28mm at the front and 11mm at the rear), the front brakes using four-piston callipers.
The 18-inch tyres and the variable-assistance electric power steering have been specially developed to meet the high expectations of sports hatchback drivers. In addition, driver aid systems, including latest-generation ESP with traction control and understeer control, have been adjusted to suit the sporting character of Mégane Renaultsport 225.
Safety first
Since safety is one of Renault’s strategic objectives and a key expertise, there has been no compromise in the areas of road behaviour or occupant protection. Mégane Renaultsport 225 is built on the same platform and is equipped with the same range of safety features which enabled New Mégane to achieve a five-star rating in the tests carried out by the independent EuroNCAP organisation.
Its structure consists of high tensile strength steels capable of absorbing large amounts of energy in the event of an impact. Mégane Renaultsport 225 is equipped with the third-generation Renault System for Restraint and Protection (SRP), which combines adaptive frontal airbags with adaptive safety belts, with double load limiters and double pretensioners for the front seats in the five-door version, two side airbags protecting the thorax for the front seats and two curtain airbags.
The three-door version is equipped with anti-submarining airbags within its front seats to protect against submarining and provide the same level of front occupant safety as in the five-door version. The front passenger seat and the rear side seats are fitted with ISOFIX attachments allowing front or rear-facing child safety seats to be installed in an optimum manner. Mégane Renaultsport 225 has all it takes to become the benchmark in terms of safety within the sports hatchback segment.
The know-how of the Dieppe factory
Mégane Renaultsport 225 is assembled at the Dieppe site
in France using bodies supplied from Renault’s Palencia factory
in Spain. The production process is adapted to the special needs
of this sporting version while guaranteeing the same quality standards
achieved in volume production. The Dieppe factory is now a facility
dedicated to the production of the entire range of sporting models
developed by Renaultsport Technologies.
