Renault Megane F1 Team R26 2.0 Review: The proverbial Hot Hatch is back!
Lets see - A mind-blowing hot-hatch with a 2 litre turbo, front-wheel drive, AND a proper, mechanical limited-slip differential. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Come on, think! You know this one.
You will not be thrown into a slide.
The LSD works in tandem with the R26’s suspension to pull the car into the turn even more under hard acceleration out of the apex, insinuating early corner exit traits.
Most importantly, driving it is a whole lot of fun, and this one punched the mark well and true. Its 6 gears strike a good compromise between a spirited drive and a relaxing cruise.
While we wish it could have shorter gear ratios for first gears, it is enough to provoke serious amounts of wheelspin if the traction control, which in turn works with the quick start system that prevents any traction loss, isn’t turned on. This system works effectively to allow the careless driver to maximize his launch away from the lights without embarrassment.
We think you could live with this car on a day to day basis. It soaks up the bumps and mumps on the road perfectly with not much hint towards any kind of discomfort with its 18 inch wheels.
At certain speeds (that one might only do on the autobahn), the car retains its inherent stability. While more pronounced road gaps through high-speed sweepers can elevate the car, the tyres catch it back in an untimely manner, letting feel their flex in an exciting manner, something that an experienced driver will find rather entertaining.
The R26 is one of those cars that begs you to fling it round corners at G-forces much higher than you would dare. It wants you to invoke massive, four wheel slides that are so controllable, you might just end up driving to work like that everyday.
No exaggeration – we love the engine, exhaust, steering and suspension of the R26. Its only clear and present competition right now, would be the Golf GTi, Focus ST and perhaps, the Mazda 3 MPS which isn’t coming to Singapore.
Like the Formula One car of 2006 (and unlike the 2007 season R27), the engineers at Renault nailed this one.
By the way, if you don't like those checkered flag stickers on the car (free delete option), then you had better go with the lustful Giallo Sirius (which, to the rest of us, basically means "yellow") paintjob!
Credits: Text and Photos by Amery Reuben
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