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The Renault Sport Megane Trophy R is arguably the world's ultimate front-wheel drive hot hatch
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Although it produces no more power than the trophy model on which it's based, it does weigh an impressive 130kg less, thanks to a range of measures
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including the removal of the rear bench seat and a carbon fibre bonnet
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The brakes, suspension and exhaust are also uprated. But if, like the example in our film here, the car has the optional carbon fibre wheels and giant carbon ceramic front brakes
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it costs an outrageous £72,140. That's a huge number for a hatchback
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Can it possibly justify that price? Welcome to a sun-baked Bedford Autodrome
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It's late in the afternoon now. Thankfully those temperatures have dropped it a bit cooler but I tell you what I am truly in the hottest of hot hatchbacks the mighty new Renault Sport Megane Trophy R Now we had it on one of our favourite B roads today I been driving it pretty much all day and I got to be honest with you at the moment I
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not sure. I'm not sure. Mixed feelings. However, it should really be in its element here. Our
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The current hardcore hot hatch leaderboard champion is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Club Sport
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S. What a great car that is. The question is, can this Megane go quicker? Only one way
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The Trophy R blitzes the Bedford Autodrome West Circuit. Its 1 minute 23 second lap is crucially half a second up on the GTI Club Sport S and is nearly three seconds faster than a standard Megane RS with the Cub chassis option Those sticky bridgestones and
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huge brakes not only give it fantastic grip and agility and stopping power but also impressive
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endurance. The Trophy R soaked up the laps without any complaint. If only the brakes offered a more
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consistent feel though for the initial soft response and then sudden bite for me made judging
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those braking distances and heel and toe down changes more of a challenge than they really
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should be. Still, it's a hugely impressive lap time. Whether that justifies the price
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well that's another matter. But it's undoubtedly the hottest hot hatch that we've tested
