The upcoming 2018 Renaultsport Megane will be the first hot hatch in the world to come with four-wheel steering when it arrives next spring.
While concrete details on the new Megane RS are as yet relatively scant, it’s already shaping up to be a serious piece of kit for fans of the fast hatch.
The four-wheel steering setup, similar to that found in cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, enhances the agility and cornering ability of the car by allowing the rear wheels to move in order to assist steering.
At low speeds, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels to reduce the turning circle, and at higher speeds steer in the same direction to increase cornering ability.
Already, Renault has debuted a version of the same setup on the Megane GT, though Renaultsport’s engineers say that it will be “specifically calibrated” for the Megane RS’s enhanced performance.
The new Renaultsport Megane will also offer a choice between a six-speed manual or an EDC automatic gearbox, along with a choice of two different chassis setups.
Buyers can choose between the Sport chassis, which is designed to be more forgiving for everyday driving, or the Cup option which is geared specifically towards the track.
The car is expected to use the same 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the new Alpine A110 sports car, albeit a version that’s uprated to produce around 300bhp.
We’ll know more closer to the car’s official debut this September, and the 2018 Renaultsport Megane will go on sale early next year.