Renault and Red Bull Racing team up for awesome sports Megane [w/video]

Tue, 21 May 2013

The Renault Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 is a special edition hatchback celebrating the company's third year in a row powering Infiniti Red Bull Racing to the Formula One Constructor's Championship. The French carmaker did the same thing last year with the Megane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7, but whereas last year's model came in the black and yellow livery associated with Renault factory racing teams, this one hews closer to Infiniti Red Bull colors, with an exclusive Crépuscule Blue finish and platinum gray accents.

Other signs as to the hatchack's purpose are the Red Bull logos on the rear quarter panels, the badging on the sills and inside and the laurel stickers on the rear windows. Helping fulfill the buyer's need for speed are a set of 19-inch black wheels shod in the same Bridgestone rubber that got the Megane around the Nürburgring in record time for a production front-wheel-drive car. The car also includes the first use of Renault's new R-Link multimedia tablet and the second generation of the R.S. Monitor.

It will go on sale in 26 countries that sadly fail to include ours. Its arrival in French dealerships is slated for June at a starting price of 36,000 euro ($46,445 US, taxes included), and it will be withdrawn from sale on September 30, 2013 to make good on its limited-edition promise. There's more on it in the press release and video below.

Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8: combining the best of Renault Sport and Red Bull Racing

Renault and Red Bull Racing celebrate their third Formula 1 Constructors' world title together with the introduction of a limited edition Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8.

- A look which takes its inspiration from Red Bull Racing's Formula 1 identity featuring an exclusive Crépuscule Blue finish.
- Connected R-Link multimedia system.
- Version 2.0 of the on-board R.S. Monitor data logging system.
- The limited edition Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 will be marketed in 26 countries. Sales in France will begin at the end of June, with prices starting from €36,000.

May 21, 2013 -- For the second year in a row, Mégane R.S. will be available in the colours of Red Bull Racing. In true Renault Sport style, this attractive limited edition version packs advanced technology.

An exclusive look, the result of combined input from the Renault and Red Bull Racing design teams
The exclusive Crépuscule Blue finish takes its inspiration directly from the race team's famous colours, while Red Bull Racing graphics at the rear and on the sides are further tell-tale hallmarks of this limited edition car. In addition to its sporty credentials, it stands out as particularly elegant, too, thanks to exterior Platinum Grey details (F1 blade, door handles, door mirror housing and rear lip spoiler) which harmonise splendidly with the striking Crépuscule Blue body colour. Last but not least, a monochrome laurel on the rear side windows celebrates the team's 2012 Constructors' world title.

Inside, the new limited edition version comes with a number of exclusive features, including Red Bull Racing branding on the numbered aluminium sill guards and carpet mats. The same logo appears on the head rests of the Recaro seats which are trimmed in a new leather/fabric upholstery.

Looking to break records? Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 is shod as standard with the same Bridgestone tyres that helped Mégane Trophy to establish a new lap record for the Nürburgring. These high-performance tyres are fitted to exclusive 19-inch black wheels with grey pin striping.

Advanced on-board technology thanks to Renault R-Link and R.S. Monitor 2.0
This limited edition version marks the availability of the in-dash, connected R-Link multimedia tablet for all Mégane R.S.'s. The system's six functions (navigation, telephony, multimedia, vehicle, systems and R-Link Store applications catalogue) are controlled using either the touch screen display, the voice command function or the joystick situated on the centre console.

Along with R-Link, there is now also the 2.0 version of R.S. Monitor which fans of sporty driving will particularly appreciate. Owners will no longer need to choose between using the navigation or on-board telemetry systems thanks to the TomTom Live navigation system which is incorporated in the R-Link system.

New for R.S. Monitor 2.0...
• A new, more user-friendly and intuitive interface which uses R-Link's seven-inch colour display,
• Special Red Bull Racing home page,
• Certain information displayed in 3D form,
• Data can be saved on a USB dongle,
• Plus the usual real-time access to power output data, 0-100kph times, GG diagramme, etc.

A Mégane R.S. first and foremost
The limited edition version packs the same fundamental features as Mégane R.S., including a Cup chassis, a limited slip differential, the 2.0 16V 265 engine with Stop&Start (fuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100km* / CO2 emissions: 174g/km*) and Renault Sport trademark technologies.

The limited edition Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 offer will be withdrawn on September 30, 2013.

About Renault in F1: 11 titles** in 35 years
As Formula 1 Constructors' world champion for the third year running with Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel, Renault is the only volume manufacturer to have beaten the automobile industry's premium and specialist makes in motor racing's premier series. Its record goes back much further than that, however. With 500 grand prix starts behind them, Renault engines boast an unrivalled record. Renault's excellence as an engine supplier has harvested 151 race wins, 200 pole positions, 11 Constructors' world titles and 10 Drivers' world titles over a period of 35 years. This record is the fruit of work and skills which position Renault as a leading player in the world of race engines. Its success can be summed up in three words: performance, efficiency and strength.

* Homologated fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures
** as complete team or engine supplier

By Jonathon Ramsey