New Renault Megane RS Trophy-R spied completely undisguised

The new Renault Megane RS Trophy-R has been spied running at the Nurburgring in completely undisguised form.

The film, caught by Talea Media, shows the car running behind a camera car, suggesting it is set to be launched imminently and promotional footage is being gathered, as well as being driven at greater speeds.

Previously it has only been spied testing in disguised prototype form.

It is not yet known if the car will feature a more highly-tuned engine than the 1.8-litre unit in the Megane RS Trophy, which produces 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque, giving it a 0-62mph time of 5.7sec and a top speed of 161mph, or if it will retain that unit and achieve its performance advances - aimed at breaking the front-wheel drive record for the Nurburgring - through extreme weight-saving measures, as with the last generation Megane RS Trophy-R.

This seemingly production-ready car in the video features a distinctive front bumper arrangement, with the distinctive chequered flag shaped RS Vision lighting system removed, with the remaining bodywork likely sculpted to boost airflow, a black bonnet scoop, again aimed at boosting airflow to the engine, Trophy-R graphics, low profile high-performance tyres and uprated brakes, mst noticeably at the front. The car also likely has uprated, race-derived springs and dampers. Supplier names visible on decals on the car are Ohlins, Akrapovic, Bridgestone, Sabelt and Brembo.

Test insiders also reported the car had no rear seats and a rollcage - both features of previous generation cars for weight-saving and safety and chassis stiffness respectively - and plexiglass windows. Highlighting the extreme weight-saving measures RS engineers have gone to, no rear windscreen wiper is visible in the pictures. The previous generation Trophy R was 101kg lighter than the standard RS 275 Trophy, weighing 1280kg.