It's based on the Renault Megane 225, but the Trophy limited edition should really be called the 160 because that's all that will be coming to the UK. So this edition is going to be limited to a very small group of exclusive owners who for their £20,000 are going to get a piping hot hatch which will set the senses on fire.This latest addition to the Renaultsport stable, following on from the Clio 182 and the Megane 225, combines all that's best in Renault's motorsport expertise to produce a sensational little flier. It takes its lead from the race car of the same name which will be flying round the tracks this year as part of the Renault World Series, which began in Zolder in Belgium at the end of April.It was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March and has attracted a great deal of attention from those in the know. Coming just a year after the launch of the 225, it has delighted motorsport fans who have given a round of applause to the Renaultsport engineers for enhancing the car's brakes, chassis and steering to make a great car even better.But a word of warning - this is a car that could get you into serious trouble. True, it will stay on the tarmac thanks to the new sports-tuned chassis and suspension, specially-designed Dunlop tyres and new Brembo brakes, but it will attract the attention of the boys in blue and you could trigger speed cameras just as you slip into third gear. So, in reality you're not really going to get the most from this car unless you have regular access to a racetrack - or you're prepared to give up your licence for a few months.It is powered by the same two-litre turbo unit that's in the 225 and is linked to a close-ratio manual box to develop 225bhp and huge torque of 22lb/ft at 3000rpm, with almost all of it available between 2000 and 6000rpm.The Trophy features a new specially-developed sporting Cup Chassis with independent pivot front suspension and uprated and retuned front and rear springs and dampers. The result is a reduction in roll during cornering and pitching in hard acceleration and less nosedive under severe braking. On the road, especially during spirited driving, the car behaves superbly thanks to the suspension set-up, and there's also much more positive and firm steering and a noticeable reduction in understeer.The Cup Chassis is to be offered as an option on the standard Megane Renaultsport 225 from the summer.The engineers know that Trophy buyers will want to get the most from the car, which is why they've arranged that the electronic stability programme can be switched off completely above 35mph, although it will still intervene if it senses that the car is about to lose it. But the intervention thresholds have been adjusted to a higher level and should be less intrusive.The car comes with 18" anthracite alloys which are each 1.5kg lighter than the wheels on the standard model and look sensational with the grey metallic paintwork. They are shod with specially developed Dunlop Sport Maxx 235 tyres which have a special silicon-based tread compound to give superb traction and grip whether the road is soaking wet or bone dry.Inside, the leather and cloth sports seats grip you firmly to keep you in place as you fly through the bends, and when you're not concentrating on the road ahead you can feast your eyes on the stitching on the gearknob, gaiter and steering wheel. Add to the package the blue seatbelts and the carbonfibre inserts in the console and door handle surrounds and you have a stylish interior which matches the performance. To remind you that you are one of an exclusive band, each car has a numbered plaque on the dashboard.The car comes stuffed with equipment including ABS, cruise control with speed limiter, eight air bags, trip computer and tyre pressure monitor, although I've always found those to be more trouble than they're worth and far too sensitive. There are only two options - Xenon headlamps and a 160W Cabasse six-CD multichanger instead of the standard single CD player.Renault says the car will give the Audi TT and the Porsche Boxster a run for their money but I would have thought the Volkswagen Golf GTI is closer to the mark - much the same price, almost as good performance but perhaps better residuals in the long term. But then, with the Trophy, you're unlikely to meet another one in the street. Engine 1998cc, 4 cylinders Power 225bhp Transmission 6-speed manual Fuel/CO2 32.1mpg / 209g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 6.5 seconds Top speed 147mph Price £20,000 Details correct at publication date
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