The refreshed Megane RS Trophy ditches stick shift, but comes with suspension and interior improvements.
Customers in the UK may no longer order a Megane with manual transmission, a move guaranteed to cause some grumbling – but let’s not forget that the marque strives to keep CO2 levels as low as possible to stay on the market. For the record, you can no longer buy a Hyundai i30 N in France because of the new anti-emission laws. An Audi RS3 would set you back an additional £23,000 in Great Britain due to the emission tax, and opting for a Ford Mustang V8 would burn a £26,500 hole in your bank account. Dropping stick shift seems like a wise way for the Megane RS Trophy to go, because you only pay an £8,000 tax for the remaining seven-speed DCT option.
Back to the facelift, though. The 2021 year model boasts various suspension reinforcements, an active exhaust system, 19-inch wheels, redesigned headlights and taillights, and new dashboard/infotainment inside.
In addition to the above, both the RS and RS Trophy are now available with a higher-spec 1.8-liter turbo engine rated at 296 PS (292 hp / 218 kW).