Renault will say goodbye to the Mégane RS hot hatch with a special Ultimé edition. Though it’s not yet been officially revealed, we do know it’s coming to South Africa…

After nearly 20 years, the Renault Mégane RS will be put out to pasture in 2023 as the French firm further shifts its focus to electric vehicles. As a farewell to the hot hatch (and indeed the Renault Sport name as a whole), the Boulogne-Billancourt-based automaker is set to launch a final edition dubbed the Mégane RS 300 Ultimé.

Though the brand’s global headquarters have yet to officially confirm the existence of the RS 300 Ultimé, Renault South Africa has let slip the special model is scheduled to touch down on local soil at some point in 2023. Its approval for the South African market is interesting considering the RS 300 Trophy was discontinued here as long ago as the 3rd quarter of 2021 (just 7 units were available to SA buyers).

So, what do we know about the Mégane RS 300 Ultimé so far? Well, there’s little doubt this will be the last Mégane RS, since the French word “ultimé” translates directly to “ultimate” or “final”. Indeed, the entire Renault Sport division will soon be rebranded under the Alpine banner, meaning this will likely be Renault’s final RS-badged model, too.

A leaked image gives us an early look at the Ultimé’s body graphics.

In addition, leaked details (including the low-res image above) in the French media suggest the special version will be based on the Trophy derivative and thus feature the stiffer Cup chassis. It will also gain black badges, a gloss-black blade (as part of the distinctive front-bumper design), a black rear diffuser, 19-inch Fuji Light alloy wheels and a special numbered plaque in the cabin. The most obvious update will come in the form of bold black decals on the hot hatch’s bonnet and roof, and along its flanks, contrasting with the signature Sirius Yellow paintwork.

What about some extra oomph? Well, it’s not entirely clear whether Renault will tweak the Trophy’s 221 kW turbocharged 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, but early rumours suggest the standard powertrain will remain in place. From what we can tell, the front-driven Mégane RS 300 Ultimé – which was originally expected to wear the “Heritage” rather than Ultimé nameplate – will be offered exclusively in 6-speed dual-clutch form, rather than with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

We’ll keep our eyes and ears open in the coming weeks and months as official information comes to light. Right now, it’s difficult to say how many examples of the Mégane RS 300 Ultimé will come to South Africa (and indeed how much each one will cost) next year, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the local market receives a single-digit allocation.

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