What is it?
This is a final, splendid throw of the dice. The introduction of a new generation of Mégane means that Renault will end production of the current Renault Sport version in July, making the Cup-S the last, fleeting opportunity to buy Dieppe’s long-standing masterpiece.
To help generate some shutting-up-shop volume, the manufacturer has returned the model to its roots. So while there’s nothing substantially new or different about the car, there is still a reason to get excited about the Cup-S: namely, its cut-price theme.
This is prudent. As good as the recent Trophy and Trophy-R were (think ‘extremely’), it became harder and harder to recommend them whole-heartedly when, for much the same outlay, you could have the all-round, real-world magnificence of the much more civilised Volkswagen Golf R.
The Cup-S rectifies that problem. You now get Trophy-spec power – in other words, the full 271bhp – with the Cup chassis (stiffened springs, dampers plus the limited-slip diff) for just £23,935 on the road. Inevitably, you lose some niceties (there’s a 275 Nav version that reinstates the 7.0in touchscreen, DAB tuner, dual-zone climate control and satellite navigation), but the throwback theme isn’t stringent enough to deny you 18in wheels, air-con, cruise control and rear parking sensors.
This means that if you avoid the temptation to go all tick-happy at the optioning phase, the Cup-S could be yours for around £3500 less than the significantly slower (and less talented) Volkswagen Golf GTI. You’ll only be paying about £2k more than Renault wants for the less substantial Clio RS 220 Trophy – and in return you’ll be getting what is arguably the pre-eminent hot hatch of the decade.
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Often wondered why I never bought one of these
Rear seats are a bit of a coal hole but hell kids never take their eyes of screens anymore.
18" to keep comfortable
Another great Renault Sport
Surely somebody from the Renault Sport department could be used to make a normal Clio, for example, competitive with the class best?