2023 Renault Mégane R.S. Ultime
Explore the Renault Mégane R.S. Ultime: history, verified identity, specification references, rarity evidence and real credited photos.
The Renault Mégane R.S. Ultime closed the Mégane Renault Sport story with a numbered series linked to the organisation’s founding year. It combined the Trophy’s performance foundation with distinctive graphics, equipment and a Laurent Hurgon signature plaque. Its 1,976-car announced scope applies to the edition, rather than every final-year Mégane R.S.
A final edition with a precise starting point
Renault announced Ultime on 11 January 2023, ahead of its Tokyo Auto Salon public debut. The release described it as the final Mégane R.S. series and the last model to carry the Renault Sport logo. That statement explains the edition’s historical role. It does not mean that every car manufactured near the end of Mégane production became an Ultime, or that the ordinary road range shared its limited-series boundary.
Renault: Mégane R.S. Ultime announcement
The Trophy foundation remains important
For Europe, Renault described a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder rated at 300 ch and 420 Nm, paired with EDC transmission and a Torsen mechanical differential. Those figures are retained as a market-qualified factory reference. The car illustrated here was photographed in Japan, so its transmission and original delivery equipment require their own regional documentation. A global edition name is not permission to assume every market received an identical powertrain and option list.
Chassis equipment supports the farewell
The launch account identifies the Cup chassis, independent-pivot front suspension, hydraulic compression stops and 4CONTROL steering. Four-wheel steering should not be confused with four-wheel drive: it describes steering action at both axles. The Ultime’s appeal combines that technical foundation with its final-edition presentation. A collector should therefore assess both the underlying mechanical specification and the equipment that distinguishes the numbered series from a regular Trophy.
Renault: Mégane R.S. Ultime announcement
Graphics and numbering tell a related story
The factory’s matte-black diamond graphics were designed to work across the available body colours, while the year 1976 appeared in the side treatment. A numbered metal plaque near the transmission controls carried Laurent Hurgon’s signature. These are useful identification clues, but none should be treated in isolation. Graphics and trim can be replaced or reproduced; the original build and delivery record establish whether the car belongs to the edition.
Renault: Mégane R.S. Ultime announcement
Preserve the regional build record
An individual Ultime file should connect the VIN, factory specification, numbered plaque, supplying market and original documents. Check replacement wheels, seats, graphics and chassis equipment against that record. A Japan-market car is not less interesting because its details differ from the European announcement, but those differences deserve accurate description. The supplied photograph illustrates the named edition without authenticating its serial position, current mechanical contents or complete delivery specification.
Specifications and identity reference
| Announcement | 11 January 2023; Tokyo public debut announced for 13 January |
|---|---|
| Series scope | 1,976 numbered cars, announced by Renault |
| Foundation | Mégane R.S. Trophy |
| European engine reference | 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder; 300 ch and 420 Nm |
| European transmission reference | EDC; Torsen differential |
| Edition identifier | Numbered plate signed by Laurent Hurgon |
Rarity and production scope
Renault announced a series of 1,976 numbered Ultime cars, referring to Renault Sport’s founding year. This establishes the edition’s intended limit, not an independent audit of completed cars or current survivors. Colour choices and national allocations remain within that series and are not additional runs. The profile excludes ordinary Mégane R.S., Trophy and the distinct 2019 Trophy-R programme already covered in Batch 01.
What the photograph represents
A car catalogued as the Renault Mégane R.S. Ultime in Japan, photographed in 2025. Edition illustration, not authentication of an individual numbered place or a European drivetrain specification; regional equipment needs its own build documentation.
Related Renault heritage profiles
Frequently asked questions
Does 1,976 mean the number of all final-year Mégane R.S. cars?
No. It is Renault’s announced scope for the numbered Ultime edition, not the whole model family.
Does 4CONTROL mean all-wheel drive?
No. It is Renault’s four-wheel-steering system. It should not be described as a four-wheel-drive transmission.
What is the production-count boundary for this profile?
Renault announced a series of 1,976 numbered Ultime cars, referring to Renault Sport’s founding year. This establishes the edition’s intended limit, not an independent audit of completed cars or current survivors. Colour choices and national allocations remain within that series and are not additional runs. The profile excludes ordinary Mégane R.S., Trophy and the distinct 2019 Trophy-R programme already covered in Batch 01.
Sources and further reading
Research checked 17 October 2026. Linked factory announcements and heritage records support the specifically attributed claims. Photographic descriptions identify the illustrated subject. Design analysis and suggested authentication steps are editorial interpretation.
Built in limited numbers
Renault announced a series of 1,976 numbered Ultime cars, referring to Renault Sport’s founding year. This establishes the edition’s intended limit, not an independent audit of completed cars or current survivors. Colour choices and national allocations remain within that series and are not additional runs. The profile excludes ordinary Mégane R.S., Trophy and the distinct 2019 Trophy-R programme already covered in Batch 01.
Gallery
Specifications
Factory specifications may vary by model year, market and configuration.
Identity & production
- Official model
- Renault Mégane R.S. Ultime
Sources and verification
Source citations are being prepared for this profile.
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