Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy to wear Bridgestone tyres
The Potenza S001, seen here in size 245/35 R19, is one of two Bridgestone fitments on the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy (Photo: Renault SAS/Yannick Brossart)
Bridgestone has been named the exclusive supplier for the new Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy, and will supply custom-tuned versions of its Potenza S001 and Potenza S007 as original equipment fitments.
The 1.8-litre turbo engine model is the latest addition to the Mégane R.S. Trophy family. It will initially come to market next year with the S001 fitted to its 19-inch diamond-cut finish Jerez rims, which were inspired by those on the Renault Sport R.S. 01 concept car. A version of the S007 specifically developed for Renault Sport will arrive as an OE fitment later in 2019 and, as Bridgestone tells us, will “provide the new Mégane R.S. Trophy with even more direct steering, increased grip when cornering and greater durability for sports driving.”
“This vehicle passes the symbolic 300hp (220kW) mark for the first time in the R.S. range,” states Thierry Landreau, engineering director at Renault Sport Cars. “The increased power from the 1.8 litre turbo engine delivers far better acceleration. This New Mégane R.S. Trophy also uses 4CONTROL technology – a four-wheel steering system that delivers outstanding agility through tight turns and great stability when going at higher speeds. And Bridgestone developed the Potenza S001 tyres to make this level of performance a reality on the road. The Potenza range is renowned for offering a high degree of grip, so it is perfect for the vehicle’s power.”
“The Mégane R.S. Trophy is a hot hatch and Renault Sport a great specialist. From their specifications, we designed the Potenza S001 on this basis. We put larger blocks on the outside of the tread pattern to improve dry handling and braking, and smaller blocks on the inside to optimise performance in the wet,” explains Mark Tejedor, vice-president of original equipment for Bridgestone in EMEA. ‘This improved the contact line for a better connection with the road’s surface and enhanced stability at high speed. It also increased the lateral forces, making it possible to corner quickly – a must for a hot hatch.”
Comments