The French automaker will show “some proposals” for sporty offerings over the next 12 months
Renault is currently exploring different options for future performance offerings, with the first proposals expected to break cover next year. They will likely be shown first in concept form, as the French automaker weighs in on the possibility and viability of production.
The news was shared by Fabrice Cambolive, the recently appointed CEO of the French brand. When asked by Autocar about the possibility of launching more affordable and volume-focused sporty offerings, he replied: “Yes, we are exploring some others. We will come to you with some proposals in the next 12 months.”
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Cambolive added that the company needs to find the “right balance” between cost and demand before the projects get the green light. This means that the projects are still in early stages of development.
With the Renault Sport sub-brand being discontinued in favor of the more premium Alpine, it is not clear which badge will be applied to future performance models. In any case, they are expected to be a lot more accessible than the wild R5 Turbo 3E electric hyper hatch that will hit the roads in 2027 with a limited production of 1,980 units and a starting price of €155,000 (about $182,000 at current exchange rates).
The most plausible scenario for a future performance model is a hot version of the Megane E-Tech. The electric crossover is expected to receive a comprehensive facelift next year, gaining hot hatch looks and battery upgrades in an effort to boost sales.
As for the new Clio with the ultra-aggressive styling, it won’t get a performance version, at least for the time being. This was confirmed by the product line manager for the popular subcompact Emmanuel de Jesus Pequeno. Note that Renault is already offering a hot hatch in the B-Segment in the form of the fully electric Alpine A290, based on the R5 E-Tech.
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Judging from the competition, another option for Renault would be a hot SUV. Its current lineup includes the Captur, Arkana, Symbioz, Austral, Espace, and Rafale, as well as the fully electric R4 E-tech and Scenic E-Tech. The most potent is the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 300 hp flagship with a plug-in hybrid setup and an Atelier Alpine version that adds a sportier chassis.
With the turbocharged 1.8-liter engine of the discontinued Megane RS and the outgoing Alpine A110 not being compatible with Europe’s emission regulations, it is hard to imagine a non-electrified performance offering from the French automaker. Hopefully, the future electrified models will be as fun to drive as their RS-branded predecessors.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio

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