Renault is handing the responsibility of its performance models over to Alpine, and to celebrate and say goodbye, it's building 1,976 units of the all-new Megane RS Ultime. It will be the final car that uses the Renault Sport nomenclature, which has been generating performance variants of Renault cars since 1976.

Renault's hot hatch swansong is based on the Megane RS Trophy model and uses the same turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine supplying 300 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels.

As expected, the RS Ultime will not be sold in the USA, but Alpine may reach the States with its upcoming electric vehicles.

The RS Trophy is already a serious piece of kit and by far the best Megane RS one can buy in Europe.

Megane RS Ultime trim adds wider fenders, side air vents, RS Vision headlamps, central exhaust, shark-fin antenna, spoiler, and a rear diffuser. It also blacks out exterior components like logos, door handles, window frames, wheels, and the monogrammed Formula 1 blade on the front bumper. The Megane RS Ultime comes standard with the RS Trophy's dual-clutch transmission, a Torsen mechanical differential, Brembo dual-cast brakes, four-wheel steering, and an onboard telemetry system.

The exterior plays heavily on Renault Sport's visual cues, including the double-stripe motif stylized to lean into Renault's new logo design. There are four colors to choose from: Star Black, Pearl White, Tonic Orange, and Renault's iconic Sirius Yellow.

Inside, there are Recaro bucket seats with titanium black Alcantara upholstery with RS embroidery, exclusive door sills, and a numbered metal plate near the transmission controls. Topping off the exclusivity, each one will be signed by Laurent Hurgon, driver and development expert at Renault Group.

"[The] Megane RS represents 15 years of my work at Renault Sport. Since the Megane II phase 2, we have constantly improved its dynamic performance in order to remain the leader in front-wheel-drive sports cars," said Hurgon. "The records on the Nurburgring Nordschleife are unforgettable challenges, full of passion, adrenalin, and emotion. And now, Megane RS Ultime... I am particularly proud to sign the version crowning this wonderful saga."

Now, it will be the resurrected Renault sub-brand that will be going toe-toe with the Civic Type R for front-wheel-drive lap records.