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AMegane 4vsBFocusPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsMegane 4 · Focus

Renault Megane 4 RS Trophy-R vs Ford Focus ST 280: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2019 vs 2019 · Methodology
RenaultPetrolFaster

Megane 4 RS Trophy-R

300 hp · 400 Nm · 1,306 kg · 2019

VS
FordPetrol

Focus ST 280

280 hp · 420 Nm · 1,431 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

ARenault Megane 4 RS Trophy-R

5.48 s

Gap0.20 sin favour of Megane 4 RS Trophy-R
BFord Focus ST 280

5.68 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureMegane 4 RS Trophy-RFocus ST 280Gap
0–100 km/h5.48 s5.68 s0.20 s · Megane 4 RS Trophy-R
400 m standing start13.48 s13.80 s0.32 s · Megane 4 RS Trophy-R
1,000 m standing start24.15 s24.64 s0.49 s · Megane 4 RS Trophy-R
Top speed (electronically limited)260 km/h264 km/h4 km/h · Focus ST 280
Power-to-weight ratio4.35 kg/hp5.11 kg/hpbetter ratio · Megane 4 RS Trophy-R

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

RenaultPetrolMegane 4 RS Trophy-R
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
FordPetrolFocus ST 280
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
StageMegane 4 RS Trophy-RFocus ST 280
0–30 km/h1.47 s1.66 s
0–50 km/h2.66 s · tight gap2.77 s
0–80 km/h4.04 s4.37 s
0–100 km/h5.48 s5.68 s
0–120 km/h6.86 s7.28 s
0–160 km/h11.09 s11.78 s
0–200 km/h17.78 s19.05 s
400 m standing start13.48 s13.80 s
1,000 m standing start24.15 s24.64 s
Top speed260 km/h264 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

Renault

Megane 4 RS Trophy-R

4,35kg/hpratio better by 0,76 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power300 hpI4
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 306 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
GearboxManual 6-speed
Ford

Focus ST 280

5,11kg/hpcompensated by −125 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power280 hpPending
Torque420 Nm
Weight1 431 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox7-speed dual-clutch

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R hits 100 km/h in 5.48 s versus 5.68 s for the Focus ST 280. At this point, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R leads by 0.20 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R is doing 140 km/h against 139 km/h for the Focus ST 280. The gap is 0.24 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R crosses the line in 13.48 s versus 13.79 s. The 0.31 s gap represents roughly 15 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 198 km/h versus 194 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R finishes in 24.14 s versus 24.63 s, with a 0.49 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (260 vs 264 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 260 km/h, the Megane 4 RS Trophy-R never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.35 kg/hp vs 5.11 kg/hp) and transmission (Manual vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.27 seconds. The 0.20 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of Megane 4 RS Trophy-R
Peugeot 308 GTi 270Renault Megane 4 RS 280

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Focus ST 280 vs Megane 4 RS 280

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Megane 4 RS Trophy-R vs Golf 8 GTI Clubsport

FordVSPeugeot

Focus ST 280 vs 308 GTi 270

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Megane 4 RS Trophy-R wins (5,48 s vs 5,68 s).

Megane 4 RS Trophy-R goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,48 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Megane 4 RS Trophy-R: 300 hp, ratio 4,35 kg/hp. Focus ST 280: 280 hp, ratio 5,11 kg/hp.

Megane 4 RS Trophy-R: 260 km/h. Focus ST 280: 264 km/h.