For a firm that focuses on practical family cars, Renault is expert when it comes to turning out sweet-handling hot-hatches.

Like many European car-makers, the French company has racing heritage going all the way back to its formative years.

The stringent safety standards required for motorsport have certainly trickled down onto its road cars, creating one of the safest model ranges available. The Megane, on which the new Renaultsport 250 model is based, received a maximum 37 marks on its way to a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

Be it from track or rally stage, generations of hot-hatch fans have benefitted from the sporting hand-me-downs.

The Renaultsport Megane 250 is the latest expression of this philosophy. Turbocharged engine (Renault was the first to regularly employ one in F1), aero-dynamic profile and rear diffuser, highly-developed front suspension components to improve handling and responsiveness… all have their roots in successful motorsport campaigns.

This will no doubt prove satisfying to know as you undertake the morning commute. Race-honed much of the technology may be, but the new Renaultsport Megane has been designed to provide much greater refinement day-to-day. For those expecting the new model to pick up where the extraordinarily hardcore last generation Megane R26R left off, you’ll have to wait a little longer for the ultimate versions.

In the mean time, the new Renaultsport Megane 250 can be specified with the stiffer Cup chassis for track use or for road use by super-keen drivers. It actually costs £1,000 less, boasting fewer comforts than the slightly softer Sport chassis model.

That’s not to say the Sport chassis model is all bark and no bite, however. Perfectly amenable on a long motorway journey it may be, with shapely, cosseting seats, impressive ride quality and a refreshingly tractable nature, but with 250bhp and a stiff and agile chassis, it’s a hugely rewarding experience to drive quickly, too.

The handling is assured but genuinely entertaining. The Renaultsport Megane 250’s taut chassis twitches underneath the driver when using the large four-pot Brembo brakes to their maximum, and the model feels light and responsive when changing direction. A sophisticated new hub design reduces unsprung weight, allowing for larger brakes and benefitting cornering and steering feel.

Based on the Megane Coupe, the Renaultsport Megane 250 looks good, too. A bespoke body kit with some highly-attractive alloy wheel options gives a sporty look. Only the oddly-styled door sills are likely to cause disagreement.

Inside, standard equipment levels are generous. Visibility suffers due to the small rear and side windows. A small rear hatch looks good but offers limited access to the decent-sized boot. Long doors make accessing the adequate rear easier, and front occupants are well indulged for space.

PRICE: £22,995 on the road.

ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit developing 250bhp and 250lb/ft via six-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels.

PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed 135mph, 0-62mph 6.1 seconds EMISSIONS: 195g/km.