Monday 18th August 2014

New Renault Twingo prices and specs

Because who wants a Fiat 500 anyway? The city car for PHers starts under £10K

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Right, so the most PH-worthy (read: fastest) Mk3 Renault Twingo at launch will be the Dynamique Energy TCe 90 S&S. Sharp. It has 90hp, 100lb ft, a top speed of 103mph and a 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds. The CO2 emissions are under 100g/km too. With the optional £850 Sport Pack (16-inch wheels, decals, aluminum pedals and lots of red, for the full sport effect), the Twingo is £12,545.

Nope, we don't get it either

Because it's a Renault and because this is PH we want a Renaultsport version. The last Twingo RS was great plus this car is both rear-engined and rear-wheel drive. Unfortunately that rear-engined layout means a very tight space for engines to sit. Let's hope a little more can be squeezed from the 900cc 3-cyl turbo.

But still, a RWD city car is rather exciting in a market that includes thoroughly uninspiring stuff like the Ford Ka and Vauxhall Adam. The range starts at £9,495 for the Expression 70hp with a 1.0 NA three-cylinder engine. It's also offered in 'Play' specification and Dynamique with stop-start.

Being a new and chic city car there are of course a host of connectivity and personalisation options. 'R&GO' is Renault's standard infotainment system with a universal phone cradle and apps for stuff like nav and internet radio (DAB is standard). R-Link with a touchscreen is optional on Dynamique models.

All models have five doors

As is often the way, the base Expression probably won't prove too popular as not a single one of the seven personalisation packs are available for it. Interior and exterior 'touch packs' bring flashes of colour inside and out and the interior style pack brings different colours for the areas still untouched by the style pack. Right. Further bundles of extras bring together options for less than if bought individually (see the £500 convenience pack which adds climate control, auto lights and auto wipers). No mention of a Cup pack though...

Orders are being taken for the Twingo from today with first customer deliveries from late September. Probably best not attempt oversteer on the test drive.

 

 

[TimLambert7]

Renaultsport are at a point where they could build one of the greatest hot hatches ever made. Rear engined and RWD.

Please, please Renaultsport. Don't mess it up.

[Gandahar]

I don't actually thinks it needs a bigger engine if turbo'd. If you can get this up to 130-140bhp with the RenaultSport expertise thrown at the chassis it would be pretty fun. They should use the sequential gearbox out of the Clio and with less torque perhaps make it a lot more snappy without any worries?

A later Trophy version of this would be rather funky I think. Renault needs to throw all it's Sport department engineering at this little car, it is a classic in the making.

This is the golden egg that needs to be hatched properly.

Edited by Gandahar on Monday 18th August 13:52

[ajmcampbell]

In black, with everything, it sort of looks like a Renault 5 Gordini Turbo... this is a good thing.



Exciting car, this. First small car in a while that isn't boring as a tax return or twee. And RWD is the cherry on the cake.

[323ti]

Gandahar said:

They should use the sequential gearbox out of the Clio

Yes, that was a real winner.
On second thought, let's not.

[Dave Hedgehog]

TimLambert7 said:

Renaultsport are at a point where they could build one of the greatest hot hatches ever made. Rear engined and RWD.

Please, please Renaultsport. Don't mess it up.

indeed, this could potentially be one of the performance bargains of all time

certainly looks the part in the pics

[NDNDNDND]

[quote=Gandahar]They should use the sequential gearbox out of the Clio and with less torque perhaps make it a lot more snappy without any worries?

GET OUT, YOU'RE A DISGRACE!!!

[Gandahar]

323ti said:

Gandahar said:

They should use the sequential gearbox out of the Clio

Yes, that was a real winner.
On second thought, let's not.

I disagree, but I can see why you have the opposite view. It was their first one and it has not been that good, up to now.

But it can be. There is no reason Renault Sport can not to the best dual clutch for small fast hatchbacks if they set their minds to it.

Edited by Gandahar on Monday 18th August 14:05

[mike-r]

But I'm not a woman in a white hat, can I still buy one?

[Gandahar]

NDNDNDND said:

Gandahar said:

They should use the sequential gearbox out of the Clio and with less torque perhaps make it a lot more snappy without any worries?

GET OUT, YOU'RE A DISGRACE!!!

See my points above.

Small cars suit a flappy paddle gearshift more than bigger more powerful cars, just because you are driving them at the limits and need to keep momentum up. If Reanult can really nail theirs I think it will be really good.

Nobody's complaining this is a turbo and not an NA 1.6 litre car like the last Twingo RS by the way ! So we have got comfortable with turbo's but not flappys. You know we will though ....

Edited by Gandahar on Monday 18th August 14:06

[proper]

This really is a Smart ForFour, right?
So what's the fuzz about it being RWD?

[Dan911]

Going to be a great car this...

Cheap, RWD, Rear engine... The youth of today can learn how to drive!!

[323ti]

Gandahar said:

Nobody's complaining this is a turbo and not an NA 1.6 litre car like the last Twingo RS by the way ! So we have got comfortable with turbo's but not flappys. You know we will though ....

Without a turbo this peanut-sized engine would never get the rears to light up. Not even on balloon Wanli tyres. In the wet. So turbo; no worries.
And I will grant you, a good DCT (like the GT-R's) is mega. But the new Clio's is just awful.
So let's just keep this Twinky light and simple. With a snickety manual. Cheaper too.

[sh33n]

What's with Renault's recent fascination with only doing 5 doors? It's a super-mini it's allowed to have 3 doors. Yes, yes 5 doors might be more practical but it's nowhere near as good looking as a 500, Adam or even the new (horrendous) Mini. People buy these cars on design.

[BREMBOV6]

This sounds really cool. I really like the fact the engine is actually in the back.

Come on Renault Sport - go mental again!

[Reavenger]

Kerb weight is roughly 950kg I think too. If they can keep it under a ton for the RS version and give it a bit more poke, I think it'll be great.

[DirtyIrish]

sh33n said:

What's with Renault's recent fascination with only doing 5 doors? It's a super-mini it's allowed to have 3 doors. Yes, yes 5 doors might be more practical but it's nowhere near as good looking as a 500, Adam or even the new (horrendous) Mini. People buy these cars on design.

true but the design is clever enough to hide the rear door handles at the back of the window frames. it looks awesome

I'd buy this in a heartbeat where i live (Frankfurt) if i didn't have my company car as parking is a premium and all i see is smart car owners grinning at me while i lap the block for the 5th time trying to find a space :S

[GregK2]

proper said:

This really is a Smart ForFour, right?
So what's the fuzz about it being RWD?

No..It's a twingo. And the previous gen Forfour was not RWD.

[StripeyNick]

GregK2 said:

proper said:

This really is a Smart ForFour, right?
So what's the fuzz about it being RWD?

No..It's a twingo. And the previous gen Forfour was not RWD.

Yes but the new ForFour is the same as the new Twingo underneath. (And the ForTwo is based on a shortened Twingo chassis)

[danp]

Reavenger said:

Kerb weight is roughly 950kg I think too. If they can keep it under a ton for the RS version and give it a bit more poke, I think it'll be great.

939kg for the base one without a passenger.

Renault chap at Goodwood FoS reckoned it would get the 1.2 4 pot turbo - fingers crossed for a RenaultSport version as well.

[GregK2]

StripeyNick said:

GregK2 said:

proper said:

This really is a Smart ForFour, right?
So what's the fuzz about it being RWD?

No..It's a twingo. And the previous gen Forfour was not RWD.

Yes but the new ForFour is the same as the new Twingo underneath. (And the ForTwo is based on a shortened Twingo chassis)

Aware of that, but that makes the Forfour more Twingo than the other way around as StripeyNick seemingly implied. (Unless i'm interpreting the comment wrong)
And the "fuzz" of it being RWD because Twingo / Forfour of previous generation were both FWD.