New sub-£20k Renault Twingo revealed in full
If retro looks and an affordable price are good enough for a 5 reboot, they're good enough for a new Twingo...
So the Renaulution continues apace. Following E-Techs that have resurrected classic names (think Megane and Scenic) alongside retro designs as well (4 and 5), Renault’s perceived image has been transformed; what was a fairly middle-of-the-road car maker has become one of the most desirable EV brands around. Those years invested in Fluences, Zoes and Twizys have come good…
This latest Twingo will surely do Renault’s rep no harm at all. The first car produced under a new ‘Leap 100’ initiative, the latest E-Tech has gone from design to assembly in just 100 weeks; now, with teasers and previews and leaks all done, this is the production-spec Twingo E-Tech that UK customers will be able to buy next year. It will rival whatever VW’s sub-£20k ID 1 becomes, plus alternatives like the new Fiat Grande Panda. Surely plenty more will follow as the city car continues its EV resurgence.
While three generations of Twingo preceded the E-Tech (remember the Renaultsport 133 era, then the rear-engined Smart one), this latest retro Renault was only likely to evoke one of them. This is the iconic 90s original reborn for the digital age, the car that sold more than four million units and charmed so many with its cute design and innovative features. So Renault has attempted the same again, with an instantly recognisable LED face, resurrected Twingo fonts and a zesty colour palette.
As has become modern Renault tradition, the end result looks fantastic, clearly influenced by heritage but not totally beholden to it. While the front end and overall proportions hark back to the original, there are hints of the second-gen Twingo as well, with that kink for the boot underneath the screen. Pleasingly, this remains a properly small A-segment car too, the Twingo measuring 3.79m long by 1.72m wide and 1.49m high. But there’s said to be 360 litres of boot space alongside, extendable to more than 1,000 with the seats down.
See this Twingo doesn’t just look like the original, but it boasts some of the fun features made famous by it as well. So the sliding individual seats are standard on all models, allowing 17cm of adjustment to prioritise either occupant or luggage space (and with the underfloor cable cubby always accessible with a double opening). There are 19 litres of stowage inside, via 12 individual spaces. There are body-coloured accents too, just like it’s the late 20th century, and there are affirmations throughout the Twingo that sound a lot cooler in French. The original Twingo slogan ‘A vous d’inventer la vie qui va avec’ (it’s up to you to invent the life to go with it), is on the straps used to slide the rear seats, and ‘Ouvert d’esprit’ (or open-minded; we told you soon) is inside the bootlid. Renault says the interior of the Twingo E-Tech ‘expresses the cheerful vibe and optimism inspired by this vehicle.’
As the first Twingo was a modest automobile designed for urban use, so its 2025 rework is as well. Its range, performance and charging capability are modest, but that all helps keep the price down; you’d have to imagine the target price of less than £20,000 has to be met, because the 5 kicks off at £23k. So the battery of the Twingo is just 27.5kWh, and made of Lithium Iron Phosphate for the first time in a Renault; this is less energy-dense than a lump made from NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt), but is more affordable because of going without the pricey nickel and cobalt.
Renault believes that ‘cell-to-pack’ technology means efficiency is still competitive; the important numbers are 82hp, 129lb ft, 163 WLTP miles and 50kW DC charging. It means a Twingo can fizz to 31 mph in 3.85 seconds, twice that in 12.1 and reach 81 mph flat out. Those who believe there’s not much more fun than driving a slow car fast should have a hoot here, especially with a Twingo kerb weight from 1200kg. The front axle is carried over directly from the 5, with that car’s rear multi-link replaced with a twist beam adapted from the Captur. Gotta think about those costs, remember.
There are little savings to be found throughout the Twingo, albeit in Renault fashion. Apparently, some cars have 11 different air conditioning systems; obviously, the Twingo didn’t need that. Apparently, it goes with a ‘simplified solution right from the design stage’, so it’s less complex (read: more affordable) while also giving customers what they need. Similarly, the car is being launched in just Evolution and Techno specs, with equipment offerings ‘streamlined’ for efficiency. If it doesn’t need it, the Twingo doesn’t get it.
Which isn’t to say this is going to be spartan; all Twingos will get the 10-inch central screen with smartphone mirroring, cruise control and the sliding rear seats; Techno adds the OpenR Link infotainment with Google built in, automatic wipers and a folding front passenger seat. Budget for a wheel upgrade, however, as for the moment, the Twingo is only offered with 16-inch wheel cover as standard, and the funky rims you see here are 18s. Maybe they’ll be factored into the UK offering.
Techno, appropriately enough, brings some useful tech features to the Twingo. One is the Reno avatar, an AI-enhanced personal assistant to help with everything from charging to tyre pressures; the other is one-pedal driving, recently introduced in the 4 E-Tech. Above the three paddle-operated regen settings is One Pedal, which will take the Twingo all the way to a stop. No longer novel for EVs, but handy for a car that’s going to be scooting around the city and revelling in a sub-10-metre turning circle.
There’s a phone app for the Twingo too, of course (imagine explaining that in 1992), as well as 100 for the OpenR Link infotainment, with everything from SongPop for Renault to BBC iPlayer. The Twingo might lean heavily into its heritage, but won’t want for contemporary features. There’s even bi-directional charging included, so energy from the car can be fed back into the grid - or, more likely when showing off to friends, your coffee machine. The Mobilize Power V2G (Vehicle to Grid) service launched in France a year ago; something similar over here could make a Twingo even cheaper to run.
Paula Fabregat-Andreu, Design Project Director, said: “Our main aim in designing this modern-day Twingo was to recapture the bold spirit of the first generation, a compact one-box silhouette, spacious and modular inside with the playful, mischievous character that defined the first generation. Twingo E-Tech electric is bright and cheerful, with curvy lines and huge, impish eyes that give it a vibrant personality and a unique character in the automotive landscape. More than just a vehicle, it’s a true companion. A champion of everyday life, able to turn every journey into a moment of fun.” Which all sounds jolly good to us, especially given how sorted recent retro E-Techs have been. Expect confirmation of UK specs, prices and availability in the new year.
WLTP of 163 translates to what, do we think? And how will it nest against the bigger battery Spring?
WLTP of 163 translates to what, do we think? And how will it nest against the bigger battery Spring?
the dacia spring is £10k brand new though, so it'll all come down to the price
WLTP of 163 translates to what, do we think? And how will it nest against the bigger battery Spring?
Bur Renault didn't exactly help UK sales by only offering lhd (if memory serves) so I assume that will be corrected.
My wife did a year in Paris while at university. One of her fellow students had a placement that included a company car, about which he was very excited. The company car turned out to be a pink Twingo Commerciale, which was an even more basic version with a load platform replacing the rear seats. No matter, they managed to get 6 of them in it at one point.
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