Tuesday 8th December 2009

Renaultsport Reveals Rally Twingos

Entry-level pair provide rallying fun on a budget

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Renault has unveiled a pair of Twingo rally cars intended as an affordable, modern and reliable way into entry-level rallying. The Twingo R1 and R2 will sit below the Clio R3 Access and Maxi rally cars to create a four-tier Renault rally line-up.

Of the two Twingos, the R2 is the more hardcore offering. Changes to the pistons, camshaft, flywheel, exhaust system and the addition of a specific air box give it a power boost of 27bhp over its roadgoing cousin. That means the Twingo R2 gets 158bhp, although peak torque remains static at 118lb ft.

Managing that power is a five-speed sequential gearbox with a ZF limited-slip differential that drives the front wheels. The suspension gets adjustable dampers, but the MacPherson front/ Torsion bar rear set-up remains.

The Twingo R2 is available from £25,399 before tax.

The R2's little brother, the R1, is fitted with the same roll cage and safety gubbins as the R2, but the engine and gearbox are identical to the road car's. The only difference is a tweaked ECU, which brings more torque at lower revs.

Renault says that, with its Twingo R1, it is the first manufacturer to get official homologation for a car in this entry-level motorsport category. Should you wish to push your rally Twingo harder, the R1 can be converted to R2 specification.

[MrTappets]

Will any of these be diving over a ferry port wall any time soon?

[Jessop]

I wish fully sequential boxes were as available for other cars other than bloody fords at a somewhat affordable price for the trackday'er ..

[The_Burg]

Why so little power?
1.6 turbo and only 168hp. Surely this should be an easy 200hp plus?
(Or is this a specification set by the rally class).

[Mag1calTrev0r]

How much for the R1?

Edited by Mag1calTrev0r on Tuesday 8th December 12:29

[Yorkshirepud]

Can these be bought for road use?

[irishpete]

The_Burg said:

Why so little power?
1.6 turbo and only 168hp. Surely this should be an easy 200hp plus?
(Or is this a specification set by the rally class).

The Twingo RS doesn't have a turbo, it's a naturally asppirated engine.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Yorkshirepud said:

Can these be bought for road use?

From what I've read elsewhere, it seems like you're buying a Twingo 133 + a kit to make it an R2. Essentially it's road legal AFAIK

http://www.zercustoms.com/news/Renault-Twingo-RS-R...

[vintageracer01]

Very cool car !!!

And then learn to drive like Jean Ragnotti !

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5v-OhjiBDg
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCIOGlllGDw&fea...
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4J7GRuEc-Y&fea...

Buy it and try to beat the King of "Front-Wheel-Drive-Rallying"

Edited by vintageracer01 on Wednesday 9th December 14:55

[wab172uk]

Shame they're not giving the road car the same 158bhp.

[HereBeMonsters]

Love these. Can you just buy them from any Renault dealer?

[Dan7357]

Great little car..

I did a Renault Track day with Renault UK, and by far the most fun car on track. Not the fastest, but most fun.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

HereBeMonsters said:

Love these. Can you just buy them from any Renault dealer?

I imagine you'd buy them from R-Sport in Wimbledon (IIRC) like the Clio Cup race car

[dennosaw]

Amazing I thought, but then I discovered the £25,399 doesn't include the cost of the car...Huh

[FNG]

Jessop said:

I wish fully sequential boxes were as available for other cars other than bloody fords at a somewhat affordable price for the trackday'er ..

Is a sequential gearbox really necessary for trackdays?

[ThirdShift]

dennosaw said:

Amazing I thought, but then I discovered the £25,399 doesn't include the cost of the car...Huh

Yowser, so youre looking at around £40k for the car before running costs and rebuilds etc?!? Sounds incredibly expensive when you consider how much Group N Mitsubishi and Subarus cost. I know which one id rather rally!

[HereBeMonsters]

ThirdShift said:

dennosaw said:

Amazing I thought, but then I discovered the £25,399 doesn't include the cost of the car...Huh

Yowser, so youre looking at around £40k for the car before running costs and rebuilds etc?!? Sounds incredibly expensive when you consider how much Group N Mitsubishi and Subarus cost. I know which one id rather rally!

Is that right? Doesn't read like that in the article.

[R66STU]

corsa vxr or twingo sport R2 ? what would be the better car ?

[Lil' Joe]

dennosaw said:

Amazing I thought, but then I discovered the £25,399 doesn't include the cost of the car...Huh

Are you sure? I didn't get that impression. It reads to me like pay £25k and off you drive.

[carl_w]

Mag1calTrev0r said:

Yorkshirepud said:

Can these be bought for road use?

From what I've read elsewhere, it seems like you're buying a Twingo 133 + a kit to make it an R2. Essentially it's road legal AFAIKl

Rally cars are always road-legal, as they have to drive on the road between special stages.

[Hallmark]

ThirdShift said:

dennosaw said:

Amazing I thought, but then I discovered the £25,399 doesn't include the cost of the car...Huh

Yowser, so youre looking at around £40k for the car before running costs and rebuilds etc?!? Sounds incredibly expensive when you consider how much Group N Mitsubishi and Subarus cost. I know which one id rather rally!

I think you'd be lucky to buy a brand new Mitsi or Scooby Gp N for £40k... Second hand maybe, but then you're not comparing like with like.