Renault’s revived Twingo looks ace and is exactly what we need on our roads – but there is a major problem
SQUISHY bumper pads to protect it from parking fails. Tiny turning circle. Looks ace.
Renault has revived Twingo as a dinky, four-seat electric city car/dodgem costing £17k.
The problem is, the French have yet to decide on making it right-hand drive for us because of the cost. Please do.
We need little cars on our roads. We don’t need more SUVs.
Twingo is basically a smaller, lighter Renault 5 under the skin but will use a cheaper battery chemistry with an estimated 180 miles of range. All it needs.
I’m seeing lots of Nineties Twingo vibes here, combined with a trendy digital dash and sliding rear seats.
Design boss Gilles Vidal, speaking at the Brussels Motor Show, said: “We wanted to go back to the cutest, nicest one ever – the first one.
“It’s still a legend today.
“It’s still cool.
“When Twingo first came out there were people who loved it and people who hated it. Maybe still today.
“But it’s a thing.
“So we thought we’d go back to that spirit.
“I think we are in a world where somehow nostalgia matters in a positive way.
“We live in a stressful world with hyper communication and so much going on.
“It’s a way to get the nice memories back.
“You see the same thing happening in fashion and furniture design.
“It makes the world more interesting.”
Renault has rebooted several legends from its back catalogue as EVs over the last 18 months including 5, 4, Estafette, and now Twingo.
How about Fuego?
Vidal said: “I would love to make a new Fuego.
“It’s ugly and cool at the same time.
“But there are no plans to do it right now.”
Renault is still investing in petrol cars with a new Clio hybrid due to be revealed in September.
Vidal promised: “It’s going to be a fresh new design.
“No looking back.
“You will be surprised, yet instantly recognise it’s a Clio – even if it’s not written on it.”
Crowning glory
ONCE again, I’m right.
The gorgeous Renault 5 is the newly crowned European Car of the Year.
Absolutely walked it.
The £23k electric supermini shared the prize with the Alpine A290, its racier twin brother.
Kia’s electric EV3 was runner-up with Citroen’s petrol and electric C3 in third.
The results were announced at the Brussels Motor Show. Well done all.