Renault Twingo

Twingo I (1993–2012)

The original Twingo was launched in April 1993, was sold in Europe's LHD markets until June 2007 and received intermediate restylings in 1998, 2000 and 2004.

Development

Designed under the direction of Patrick Le Quément, Renault's chief designer. The car derived from a series of concepts developed through the W60 project when Gaston Juchet was Renault's chief designer. The project was aimed at replacing the Renault 4 with a minivan model. Le Quément chose a Jean-Pierre Ploué design to develop the production version. He included an unconventional front-end layout resembling a "smile." The interior equipment was mounted on a central console to free space.

Renault had participated in the 1981-1984 'Mono-Box' ECO 2000 car project along with PSA Peugeot-Citroën and the French government.

The Twingo I electronic centrally-mounted instrument panel had a speedometer, fuel gauge, clock, odometer and trip recorder controlled via a stalk-located button. A strip of warning lights was located behind the steering wheel. The rear seat featured a sliding mechanism to enable either increased boot space or rear seat legroom. The boot parcel shelf was attached to the inside of the tailgate and lifted with the tailgate — or could clip back against the rear window when not required.

Engines

All engines were replaced with an 8-valve 1.15-litre 60 hp (45 kW) unit. A 16-valve 75 hp (56 kW) version was added in 2000.

Manufactured at the Flins Renault Factory from the time of its launch until June 2007, the Twingo I was also manufactured in Colombia and Uruguay from 1997 to 2003, remaining in production into 2012 in Colombia, by the Sofasa conglomerate, strictly for the South American market.

EuroNCAP results:

Timeline

In April 1993, the Twingo launched with only one trim level, and four exterior colours: coral red, Indian yellow, coriander green and overseas blue. The car retailed at a price of 55,000FF. In June 1994, new exterior colours introduced along with minor interior changes. Four months later, the Twingo Easy model was launched, with a semi automatic gearbox.

In September 1995, the first of many special Twingo editions launched, while in-built airbags become optional. In July 1996, a new 1149cc engine (from the Clio) was fitted to replace the previous engine from the Renault 5. Also, various improvements made including the addition of a third brake light.

Two years later, the Twingo underwent its first major restyling revisions to the interior and dashboard. The front and rear lights were revised, along with the front orange indicator lights being merged into the headlamp housing. Two months later, the top-of-the-range Twingo Initiale model launched.

In September 2000, the Twingo underwent its second major restyling. Additions included larger 14" wheels, revised door trims with larger door pockets, a black trunk-opener lever (instead of shiny silver) and cup holders in front of the gearstick.

December 2000 brought a new 1.2 litre 16v engine launched, with 75 hp (56 kW). In April 2001, a new semi automatic gearbox launched, called Quickshift. Additional revisions followed in September 2002, including new interior trims and wheel covers.

September 2004 marked the third major Twingo revision. The Renault logo was fitted to the boot-lid, side rubbing strips were added and a new range of exterior colours launched.

As of June 2007, Twingo production and sales ended in Europe, to be replaced by the Twingo 2.

Twingo II (2007–2014)

After presenting an initial concept at the 2006 Mondial de l'Automobile, Renault debuted the production Twingo II at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show with French market trim levels named Authentique, Expression, Initiale, Dynamique and GT. Using the floorpan of the Renault Clio II, the Twingo II offered improved crash protection and was available in LHD & RHD configurations. Production began in France and subsequently moved to the Revoz plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

In January 2008, Renault debuted the Twingo Renaultsport 133, with a new 133 hp (100 kW) 1,598 cc engine, at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. In August 2013, ordering and production of the 133 model ended.

In July 2011, Renault debuted a facelifted Twingo II at the Frankfurt Motor Show, featuring a design language subsequently used on their entire range and offering revised fascias as well as redesigned front and rear light clusters.

On series 14 episode 4 of Top Gear, presenter Jeremy Clarkson road tested the Twingo 133 on Belfast streets and barrel-rolled upside down through a sewage tunnel. After numerous accidents, he raced to catch a departing ferry, instead landing in the ocean.

On 16 March 2011, the Renault Twingo won the "best city car award" in the Parkers' New Car Awards.

Special editions included the Twingo Renaultsport Gordini; Twingo Gordini TCe 100; Twingo Bizu; Twingo Pzaz; Twingo Renaultsport Silverstone GP (UK-only); Twingo Miss Sixty; and Twingo Renaultsport Red Bull RB7.

EuroNCAP results:

Twingo III (2014–present)

The third generation Renault Twingo debuted in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show in a five-door, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, co-developed with Daimler's third generation Smart Fortwo and second generation Smart Forfour. The third generation Twingo and second generation Fortwo are manufactured at the same factory in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

The Twingo III was photographed under testing in September 2013. It resembles the Twin'Z concept unveiled in April 2013 and the Twin'Run concept, presented in May 2013, at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco. The third-generation Twingo entered into production in May 2014 at Novo Mesto and was launched into the European market in September.

Design and development

In 2010, Renault and Daimler, as part of their existing partnership, announced the "Project Edison", a collaboration aimed at conceiving a shared platform for small city cars from both companies. The first cars made using the platform were the third-generation Twingo and the second-generation Smart Forfour. In these two, Renault and Daimler invested equally during the research and development phase, but then Renault specialised more in engines and Daimler in transmissions on the next stages. Both companies tried to ensure a distinctive design. Renault designers took inspiration from the Renault 5 and the first-generation Twingo, while incorporating Laurens van den Acker's cycle of life design styling. The car was originally launched with four colour options as with the original Twingo.

Technical details

The Twingo III is about 100 mm shorter than the Twingo II. The rear-engine layout improves the manoeuvrability and the cabin space, but reduced the boot capacity. The suspension is composed by MacPherson struts on the front axle and a De Dion tube on the rear. The car uses a five-door architecture, which differs it from its three-door predecessors. Brakes are ventilated disks on the front and drums on the rear, except in the base model (TCe 70) which uses drum brakes all-round. The bonnet features a special opening mechanism and allows only partial opening to give access to the windscreen washer fluid, brake fluid and coolant reservoirs, and to the battery.

Equipment

The car has four trim levels: Expression, Play, Dynamique and Dynamique S with various packs for customisation. Between its optionals it allows to use the smartphone as an instrument panel (R&Go) and has an infotainment system (R-Link).

Safety

As standard, the car incorporates tyre pressure sensors, seatbelts reminders, four airbags and four head and chest side airbags. It achieved a 4-star Euro NCAP test rating in 2014.

Engines

The car has two 3-cylinder petrol engines. A 0.9-litre turbocharged unit and a 1-litre atmospheric. Both are fitted low and in a 49 degrees angle to increase boot's capacity.

Advertising

In February 2014, Renault organised a "strip-tweet" online event to promote the Twingo III. The manufacturer commissioned to Publicis the conception of the car's European advertising. Publicis hired French artists and animators Olivier Kuntzel and Françoise Deygas for the design of the visual campaign with the theme "Go Anywhere, Go Everywhere."

In 2015, Renault released a short music video, "All-new Twingo : Show me a car !", in which a twee-styled woman is searching a nifty car. It ends with a reference to "Papa & Nicole" adverts for the Renault Clio : "Papa ! - Nicole ? - Your seatbelt!". The brief video got a viral success in the UK with approximately 300,000 views in 4 weeks.. A Pop Up Store was opened at the Cremerie de Paris.

Bēhance produced Life Designed software as part of Twingo launch.

Reception and awards

The Renault Twingo III got many awards worldwide. In the UK, the new Twingo won several major awards including "City Car of the Year" in the 2014 TopGear Magazine Awards, "City Car of the Year" in the UK Car of the Year Awards and "Best City Car" in the Daily Express 2014 Motoring Oscars, "Best City Car" at the 2015 British GQ Car Awards, for example.

Thus, the Twingo III has received positive reviews in the UK. Paul Horrell of Top Gear magazine gave the car a score of seven out of 10, calling it: "a genuinely different approach to design and engineering that has brought real dividends, not just in being different for its own sake. Most important, it's much more fun than a base-model supermini for the same cash." Auto Express and its sister publication CarBuyer scored it four out of five stars, praising its maneuverability, design, and rear passenger space but criticizing its wind noise and high price compared to its rivals. What Car? gave the car three out of five stars, saying: "The Renault Twingo mixes cheeky retro styling with genuine practicality. It’s neither as refined nor as comfortable as the best city cars, though."

Concept cars

The third-generation Twingo was previewed through two concepts, the Twin'Z and the Twin'Run.

Twin'Z

The Twin'Z is a city car concept unveiled in April 2013. Its styling was created in partnership with British designer Ross Lovegrove. According to Renault's chief designer Laurens van den Acker, the purpose of its introduction was to "break down the boundaries between the world of an object whose calling is to be in movement - the automobile - and that of furniture." The concept has a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and is powered by an electric motor with a 67 hp (49 kW) power output and a torque of 167 lb·ft (226 N·m). It has no B-pillar or dashboard and its doors open in conventional doors up front and suicide doors in the rear.

Twin'Run

The Twin'Run is a rear-wheel-drive hot hatch concept developed by Renault with assistance of Tork Engineering and Poclain Véhicules, unveiled in May 2013. It is powered by a mid-mounted V6 engine with 320 hp (235 kW), coupled to a twin-clutch six-speed sequential gearbox and limited-slip differential. It has double-wishbone independent suspension on both axles. The chassis is a tubular steel frame inspired by the Mégane Trophy and Renault 5 Turbo Maxi from WRC.