New Renault Twingo should again offer a lot for the money – Preview

Highlights

• Twingo will return in 2026
• Possible from less than €20,000
• 10 kWh per 100 km

Three years ago, Renault made sure we were on the edge of our seats with the Renault 5 Prototype. Without any significant announcement, a modern reincarnation of one of Renault’s most successful and iconic models ever appeared on our screen. It turned out to be the start of a true retro offensive, because a year later there was a preview of a new Renault 4. Fast forward another year and we arrive at November 15, 2023, the day that Renault once again surprised friend and foe. with a particularly mischievous creation: the Renault Twingo Prototype. As far as Renault is concerned, the original Twingo fits perfectly next to icons such as the R4 and R5, or rather below them. The new Twingo will be Renault’s least expensive EV. A counterpart of Dacia cousin Spring? Well, in a sense, but of course everything is just a bit more modern and, above all, more stylish.

Good example

The designers have succeeded in giving the Twingo’s famous nose a contemporary shape. Of course, this is also largely due to the quite timeless design of the original. The shape of the headlights, with the separate indicator units underneath, returns almost one to one on the new Twingo. The characteristic three-part air grille in the hood is also back, although probably with a different function. On the sides, the door handles are particularly noticeable, just like the original, a kind of semi-openwork circles containing the lever to open the door. By the way, unlike the original, the new Twingo is not a three-door, but a five-door, so it is possible that handles for the rear doors are hidden somewhere in the C-pillars. At the back of the new Twingo, the artists have allowed themselves a little more artistic freedom. For example, the rear window, much more than on the original Twingo, is in a kind of loose part protruding from the carriage.

Renault Twingo (illustration: Larson)

Focus on affordability

All that design technical pampering is of course all well and good, but the most important thing for many will be that the new small Renault has a reasonable price tag. In that respect, the Twingo of course also has a reputation to uphold. Well, the signs are certainly promising. The new Renault 5 should be available in the showroom for around €25,000 and the Twingo is still below that. There is even talk of less than €20,000, although it remains to be seen whether that will still be realistic by the time it is ready for the market. What will play a key role in keeping the price low is that the battery must be as small as possible, without leaving you with a limited usable range. With a target consumption of 10 kWh per 100 km, the Twingo would in any case be quite economical with its electricity and then, for example, a battery pack of 30 kWh is enough for a very useful 300 kilometers of range. If loading is also a bit quick… Eyes are now first focused on the production version of the electric Renault 5, which probably already gives a good idea of ​​what technology can flow to the Twingo. The Twingo is almost certainly, like the 5, on a variant of the AmpR Small base.

Sounds promising? Competitor Volkswagen seems to think so too, because according to… Handelsblatt Volkswagen may be interested in the new Renault Twingo. It is said to be considering developing its own smallest EV, possibly called ID1, on the same basis, in partnership with Renault. Who knows, maybe Renault will already have some lead. That could make the new Twingo a success in another aspect. We expect it on the market in 2026.

The original

In 1992 the world was introduced to the spiritual successor to the Renault 4, the first Twingo. A cleverly designed city car with a particularly spacious and even somewhat futuristic design. The Twingo combined this with simple but solid technology and an attractive price, making it a real sales hit. In 1994, the first Twingo had its best year in the Netherlands and 8,953 units were sold. A total of more than 2.6 million of them were built up to and including 2007.