The rumours from the previous few days are appropriate, the Renault Twingo is coming again as a retro-styled reasonably priced electrical metropolis automotive.
In a single day the French automaker unveiled the Twingo Legend idea throughout its capital markets day for its Ampere division.
Just like the upcoming Renault 5 hatch and Renault 4 crossover, the brand new Twingo will mine the corporate’s previous to safe its future.
Styled to resemble the first-generation Twingo, the idea for the fourth-generation automotive encompasses a two-box silhouette remarkably just like the unique. Like the unique it has semi-circular head- and tail-lights, vertical handles for the entrance doorways, and a outstanding body across the rear windshield.
The idea additionally options three black pods on the highest of the bonnet, that are a name again to the unique automotive’s hood vents. Given the brand new Twingo’s electrical drivetrain, bonnet vents aren’t required, so these pods home a set of airport-style flipper shows to indicate the automobile’s battery standing.
Whereas the first- and second-generation Twingos had been three-door hatchbacks, the brand new mannequin may have a extra sensible five-door physique, with the handles for the rear doorways hidden within the window trim.
Based on Automotive Information Europe, Renault CEO Luca de Meo advised traders and the press the brand new Twingo will probably be developed in a “report” two years with a view to match the pace of Chinese language automakers.
The Renault chief additionally stated the brand new Twingo is a “response to numerous points, challenges and paradoxes that we now have to grasp”.
These embrace the rise of Chinese language automakers, which have large inroads into each the European and Australian markets with reasonably priced EVs, environmental sustainability, and the sourcing of parts required for batteries and motors.
Maybe Renault’s greatest problem is determining learn how to make metropolis automobiles worthwhile. Most European automakers have been backing out of the section, preferring to focus on bigger segments the place margins are fatter, and consumers much less value delicate.
It’s stated the brand new Twingo may have a beginning value underneath €20,000 ($33,000), inserting it on the entry level to Renault’s EV vary the place the Renault 5 is deliberate to start out from €25,000 ($42,000).
Regardless of this value steerage, the brand new Europe-designed and constructed Twingo received’t be the most cost effective EV supplied by the Renault household. That honour will probably nonetheless belong to the €15,800 ($26,500) 33kW Dacia Spring imported from China
For reference, the present Twingo EV is priced from €20,250 ($34,000) in France, and has a 60kW/180Nm electrical motor driving the rear wheels.
It’s fitted with a 22kWh battery situated underneath the entrance seats, and has a claimed WLTP vary of 190km. Whereas the Twingo EV doesn’t work with DC quick charging, it does help AC charging as much as 11kW
It’s unclear if the brand new Twingo will use an current EV platform, or whether or not it should type the idea for one thing new. Based on de Meo, Renault is planning to launch a “software program outlined automobile” in 2026, which is when the brand new Twingo is reportedly because of begin rolling out of the corporate’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia.
The software-led automobile design philosophy is claimed to scale back improvement instances, in addition to complexity and price. All of which Renault might want to obtain with a view to make the manufacturing Twingo seem on time, and worthwhile.
Particulars concerning the fourth-generation Twingo’s drivetrain are predictably scant, however Renault claims the brand new EV may have “best-in-class” effectivity of round 10kWh per 100 kilometres.
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First-generation Twingo
Luca de Meo described the brand new Twingo as a “a really clever idea”, and a “European kei automotive”. He stated Renault is sticking with smaller automobiles was as a result of it “doesn’t make sense to make use of a 2.5 tonne automotive to maneuver a single particular person within the metropolis”.
Renault presently has two EV platforms accessible. There’s AmpR Medium — beforehand known as Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-EV structure — which presently underpins the Renault Megane E-Tech and Nissan Ariya, and the upcoming Scenic E-Tech.
There’s additionally the smaller AmpR Small structure — beforehand often called the Alliance’s CMF-BEV platform — that will probably be used within the upcoming Renault 4 crossover, and Renault 5 hatchback.
