Renault Twingo

Development

Designed under the direction of Patrick Le Quément, Renault's chief designer.^[2] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] Renault had participated in the 1981 to 1984 'Mono-Box' ECO 2000 car project, along with PSA Peugeot Citroën and the French Government.^[4]

The Twingo I's 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 28 June 2007, the Twingo I was also manufactured in Taiwan, Spain, Colombia and Uruguay from 1999 to 2002,^[5] remaining in production into 2012 in Colombia, by the Sofasa conglomerate, strictly for the South American market.

Twingo I Safety

EuroNCAP results:

• Adult Occupant: , score 23
• Pedestrian: , score 11

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 (approximately $19,000, 2018). In June 1994, new exterior colours were 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 1149 cc 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, and front orange indicator lights were 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, 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.

In Japan, Renault was formerly licensed by Yanase Co., Ltd., but in 1999, Renault purchased a stake in Japanese automaker Nissan after Nissan had faced financial troubles following the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble in 1991 and subsequent Lost Decade. As a result of Renault's purchase of interest, Yanase canceled its licensing contract with Renault in the spring of 2000, and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd took over as the sole licensee, hence sales of the Twingo I in Japan were transferred from Yanase Store locations to Nissan Red Stage Store locations.

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. On 28 June 2007, Twingo I production ended in France, being replaced by the Twingo II. On 30 June 2007 2,478,648 units from the Twingo I were produced. The Renault Twingo I production went on into Colombia until 8 June 2012. In total there were over 2.6 million units of the first generation Twingo produced.

• 
  1993–1998 Twingo, front
• 
  1993–1998 Twingo, rear
• 
  1998–2000 Twingo, front
• 
  1998–2000 Twingo, rear
• 
  2000–2004 Twingo, front
• 
  2000–2004 Twingo, rear
• 
  2004–2007 Twingo, front (non standard wheels)
• 
  2004–2007 Twingo, rear (non standard wheels)

Engines

Design and development

In March 2010, Renault and Daimler, as part of their existing partnership, announced "Project Edison", a collaboration aimed at conceiving a shared platform for small city cars to be shared by both companies.^[29][30]

The first cars using the platform were the third generation Twingo and the second generation Smart Forfour. Renault and Daimler invested equally during the research and development phase, with Renault subsequently specializing in the engines and Daimler in transmissions.^[31]

Both companies tried to ensure a distinctive design. Renault designers took inspiration from the Renault 5.^[20] and the first generation Twingo,^[32] The car was originally launched with four colour options, as with the original Twingo.^[33]

Technical details

Renault Twingo GT Energy TCe 110, a sportier version

The Twingo III is about 10 mm shorter than the Twingo II.^[34] The rear engine layout improves the maneuverability and the cabin space, but reduced the boot capacity.^[28] The suspension is composed by MacPherson struts on the front axle and a De Dion tube on the rear.^[28] 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 (SCe 70) which uses drum brakes all round.^[34] 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.^[35]

Safety

As standard, the car incorporates tyre pressure sensors, seatbelts reminders, four airbags and four head and chest side airbags.^[34] It achieved a four star Euro NCAP test rating in 2014.

Euro NCAP test results
Renault Twingo (2014)[36]
Test	Points	%
Overall:
Adult occupant:	30	78%
Child occupant:	40	81%
Pedestrian:	25	68%
Safety assist:	7	56%

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^[39] with the theme "Go Anywhere, Go Everywhere."^[40]

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 United Kingdom, with approximately 300,000 views in four weeks.. A Pop Up Store was opened at the Cremerie de Paris.^[41]

Bēhance produced Life Designed software as part of Twingo launch.^[42]

Reception and awards

In the United Kingdom, the new Twingo won the "City Car of the Year" 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.

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."^[43] 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.^[44][45] 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."^[46]

Concept cars

The third generation Twingo was previewed through two concepts, the Twin'Z and the Twin'Run.^[33]

Twin'Z

Renault Twin'Z
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Production	2013 (Concept car)
Body and chassis
Class	City car (A)
Body style	5-door hatchback
Layout	Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	Electric motor
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,490 mm (98.0 in)
Length	3,590 mm (141.3 in)
Width	1,640 mm (64.6 in)
Height	1,550 mm (61.0 in)

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 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.^[47]

Twin'Run

The Twin'Run concept

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.^[48][49]