Renault Twingo Goes Upscale, RWD

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

Renault’s production alliance with Daimler is about to bear fruit as the automaker will unveil their new Twingo minicar at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show next month.

The new car — going from three doors to five for this outing — will be underpinned by a platform shared with Smart’s upcoming four-seater, both of which will also be rear-wheel drive, and assembled at Renault’s Novo Mesto, Slovenia plant.

Automotive News Europe is reporting that the switch to RWD is part of an effort to take the Twingo upscale, offering a level of personalization Fiat and Opel offer in their respective minicars to the customer. Styling is expected to take cues from the Twin’Z and above Twin’Run concepts shown at auto shows last year.

Renault aims for conquest sales with the next-gen Twingo, wanting to attract more men to the car; the majority of current-gen Twingo buyers are women.

The newly revised minicar will enter Renault showrooms in the third quarter of 2014.

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  • Dolorean Dolorean on Feb 12, 2014

    Gents, gotta go with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard hammond here were posed the question, why would someone spend the money for a Nissan Micra when you could, for the same money, afford something so much nicer used. Absolutely loathed the Twingo in the early '00s. Bugged eyed and gooney with no power, handling or extras was a gawdawful car that made the Ford Ka seem like luxury.

    • See 4 previous
    • Phlipski Phlipski on Feb 13, 2014

      @TonyJZX You're right there is that "french joie de vivre" with the Twingo. But part (all?) of that comes from driving those cars in France. Where 35 mph down a winding french country road feels like 50mph and is idyllic and fun. Driving 75mph on an American interstate in a Twingo sounds down right scary!

  • MRF 95 T-Bird MRF 95 T-Bird on Feb 13, 2014

    With the trend toward smaller displacement engines that are efficient and compact but produce horsepower that were unthinkable 10-20 years ago. A 3 cylinder with 125-150 HP would be a great performer in a rear engine Twingo. Plus it could be very space efficient under the rear floor of the hatch leaving a front trunk or frunk. Like the VW Squareback/Fastback,Varient with the suitcase engine under the rear panel. Ford could even create a rear engine KA using the 3 cylinder Ecoboost that is in the Fiesta.

  • Stanczyk Stanczyk on Feb 13, 2014

    There's a chance that this new car in 'sporty' RS option(2-door ; RWD ; manual) wil be quite interesting(as far new Clio RS is a little bit of dissapointment)... Renault promissed new '5', so that new Twingo may be their 'interpretation' of modern renault '5' .. i.e: http://i.auto-bild.de/ir_img/9/4/0/4/0/4/Retro-Renault-R5-560x373-e1e316f656729354.jpg http://www.5turbo.org/t13954-nouvelle-r5 http://i46.servimg.com/u/f46/16/66/02/98/r51010.jpg .. I still don't like this 'global-product attitude'(sharing parts , engines . etc ..) ...

  • Magnusmaster Magnusmaster on Feb 13, 2014

    Renault also released their future global plans. Notably the Espace will finally be sold in South America along with other MPVs, and Renault pickups for South America and maybe other emerging markets.

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