Renault Twingo
Encyclopedia
The Renault Twingo is a city car
built by French
automaker Renault
, first presented at the Paris Motor Show
in September 1992 and sold in continental European markets beginning in 1993. The second generation Twingo was launched in Summer 2007.
The "Twingo" name is a portmanteau derived from the words "Twist", "Swing" and "Tango".
, Renault's chief designer. Le Quément's belief was that it was a greater risk for Renault to take no risks at all, having seen its market share suffer from cars such as the Renault 9 and 11. The design of the Twingo resembles that of the 1982 Polish prototype Beskid, from which its monobox silhouette is claimed to be derived.
and Uruguay
from 1995 to 2008, undergoing three intermediate restylings
in 1998, 2000 and 2004 — solely as left-hand drive models in its first-generation and not sold in most RHD markets.
Production of the first generation model ceased at the Flins
factory in France on 28 June 2007. It is, however, still produced in Colombia
by the Sofasa conglomerate for the South American market. Total production up to 30 June 2007 was 2,478,648.
All the first-generation Twingos were equipped with straight-4
petrol engine
s. Initially available with an 8-valve 1.2-litre 55 hp engine, it was replaced with an 8-valve 1.15-litre 60 hp unit. A 16-valve 75 hp version was added in 2000.
Many parts (e.g. the JB1 gearbox, brakes, engine, window switches and seats) are shared with other vehicles across the Renault range.
2005 Trim specification levels
Campus/Generation, Kenzo, Kiss Cool, Initiale
version was presented at the international Geneva Motor Show in 2006, that fits Zebra batteries.
A concept was presented at the 2006 Mondial de l'Automobile
. The production version was presented at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show after a last minute redesign was ordered.
The model is based on the floorpan of the Renault Clio
Mark II, with significantly improved strength and crash protection.
Production was transferred from France to the Novo Mesto
plant in Slovenia (Revoz).
It went on sale in France, Italy and Slovenia on 15 June 2007, and in the rest of Europe, including the UK and Ireland, on September 4, 2007. The motoring press in the UK have criticised the new Twingo for being rather unadventurous in style and appearance compared to the original.
The petrol engine
is a 1.2-litre unit in three versions, an 8-valve 60 hp naturally aspirated, a 16-valve 75 hp naturally aspirated and a 16-valve 100 hp turbocharged
version. The diesel engine
is a 1.5-litre 65 hp dCi
unit.
Trim levels for the French market starts with the un-named base model followed by Authentique, Expression, Initiale, Dynamique and GT.
On 31 January 2008 Renault announced the Twingo Renaultsport, with a new 133 hp 1,598 cc engine and Renaultsport styling. Its first public outing was at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and the first cars were shipped in late 2008.
The second generation Twingo is also available in right hand drive markets such as the United Kingdom and Japan. Engines available in the UK are the 75 hp in Dynamique trim level and 100 hp petrol units, in GT trim level. A 60 hp engine, in a cheaper Extreme trim level was released in January 2008, and the Renaultsport 133 hp went on sale in September 2008. In February 2009, a new model, called Freeway will be introduced, below the current Extreme model, but with the same 60 hp engine. In summer 2010, the Freeway and Extreme were renamed in the UK markets to the Expression and i-Music respectively; these were given new interiors and changes to some of the exterior, including new rear bumpers and wing mirrors.
A convertible version, called Wind
, was launched at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
On series 14 episode 4 of Top Gear, presenter Jeremy Clarkson
did an unusual road test of the Twingo 133 on the streets of Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. During the segment, Clarkson drove it through a sewage tunnel in an attempt to run it upside down, which he managed to do as part of a barrel roll. After subjecting it to numerous "accidents", he raced the battered car in an attempt to catch a departing ferry, only to crash it into the ocean.
On 16 March 2011, the Renault Twingo won the "best city car award" in the Parkers' New Car Awards.
The new Twingo sports new bumpers as well as a larger Renault badge and redesigned front and rear light clusters.
EuroNCAP
results:
Twingo II
EuroNCAP
results:
City car
A city car is a small car intended for use primarily in an urban area.City cars are sold worldwide and most automotive industry manufacturers have one or two in their line-up. In North-America city cars are often referred to simply as "subcompacts" alongside the superminis. These kind of cars...
built by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
automaker Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
, first presented at the Paris Motor Show
Mondial de l'Automobile
The Paris Motor Show is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held around October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show was the first motor show in the world, started in 1898 by industry pioneer, Albert de Dion. The show...
in September 1992 and sold in continental European markets beginning in 1993. The second generation Twingo was launched in Summer 2007.
The "Twingo" name is a portmanteau derived from the words "Twist", "Swing" and "Tango".
Project
The Twingo was designed under Patrick le QuémentPatrick le Quément
Patrick G. M. Le Quément is a retired French car designer, formerly chief designer of Renault.Born in France but brought up in the United Kingdom, Le Quément holds a BA Hons...
, Renault's chief designer. Le Quément's belief was that it was a greater risk for Renault to take no risks at all, having seen its market share suffer from cars such as the Renault 9 and 11. The design of the Twingo resembles that of the 1982 Polish prototype Beskid, from which its monobox silhouette is claimed to be derived.
Production
The Twingo has been built since its launch in France in 1992 and in ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
from 1995 to 2008, undergoing three intermediate restylings
Facelift (automobile)
The automotive facelift comprises changes to a car's styling during its production run — often including new sheetmetal and/or interior design) with minimal changes to its underlying mechanicals — allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign.A facelift retains the...
in 1998, 2000 and 2004 — solely as left-hand drive models in its first-generation and not sold in most RHD markets.
Production of the first generation model ceased at the Flins
Flins Renault Factory
Flins Renault Factory is a car factory in France, straddling the towns of Flins and Aubergenville in Yvelines, around 40 km downstream of Paris...
factory in France on 28 June 2007. It is, however, still produced in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
by the Sofasa conglomerate for the South American market. Total production up to 30 June 2007 was 2,478,648.
Characteristics
The Twingo featured revolutionary features (at the time of launch) of a centrally mounted instrument panel, consisting of a speedometer, fuel gauge and clock, with the odometer and trip recorder selected by pushing a button on the end of the steering column stalk. This left just a strip of warning lights in the area behind the steering wheel. It also had a sliding rear seat, which could be moved to either increase boot space or rear seat legroom. The boot parcel shelf was also unusual in that it was attached to the inside of the tailgate, and lifted up with the tailgate. It could also be clipped back against the rear window when not required.All the first-generation Twingos were equipped with straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
s. Initially available with an 8-valve 1.2-litre 55 hp engine, it was replaced with an 8-valve 1.15-litre 60 hp unit. A 16-valve 75 hp version was added in 2000.
Many parts (e.g. the JB1 gearbox, brakes, engine, window switches and seats) are shared with other vehicles across the Renault range.
2005 Trim specification levels
Campus/Generation, Kenzo, Kiss Cool, Initiale
Electric version
A battery electric vehicleBattery electric vehicle
A battery electric vehicle, or BEV, is a type of electric vehicle that uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs. BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of, or in addition to, internal combustion engines for propulsion.A battery-only electric vehicle or...
version was presented at the international Geneva Motor Show in 2006, that fits Zebra batteries.
Timeline
- April 1993 - Launched with only one trim level, and four colours, at a price of 55,000FF.
- June 1994 - New colours introduced and minor interior changes.
- October 1994 - Easy model launched, with a semi automatic gearbox.
- September 1995 - The first of many special editions launched. Airbags become optional.
- July 1996 - New engine of 1149 cc from the ClioRenault ClioThe Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation...
fitted to replace the previous engine from the Renault 5Renault 5The Renault 5 was first unveiled on 10 December 1971, being launched at the beginning of 1972.The Renault 5 was styled by Michel Boué, who died before the car's release, the R5 featured a steeply sloping rear hatchback and front dashboard...
. Also, various improvements made including the addition of a third brake light. - July 1998 - First major restyling — revisions to interior and dashboard and revised front and rear lights.
- October 1998 - Top of the range Initiale model launched.
- September 2000 - Second major restyling — Larger 14" wheels, revised door trims with larger door pockets, cup holders in front of gearstick.
- December 2000 - 1.2 litre 16v engine launched, with 75 hp.
- April 2001 - Semi automatic gearbox launched, called Quickshift.
- September 2002 - Further revisions — new interior trims and wheel covers.
- September 2004 - Third major revision — Renault logo fitted to bootlid, side rubbing strips fitted and new colours launched.
- June 2007 - Production and sales end in Europe, to be replaced by the Twingo 2.
Twingo II (2007–present)
A concept was presented at the 2006 Mondial de l'Automobile
Mondial de l'Automobile
The Paris Motor Show is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held around October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show was the first motor show in the world, started in 1898 by industry pioneer, Albert de Dion. The show...
. The production version was presented at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show after a last minute redesign was ordered.
The model is based on the floorpan of the Renault Clio
Renault Clio
The Renault Clio is a supermini car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation...
Mark II, with significantly improved strength and crash protection.
Production was transferred from France to the Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto is a city and municipality in southeastern Slovenia, close to the border with Croatia. The town is traditionally considered the economic and cultural centre of the historic Lower Carniola region.-Geography:...
plant in Slovenia (Revoz).
It went on sale in France, Italy and Slovenia on 15 June 2007, and in the rest of Europe, including the UK and Ireland, on September 4, 2007. The motoring press in the UK have criticised the new Twingo for being rather unadventurous in style and appearance compared to the original.
The petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
is a 1.2-litre unit in three versions, an 8-valve 60 hp naturally aspirated, a 16-valve 75 hp naturally aspirated and a 16-valve 100 hp turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
version. The diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
is a 1.5-litre 65 hp dCi
Common rail
Common rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors...
unit.
Trim levels for the French market starts with the un-named base model followed by Authentique, Expression, Initiale, Dynamique and GT.
On 31 January 2008 Renault announced the Twingo Renaultsport, with a new 133 hp 1,598 cc engine and Renaultsport styling. Its first public outing was at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and the first cars were shipped in late 2008.
The second generation Twingo is also available in right hand drive markets such as the United Kingdom and Japan. Engines available in the UK are the 75 hp in Dynamique trim level and 100 hp petrol units, in GT trim level. A 60 hp engine, in a cheaper Extreme trim level was released in January 2008, and the Renaultsport 133 hp went on sale in September 2008. In February 2009, a new model, called Freeway will be introduced, below the current Extreme model, but with the same 60 hp engine. In summer 2010, the Freeway and Extreme were renamed in the UK markets to the Expression and i-Music respectively; these were given new interiors and changes to some of the exterior, including new rear bumpers and wing mirrors.
A convertible version, called Wind
Renault Wind
The Renault Wind is a roadster by the French automobile manufacturer, Renault. The Wind was originally a concept car unveiled on September 2004 at the Paris Motor Show as a 2+1 roadster....
, was launched at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
On series 14 episode 4 of Top Gear, presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
did an unusual road test of the Twingo 133 on the streets of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. During the segment, Clarkson drove it through a sewage tunnel in an attempt to run it upside down, which he managed to do as part of a barrel roll. After subjecting it to numerous "accidents", he raced the battered car in an attempt to catch a departing ferry, only to crash it into the ocean.
On 16 March 2011, the Renault Twingo won the "best city car award" in the Parkers' New Car Awards.
Special Editions
- Twingo Renaultsport Gordini: A Twingo Renaultsport with Gordini branding available in Gordini trim level in Pearlescent Black or Malta Blue. Only 200 available in UK markets. Went on sale in the Spring/Summer of 2010.
- Twingo Gordini TCe 100: An affordable version of the RS Gordini. The Gordini 100 features the 1.2 TCe engine (as in non-Renaultsport models) and full Gordini branding, available in Pearlescent Black or Malta Blue. This model was introduced in the latter of 2010.
- Twingo Bizu: Based on the Authentique (EU)/Expression (UK)) model using the same 1.2 TCe engine. A limited edition trim featuring new front bumpers, BluetoothBluetoothBluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
and a new headunit/stereo. This model became available early 2011. - Twingo Pzaz: Another special edition in the form of the Authentique (EU)/Expression (UK)) model that features special wheel trims, intelligent front windscreen wipers, a stereo with auxilary jack for MP3 players and a sports-style front bumper (as seen on the iMusic model). Launched in summer 2011.
- Twingo Renaultsport Silverstone GP: A UK-only limited edition. Only 50 of the Twingo RS Silverstone were made. Having good affiliation with SilverstoneSilverstone CircuitSilverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
, Renault developed and introduced the Twingo Renaultsport Silverstone GP model in the summer of 2011. The Silverstone offers an extensive range of features and options that are not available in the standard Twingo RS models including: a lowered cup chassis, 17" alloy wheels, a black spoiler, extra tinted rear windows and a special 'Silverstone GP' badge on the B-pillar. - Twingo Miss Sixty: Only marketed in Europe, the Miss Sixty version of the Twingo was targeted specifically at the female audience. These special edition Twingo's were available in bohemian pink or pearlescent black and sported a pink and black interior to give a sultry glam'rock finish.
Engines
| Petrol engine | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Note | CO2 emission |
| 1.2 | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1149 cc | 61 PS at 6100 rpm | 93 newton metre at 4250 rpm | 132 g/km | |
| 1.2 | I4 | 1149 cc | 76 PS at 5500 rpm | 105 newton metre at 4250 rpm | 135 g/km | |
| 1.2 turbo | I4 | 1149 cc | 101 PS at 5500 rpm | 145 newton metre at 3000 rpm | 140 g/km | |
| RS 1.6 | I4 | 1598 cc | 135 PS at 6750 rpm | 160 newton metre at 4400 rpm | 160 g/km | |
| Diesel engine | ||||||
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Note | CO2 emission |
| 1.5 dCi | I4 | 1461 cc | 66 PS at 4000 rpm | 160 newton metre at 1700 rpm | 113 g/km | |
Twingo III (2012–)
On 28 July 2011, Renault announced a facelift to the current second generation Twingo which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show and is the first model in the Renault range to wear the new iconic design and branding that will eventually follow on to the entire range of Renault cars.The new Twingo sports new bumpers as well as a larger Renault badge and redesigned front and rear light clusters.
Safety
Twingo IEuroNCAP
EuroNCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme is a European car safety performance assessment programme based in Brussels and founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and backed by several European governments.-History and activities:Euro NCAP is a...
results:
- Adult Occupant: , score 23
- Pedestrian: , score 11
Twingo II
EuroNCAP
EuroNCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme is a European car safety performance assessment programme based in Brussels and founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and backed by several European governments.-History and activities:Euro NCAP is a...
results:
- Adult Occupant: , score 28
- Pedestrian: , score 11