Renault will give the motor-show-going public its first chance to see the new Twingo small EV in Paris next week.
Collectible classic
When it was launched in 1992, the original Twingo was something of a revolutionary car. It was low in cost but high in style and practicality - since then, that original Twingo (only ever made in left-hand drive) has gone on to become a collectable classic.
Rekindle the flame
The new Twingo E-Tech is designed to ‘rekindle that flame’, as Renault puts it. The idea is to take some of the style and silhouette of the original model, and update the tech with electric power to create an ideal zero-emissions city car.
Glass roof
As before, the Twingo E-Tech gets a ‘monospace’ shape, and the cabin's airiness is enhanced by a full-length glass roof - mirroring the original Twingo’s canvas sunroof. The eye-like headlights are now, of course, LED units.
Five doors
At the rear, there is more LED lighting, and the brake lights protrude out behind the line of the bodywork. Remember the old Twingo’s neat recessed door handles? Well, the new one recreates those too, with a single round handle, ringed with LED light, which opens both front and rear side doors - yes, this Twingo, unlike the 1992 car, has five doors.
The back doors are rear-hinged on this prototype but don’t expect that detail to make it through to production.
There are even three neat little vents set into the bonnet at the front, another tribute to the original, even though the Twingo E-Tech doesn’t actually need them.
Best of all, Renault is serious about putting this cutest electric car into production. The new Twingo E-Tech will go on sale in 2026, and Renault is targeting a European price of less than €20,000.