Renault Twingo
The Renault Twingo is a four passenger city car manufactured and marketed by the French automaker Renault, introduced in 1992 and currently in its third generation.
The first generation Twingo debuted at the Paris Motor Show on 5 October 1992, receiving its formal market launch in continental European markets beginning in April 1993. Renault launched the second-generation Twingo in the summer of 2007 – and the third generation debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, receiving its formal market launch in September 2014.
Etymology
The name Twingo is a portmanteau of the words twist, swing and tango.Twingo I (1993–2012)
The original Twingo was launched in April 1993, was sold in Europe's LHD markets until August 2007, and received intermediate restylings in 1998, 2000 and 2004. It was never sold in RHD markets.Development
Designed under the direction of Patrick Le Quément, Renault's chief designer. 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.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. Renault had participated in the 1981 to 1984 'Mono-Box' ECO 2000 car project, along with PSA Peugeot Citroën and the French Government.
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 unit. A 16 valve 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, remaining in production until 8 June 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 September 1995, the first of many special Twingo editions launched, while in built airbags become optional. In July 1996, a new 1149 cc engine was fitted to replace the previous engine from the Renault 5. Alongside the new engine came the Twingo Matic model, equipped with a 3-speed automatic gearbox. Also, various improvements were 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. The front of the car is reinforced for added safety in a frontal impact. 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 and cup holders in front of the gearstick.
December 2000, a new 1.2-litre 16v engine launched, with. 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.
Twingo II (2007–2014)
After presenting an initial concept at the 2006 Mondial de l'Automobile, Renault debuted the production Twingo II at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show with French market trim levels named Authentique, Expression, Initiale, Dynamique and GT. Using the floorpan of the Renault Clio II, the Twingo II offered improved crash protection and was available in LHD & RHD configurations. Production began in France and subsequently moved to the Revoz plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.In January 2008, Renault debuted the Twingo Renaultsport 133, with a new 1,598 cc engine, at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. In August 2013, ordering and production of the 133 model ended.
In July 2011, Renault debuted a facelifted Twingo II at the Frankfurt Motor Show, featuring a design language subsequently used on their entire range and offering revised fascias as well as redesigned front and rear light clusters.
On Series 14, Episode 4 of Top Gear, presenter Jeremy Clarkson road tested the Twingo 133 on Belfast streets and barrel rolled upside down through a sewage tunnel. After numerous accidents, he raced to catch a departing ferry, instead landing in the ocean.
On 16 March 2011, the Renault Twingo won the "best city car award" in the Parkers' New Car Awards.
Special editions included the Twingo Renaultsport Gordini; Twingo Gordini TCe 100; Twingo Bizu; Twingo Pzaz; Twingo Renaultsport Silverstone GP ; Twingo Miss Sixty; and Twingo Renaultsport Red Bull RB7.
Unlike its predecessor, the Twingo II was not licensed by Yanase Co., Ltd. for the Japanese market, as Renault had acquired a stake in Nissan when the Lutecia II was still in production. Instead, the Twingo II was licensed by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and sold exclusively through Nissan Red Stage Store locations.
;Twingo II Safety
EuroNCAP results:
- Adult Occupant:, score 28
- Pedestrian:, score 11
Engines
Twingo III (2014–present)
The third generation Renault Twingo debuted in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show in a five-door, rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, co-developed with Daimler's third generation Smart Fortwo and second generation Smart Forfour. The third generation Twingo and second generation Forfour are manufactured at the same factory in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.The third generation Twingo entered into production in May 2014 at Novo Mesto and was launched into the European market in September.
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.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.
Both companies tried to ensure a distinctive design. Renault designers took inspiration from the Renault 5. and the first generation Twingo, The car was originally launched with four colour options, as with the original Twingo.
Technical details
The Twingo III is about 10 mm shorter than the Twingo II. The rear engine layout improves the maneuverability and the cabin space, but reduced the boot capacity. The suspension is composed by MacPherson struts on the front axle and a De Dion tube on the rear. 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 which uses drum brakes all round. 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.
Equipment
The car originally offered four trim levels: Expression, Play, Dynamique and Dynamique S with various customization packs. One option connects a smartphone with an instrument panel cradle and has an infotainment system. Other levels such as the "Energy" trim have since been added. The GT model arrived in November 2016.Safety
As standard, the car incorporates tyre pressure sensors, seatbelts reminders, four airbags and four head and chest side airbags. It achieved a four star Euro NCAP test rating in 2014.Engines
The car originally came with two three-cylinder petrol engines. A 0.9-litre turbocharged unit and a 1-litre atmospheric. Both are fitted low and in a 49-degree angle to increase boot's capacity. In November 2016 a more powerful version of the petrol engine, the TCe 110, arrived for the sporting Twingo GT model.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 with the theme "Go Anywhere, Go Everywhere."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 views in four weeks.. A Pop Up Store was opened at the Cremerie de Paris.
Bēhance produced Life Designed software as part of Twingo launch.
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." 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. 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."