Renault Twingo

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 from 1993. The second generation Twingo was launched in Summer 2007.
The “Twingo” name is a portmanteau derived from the words “Twist”, “Swing” and “Tango” and it is said to denote the “fun and active” “personality” of the car[citation needed].
The Twingo was designed under patrick le Quément, 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 (car), from which its monobox silhouette is claimed to be derived.
The Twingo has been built since its launch in France in 1992 and in Colombia and Uruguay from 1999 to 2002, undergoing three intermediate restylings in 1998, 2000 and 2004.
production of the first generation model ceased at the Flins factory in France on 28th June 2007. It is, however, still produced in Colombia by the Sofasa conglomerate for the South American market.
Total production up to 30th June 2007 was 2,478,648
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 petrol engines. Initially available with an 8-valve 1.2-litre 55 hp (41 kW) engine, it was replaced with an 8-valve 1.1-litre 60 hp (45 kW) unit. A 16-valve 75 hp (56 kW) version was added in 2000.
Many parts (e.g. the JB1 gearbox, brakes, engine) are shared with other vehicles across the Renault range.
When the car was launched, Renault’s senior bosses said that the British market would not want a city car, so Renault did not produce a right-hand drive version. They were also concerned that it would take away sales from the recently launched Clio, as well as another claim that it would cost too much to engineer the car to right hand specification to make the car competitively priced. Later entrants to this market and their popularity in the United Kingdom, like the Fiat Cinquecento, Ford Ka and Smart Fortwo, suggest that this decision was a mistake. However, many LHD Twingos have been imported from mainland Europe by customers, and all Renault dealers are able to provide servicing and parts for the vehicle.
A battery electric vehicle 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, partly due to the successful launch of the TpCA peugeot 107/Citroën C1/Toyota Aygo, which became the new benchmark for city cars.[citation needed]
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, in September 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 (45 kW) naturally-aspirated, a 16-valve 75 hp (56 kW) naturally-aspirated and a 16-valve 100 hp (70 kW) turbocharged version. The diesel engine is a 1.5-litre 65 hp (48 kW) dCi unit.
Trim levels for the French market will start 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 (100 kW) 1,598cc engine and Renaultsport styling. Its first public outing will be at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and the first cars are expected to ship in late 2008.
The second generation Twingo is also available in right hand drive for the first time. Engines available in the UK are the 75 hp (56 kW) and 100 hp (70 kW) petrol units, in Dynamique and GT trim levels. A 60 hp (45 kW) engine was released in January 2008, in a cheaper Extreme trim level with the Renaultsport 133 hp (100 kW) due in late 2008.
Twingo Generation I EuroNCAp Results
Twingo Generation II EuroNCAp Results