Twingo Doubles Up

It's the car Renault claims will revolutionise the supermini market, and the current issue of Auto Express magazine has the sensational pictures!

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Dan Strong

05th February 2004

Due on sale later this year, the model codenamed J77 was spied at the French firm's headquarters. Destined to sit between the manufacturer's compact new Clio, due on sale in 2005, and the next Twingo, to be launched this year, it's based on the Nissan Micra platform.

The 'Twingospace' is aimed at the likes of the slow-selling Toyota Yaris Verso and stylish Fiat Idea, and it's certainly a bold piece of design, inside and out. Intricate headlights and a sloping nose disguise the car's boxy proportions while at the rear, the wraparound windscreen has been created to offer as much rearward visibility as possible for the driver.

Inside, the most distinctive feature is the centrally mounted digital instrument cluster. As with the unit fitted to the Yaris, this liberates interior space and improves practicality. Look closer, however, and it's possible to see how Renault plans to group the major controls for the lights, windscreen wipers and electric wing mirrors on a single stalk, which is mounted on the steering column. It's also clear that Renault won't offer the 'keyless go' technology which it has developed for the M΃©gane, Laguna and Espace ranges. According to our source, the system is deemed too expensive and has been labelled 'intimidating' in customer clinics.

Under the skin, the front-wheel-drive machine will offer independent suspension all round, while the engine range is to include 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines. However, the biggest selling variants look certain to offer a variety of 1.5-litre dCi diesel powerplants producing 65, 85 and 100bhp. Prices for the new model are likely
to start at around ΂£9,000.