Adorable Renault Twingo teased in road-going form, and now available for pre-order
With Renault still on a high from the 4 and 5, the new pint-sized Twingo will complete the retro set, and is set to be the most fascinating of the three
Renault has teased images of the road-going Twingo ahead of its reveal in a couple of weeks, confirming what we’ve all been hoping. The new Twingo will be just as cute as the concept, while bringing a Renault EV to the market for under £16,700 (20,000 Euros). Destined for a full unveiling on 8 November, the newcomer is already available for pre-order through the same R-Pass arrangement as the Renault 4 and Renault 5.
What do the new teasers tell us?
Renault’s not been shy about previewing its new cut-price hero, but there was always a question about how closely it would match the cute concept – largely due to the Twingo’s promised starting price. However, teasers of the road-going model have confirmed that it won’t just ape the look of the concept, it might even move things on.
From these new images, we can see that the Twingo’s mono-volume shape will be retained, with the same set of clever details that bring it into the 21st century. These start with the horseshoe-like lighting at the front and rear, and only now we can see the compact headlight and rear lighting elements neatly integrated within them.
The tiny mouth-like grille and asymmetrical triple vents are also present, the latter half-sitting in a black section which will visually shorten the bonnet. Images showing the rear end also reveal the same pod-like window and a concave section of bodywork between the lights – yet more modern interpretations of the design theme set by the original Twingo from the nineties.
Finally, we’ve also been given some indication of the wheels that Renault will fit to the production car. These are usually the biggest compromise when it comes to translating a concept car to production, especially on such a low-cost model. However, we’re relieved to say that while they don’t appear to be quite so large, they still seem proportionally big in relation to the body.
What else do we already know about the new Twingo?
This is the first bit of news on the new Twingo since the reveal of its interior at the Brussels Motor Show in 2024. There, Auto Express sat down with Renault’s Brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive, who said that the French firm “will fight to get Twingo to the UK”, because no decision has yet been made on whether the EV will be a viable product here.
If it does come here, we expect it would be one of the cheapest electric cars on sale, with prices likely to start at below 20,000 Euros (£16,700). That would place it as the 3rd cheapest EV on sale, just behind the Dacia Spring at £15,000 and the Leapmotor T03, which is around £16,000 on the Auto Express Buy A Car service.
Cambolive said he believed the Twingo “has potential to grab the loyalty from ex-Renault Zoe and Twingo buyers”. Renault stopped selling the Zoe in 2024 after 11 years in showrooms, and while the current, third-generation Twingo was available as an EV until 2024, this was never offered in the UK.
Renault revealed the Twingo E-Tech Electric concept in November 2023, showcasing the exterior design of the new model, while the interior on display in Belgium was said to preview the “future Twingo set to arrive on the market in 2026”.
Inside, Renault’s new model betrays its promised budget billing with a smart-looking dashboard dominated by a pair of big digital displays, which sit above a row of rotary climate-control dials.
Renault says the 10.1-inch central infotainment screen and seven-inch digital instrument cluster feature “original graphics”, although the fonts and layouts will look familiar to anyone who’s sat in one of the firm’s latest electric cars. Likewise, the column-mounted gear selector appears identical to the one found in the new Renault 5.
This blend of modern and retro continues throughout; the switch for the hazard warning light is a nod to the original Twingo, while the cylindrical facia has been reimagined for this modern prototype. The versatility of the first-generation car has also been replicated for 2025, with space under the dashboard for bags and luggage, plus storage running the width of the cabin – providing a ledge for phones, wallets and sunglasses.
Sticking with the theme of versatility and practicality, these new images also show the prototype’s sliding and folding rear seats, which split 50:50 and go completely flat. Renault claims the car is “designed for intuitive operation and optimum flexibility, with five doors for easy access.”
Colour will play a big part in the Twingo’s appeal – just as it did with the original. The interior patterns match the outside of the car, while the ‘tinted cork’ floor gets bright flecks to lift the ambience. Renault says it used the show car as an “opportunity to explore and test new ideas” but insists the material is both “resistant and durable”.
Clever interior features include magnetic panels on the back of the front headrests for passengers to fix their phones or tablets to, plus elastic straps that can hold things such as maps or water bottles.
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