1990s retro style is in style and there’s more than just baggy jeans making a comeback.
The new Renault Twingo E-Tech is heavily inspired by the first generation Twingo, which was launched in 1992 as the new entry-level city car for the French brand.
The market launch in Europe is planned for early 2026, but it is unclear whether the electric microcar built in Slovenia will also come down under. We have contacted Renault Australia for comment.
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Ironically, the original Twingo was developed as a replacement for the Renault 4, which was also revived as an electric city car.
Renault now has a trio of small electric vehicles (EVs) inspired by models from decades past: the 4, inspired by the original model that went into production in 1961; the 5, inspired by the original, which ran from 1972 to 1996; and the Twingo.
The Twingo is the cheapest of the French brand’s three compact electric vehicles, none of which have been confirmed for our market. Renault confirms starting price under €20,000 (A$35,648) without any subsidies – around €5,000 less than the cheapest 5 in France and €10,000 less than the cheapest 4.
Unlike the 4 and 5, the Twingo nameplate never really disappeared. However, the second generation model (2007) was a conservative redesign, while the third generation made a departure by switching to a rear/mid-engine, rear-wheel drive platform, which it shared with small car specialist Smart.
Now the fourth generation Twingo, like Smart, is only electric. It’s based on the new AmpR Small EV platform shared with the 4 and 5, but has been optimized for affordability – for example, while it shares its front axle with the 4 and 5, it shares its rear axle with the Captur.
First introduced in 2023, the Twingo E-Tech features a single electric motor producing 60kW of power and 175Nm of torque, resulting in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration of 12.1 seconds.
It is powered by a 27.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from Chinese battery giant CATL.
According to Renault, the Twingo E-Tech achieves a WLTP range of up to 263 km. It can charge up to 6.6 kW on AC power, with 11 kW AC and 50 kW DC charging available as an option via an Advanced Charge package.
This also enables vehicle charging (V2L) and grid (V2G) capability, allowing you to power external electrical devices and even send power to your home.
The Twingo E-Tech is 3789 mm long, 1720 mm wide and 1491 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2493 mm. This makes it over 300 mm longer and almost 100 mm wider than the original Twingo and still 199 mm longer than the previous generation.
There is 305 liters of luggage space at the back, which expands to over 1000 liters with the rear seats folded down.
Renault specifies a base weight of just 1200 kg for the Twingo E-Tech.
Unlike the original Twingo, the new car features a five-door (instead of three-door) hatchback body.
It follows the same one-box template as the original Twingo and features a similarly expressive front fascia with curved, eye-like headlights. The asymmetrical details on the hood are also a nod to the original, as is the large hazard warning button inside.
The Twingo rides on 16-inch wheels; 18-inch diamond-cut light alloy rims are also available as an option.
Renault says that “contrary to popular belief, the current size of the A segment is not a reflection of low demand”, arguing that Europeans are “still looking for compact, affordable vehicles designed for city living or for use as a second car”; This segment has been abandoned in recent years by companies such as Peugeot and Citroen.
The cabin is full of clever details. The front passenger seat can be folded flat, and like the original Twingo, there are two independent sliding seats in the rear. There are also splashes of color, in the typical city car style of the 1990s, with an elongated dashboard and door trim elements that match the color of the exterior.
The 10-inch touchscreen features Renault’s OpenR infotainment system with integrated Google, allowing owners to access embedded Google apps such as Google Assistant and Google Maps.
A wide variety of apps can be downloaded from the Play Store, including streaming apps such as HBO Max.
The Twingo E-Tech also has a virtual assistant with which you can, for example, plan a charging process and ask questions about the operating instructions.
The company says it has developed the Twingo E-Tech so that its carbon footprint is 60 percent smaller than a comparable-sized combustion engine city car.
The development work was carried out not only in Europe, but also at the Renault Group research and development center in Shanghai, China, and this cross-functional collaboration is expected to shorten the development time of the Twingo E-Tech by one year.
Renault is keeping the Twingo simple: at market launch it will be offered in just four body colors, compared to ten for its predecessor. Buyers can choose between Absolute Red, Absolute Green, Mango Yellow and Starry Black.
The following features are standard in the basic model of the Twingo E-Tech Evolution:
- 6 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Monitoring driver attention
- Lane keeping assistant
- Rear parking sensors
- 16 inch wheels
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Manual climate control
- Height-adjustable driver’s seat
- Individually sliding rear seats
The top-class techno adds:
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- One-pedal drive mode
- Windshield wipers with rain sensors
- Automatic high beam
- Electrically folding exterior mirrors
- Foldable passenger seat
- Digital rearview mirror
- Google integrated
- Automatic air conditioning
Other available features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and safe exit alert, and a six-speaker Arkamys sound system.
The original Twingo was launched in 1993 with a charming animated advertising campaign that highlighted its cute design with an expressive “face” and wheels pushed into every corner.
Renault has also designed its new city car to offer a comfortable driving experience and a practical interior, and has taken various cost-cutting measures to make the car as simple and affordable as possible.
Like the original, the new Twingo fits in underneath the larger Clio; The latest generation of Renault’s rival Toyota Yaris costs from 19,900 euros (A$35,468) in Europe.
MORE: Discover the Renault showroom
