PARIS: The Renault Twingo E-Tech electric is set to be a game-changer in the A-segment.
Built at the Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, it will launch in 2027.
It's powered by a compact, lightweight 60kW (82hp) electric motor with up to 175Nm of torque, and a 27.5kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery.
The lightweight city car (1,200kg in the Evolution version) can accelerate from 0-50kph in just 3.85 seconds.
It has One Pedal driving technology, and offers a WLTP range of up to 163 miles (262km).
The Twingo E-Tech electric ships with a 6.6 kW AC charger as standard.
Accompanied by a five-metre Mode 3 cable, ideal for wallbox outlets, it charges the battery from 10% to 100% in just four hours, 15 minutes.
For long distances, owners benefit from 11kW AC charging power that also includes a 50kW DC charger.
In this case, AC charging from 10% to 100% takes just two hours, 35 minutes.
At a DC fast-charging station, the battery charges from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes.
As standard, the Twingo E-Tech electric features an 11kW AC bidirectional charger.
This includes the V2L function (vehicle-to-load) for connecting a 220V appliance to the vehicle battery with up to 3,700W of power using a power-to-object adapter.
The Twingo E-Tech electric is the first vehicle in the “Leap 100” programme (“100” for one hundred weeks), whose purpose is to transform the entire vehicle development cycle.
The Twingo E-Tech electric was developed faster than any other model in Renault's history.
It was designed and built in just 100 weeks – twice as fast as previous electric models.
Ampere, the Renault Group subsidiary specialising in intelligent electric vehicles, led the project through its three key stages in France, China, and Slovenia.
The design of the Twingo E-Tech electric was launched in France, at the Technocentre, using the AmpR Small platform, specially designed for A- and B- segment electric vehicles.
The second phase was carried out with ACDC, the Renault Group R&D (research and development) centre in Shanghai.
It's easy to recognise the nods to the design of the original Twingo, such as the shape of the headlamps and grille, the air vents top left of the bonnet and the hazard warning light button.
While its length is compact at 3.79 metres, the wheelbase has been extended to 2.49 metres.
This allowed the wheels — now enlarged to a diameter of 640mm and suitable for tyres of up to 18 inches in size — to be pushed out to the four corners of the body.
It also sets the standard in its class with shoulder width of 1,305mm and boot capacity of up to 360 litres.
A dual horizontal OpenR screen gives the interior of Twingo E-Tech electric a contemporary look.
All versions have a 7-inch digital instrument panel facing the driver for driving information and a 10-inch central multimedia screen.
The interior includes over a dozen open, easy-access storage spaces, totalling up to 19 litres.
The Twingo E-Tech electric is a five-door vehicle with four “real” adult seats.
The backrests of the two rear seats can be folded individually, simply by pulling a tab on the outside of the seat.
In this configuration, load capacity exceeds 1,000 litres.
With up to 24 driver assistance systems (ADAS) available depending on trim, the Twingo E-Tech electric is packed with technologies, many taken from segments further up the market.
It will have the OpenR Link multimedia system with Google built-in – a first in this segment.
