It’s been three years since Renault bravely reinvented its Megane and Scenic family models as EVs, and in another three years or so, the pair will shake things up again – this time by going back to petrol power.

More: The 4 And 5 Are Eating Megane Sales, But Renault Is Cooking Something

The next generation of both family EVs, due before the end of the decade, could offer a mix of fully-electric and hybrid powertrains, according to comments new Renault Group CEO Francois Provost made to media at last week’s Twingo launch.

What’s Next For Megane And Scenic?

“Bigger cars are one of our priorities,” new Provost told Auto Express magazine, subtly acknowledging that Renault’s electric push has worked well for the little 4 and 5, but less so on grown-up models like the Megane, which is struggling to find buyers.

“In the next mid-term plan we propose a new platform and solutions to continue our ambition to grow in the [compact] C-segment in the heart of Europe.”

That new platform will bring the next generations of the Megane and Scenic together with the next Austral, Espace, and Rafale, which are currently only available as hybrids.

Renault has no plans to abandon electric power for the Megane and Scenic, but will instead strengthen their appeal with more powertrain options to snare buyers still suspicious of anything without a gas tank.

“We also think that if [adoption] is not as rapid as expected, perhaps you can complete this…with some extensions like range extender or plug-in hybrid, and that’s what we are working on,” Renault brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive told the magazine.

Of those two options, a Nissan E-Force-style range-extender solution – where the engine only charges the battery rather than drive the wheels – looks likely to get the nod, Cambolive said.

Refresh In The Meantime

But with combustion power still years away, Renault needs an intermediate plan to boost sales of the Megane and has a couple of ideas up its sleeve. One is an imminent facelift, and we’ve already seen a camouflaged prototype of this revised hatch on test.

The other, likely to arrive at the same time, is a bigger battery. The largest battery currently available is a 60 kWh unit that gives a feeble 285 miles (459 km) of range, but the bigger Scenic has an 87 kWh pack which lasts 382 miles (615 km) between fills, and the Megane’s new Nissan Leaf cousin has a 75 kWh battery that provides a 303-mile (488 km) range.

Sources: Auto Express

The Twingo is about to enter its fourth generation on November 6, yet a batch of leaked photos beat Renault to the punch, offering a clear look at both its exterior and interior before the official reveal. The little city car seems ready to make a comeback with familiar charm and a new electric heart.

The production version mirrors the 2023 concept almost to the letter. Only some small adjustments stand out, such as traditional door handles, wheel covers, slightly altered LED lighting, and reshaped bumpers with protective cladding for everyday practicality.

More: Renault’s $185,000 R5 Turbo Exposes What’s Really Wrong With EVs

The new Twingo keeps its frog-eyed face, compact one-box profile, and rounded rear that echo the spirit of the 1992 original, now stretched into a larger five-door body.

Altogether, it feels like another well-judged effort from Renault’s design team, following in the footsteps of the slightly bigger R5 that drew attention for its clean styling.

What’s It Like Inside?

Inside, the cabin carries over much of the concept’s personality but tones down the materials for production reality. Hard plastics replace the show car’s high-end surfaces, and the seats now wear traditional fabric upholstery.

The dashboard hosts a floating infotainment screen above a smaller instrument cluster that looks familiar from Dacia’s parts bin.

More: Dacia’s EV Tortoise Just Got A Hare Transplant

Fortunately, Renault has kept physical climate controls on both the center console and the steering wheel. A yellow insert across the dashboard brings a splash of color, joined by an odd red piece between the front seats.

What Powers It?

Unlike its predecessors, the fourth generation of the Twingo will be exclusively available with a zero-emission powertrain. It will ride on the group’s AmpR Small architecture (former CMF-BEV), shared with the larger R5, R4, and Nissan Micra.

Renault has yet to release the detailed specifications, but the city car is expected to be fitted with a single electric motor and use a small lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

The Twingo Against The World

In Europe’s A-segment, the Twingo will face competition from small EVs like the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03, as well as the upcoming VW ID.Every1 and an unnamed Nissan sibling. It will also overlap with budget-friendly B-segment contenders such as the Fiat Grande Panda and Citroën e-C3 twins.

Back in 2023, Renault’s then-CEO Luca de Meo promised that the new Twingo would start from under €20,000 ($23,000) before subsidies, with lease deals for as little as €100 ($115) per month.

Whether those numbers hold in today’s market remains to be seen. All should be confirmed on November 6, along with the technical breakdown and European rollout details.

Renault is primed to deliver its third mashup of electric power and feelgood retro design. The all-new, fourth-generation Twingo E-Tech makes its debut on November 6, less than a month from now.

The sub £17k/€20k hatch is a size down from the Clio and 5 E-Tech, and a direct rival for the production version of Volkswagen’s ID. Every1 concept, which could be called ID. Lupo. But the VW isn’t due to launch until 2027, meaning Renault, as well as BYD with its new Dolphin Surf, have a big headstart.

Related: This Frog-Faced EV Is The Renault 5’s New Budget Baby Brother

And that might not be the Twingo’s only advantage. While the ID. Every1 looked stylish, grown-up and modern, we can imagine plenty of buyers – particularly the younger ones Renault is targeting – falling for the cute frog-like face of the French model.

As with the 5 EV, the rebooted model takes design inspiration from a decades-old Renault, in this case the 1990s first-generation Twingo. So it’s bound to invoke some nostalgic feelings, among those who remember the original, but it won’t matter if you don’t – the UK never got the gen-one, for instance.

Judging by these fresh teaser shots and last year’s concept, which the production car should mostly replicate, the 2026 Twingo is a great-looking bit of design in its own right.

Renault

Modern LED technology creates a friendly, cartoon-like face, with the same wide-eye signature being repeated at the back. The laid-back windshield once again stretches out towards the nose, compressing the size of the hood, but unlike the two-door original Twingo, this one will be strictly a four-door affair.

We’re still waiting to see the interior, but there’s every reason to believe it will feature a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0in digital instrument cluster, as shown in the concept.

Renault’s base 5 E-Tech makes 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW) and gives a 194-mile (312 km) range from a 40 kWh battery, but don’t be surprised if the Twingo specs are cut down to help make its sub-€20,000 price a reality.

The group’s newly revised Dacia Spring, for example, is fitted with a 24.3 kWh LFP battery and offers 140 miles (225 km) of range. In any case, we’ll find out the full details on November 6.

We’ve included images below of the 2024 Twingo concept and spy shots of the production car prototype.

Renault

SHProshots