Low-resolution images of Renault’s new Twingo E-Tech leaked earlier this week, proving that the production car delivers almost all of the want-one factor that made the 2023 concept such a hit. But that leak only gave us half the story.

Today Renault gave its new baby EV a proper debut and filled us in on all the technical details that reveal whether the Twingo has some substance to go with that style.

Related: The New Renault Twingo Just Leaked And It’s Every Bit As Cute As You Hoped

We’ll not dwell too much on the exterior in light of the earlier leak and the fact that you can make up your own mind about the appeal of the cartoonish DRLs and whether you prefer the finished Twingo’s conventional door handles to the concept’s flush-fit versions.

However, we can probably all agree that the design works whether or not you remember the 1993 original it clearly apes, and to our eyes, it kicks BYD’s Dolphin Surf into next week.

The platform

So what is under the skin? Renault’s kept things simple, using a shortened version of the AmpR Small platform found under the 4, 5 and the 5’s Nissan Micra cousin. But where the 5 gives buyers the choice of 40 or 52 kWh batteries, the Twingo E-Tech makes do with a much smaller 27.5 kWh LFP battery to keep costs down and reflect its urban intent.

Small battery, solid city range

Renault says the pack has a new type of chemistry that is less dependent on cobalt and nickel and gives a WLTP range of 163 miles (262 km), versus 155 miles (250 km) for VW’s ID. Every1 concept, a thinly disguised preview of next year’s ID. Up.

DC charging is capped at a slothful 50 kW in the Twingo, but that should be viewed in the context of the battery size. Because it’s so tiny a 10-80 percent fill takes around 30 minutes.

How Quick Is It?

Power and performance figures follow a similar trend: they’re acceptable, but nothing special. We’re willing to bet Renault will add more powertrain options in time, but the sole setup available from launch consists of a single, front-mounted motor that makes 81 hp (82 PS / 60 kW) and a marginally more impressive 129 lb-ft (175 Nm). A Model 3 Plaid, it is not.

Zero to 62 mph takes 12.1 seconds, but let’s be honest, the Twingo’s natural habitat is the supermarket car park, not Silverstone. 

Tiny, but only on the outside

The party trick here isn’t the drivetrain anyway – it’s the packaging. At just 3,790 mm (149 inches) long, with a 2,490 mm (98 inches) wheelbase and weighing only 1,200 kg (2,650 lbs), the Twingo squeezes in what Renault says is proper adult space that rivals the roominess of cars from the segment above.

And the two independently sliding rear seats that can move up to 170 mm (6.7 inches) to trade legroom for the luggage kind.

And there’s a ton of it. Up to 360 liters (12.7 cu-ft) or over 1,000 liters (35.3 cu-ft) if you fold the rear seats. Now those are impressive stats – a Fiat 500e has half the carrying capacity, the supposedly bigger Renault 5 only provides 326 liters (11.5 cu-ft), and even a bigger-again VW Golf only gives you 381 liters (13.5 cu-ft).

Renault says you can also access the 50-liter (1.8 cu-ft) underfloor storage area even when you’ve already got stuff in the trunk.

Inside, Renault has tried hard to retain as much of the concept’s pizazz as possible while also cutting out enough cost to bring the Twingo to the street for “less than £20,000,” according to the UK PR team.

The final bill could be much lower because earlier reports suggested Renault was targeting €20,000, which is only £18k/$23k, and what Renault needs to reach to compete with BYD’s Dolphin Surf.

Lipstick gearstick

The dashboard features color-coordinated trim, the roof lining hides a “Twingo alphabet” pattern, and the gear selector is a customizable “e-pop shifter” shaped like lipstick. Because why shouldn’t your car be allowed to have personality, eh VW?

Tech is handled by a 7-inch digital cluster and a 10-inch central screen, with Google Maps and Google Assistant on top trims.

The Twingo even has its own avatar sidekick named Reno, who can help with charging info or answer questions like a tiny electric French Jeeves, and delivers an electronic welcome fanfare courtesy of Jean-Michel Jarre.

Is Renault Onto Something?

To sum up then, the Twingo looks great and has a freakishly large trunk but won’t set any records for range or acceleration. But if Renault can keep that price low enough – we’ll find out in the coming months – it has all the makings of a massive hit, and one that could potentially steal more than a few sales from the more expensive 5 E-Tech.

We’re looking forward to seeing how VW’s ID.Up compares when the two go head to head in 2026.

Renault

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

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