Fun retro style and a bargain price tag have helped make Renault’s 5 EV a massive hit, and now the automaker is looking to replicate that success one rung down the size and affordability ladder. The automaker has already shown next year’s Twingo in concept form, and now we’ve got pictures of the baby EV testing in prototype form.

Renault has bolted its Twingo badge to various small cars over the years, but the new one harks back to the 1993 original, an egg-shaped one-box hatch with distinctive frog-like eyes. But instead of two doors and a wheezy petrol engine, the new one has a practical four-door layout and zippy all-electric powertrain.

Related: Renault’s Updated Twingo Concept Hints At Next Year’s €20,000 EV

The 5’s baby brother goes on sale next year when it’s expected to cost less than €20,000 (£17k / $23k). That’ll make it slightly more expensive than the most basic Dacia Spring and Leapmotor 01, and put it into battle with the €19,990 Dolphin Surf from China’s BYD and – eventually – VW’s ID.1.

Renault previewed its budget EV with the Twingo E-Tech concept, which made its debut last year and was wheeled out again at the start of 2025, after some minor cosmetic surgery. The first shots of a prototype tell us the production car will stick close to the concept’s promise. Its wheels are pushed tight into each corner to free up as much interior space as possible, the windshield is swept back, just like the original Twingo’s, and the bulging headlights ensure it has the same friendly face.

The large charging port flap on the passenger fender is a different shape, sitting on the other side of the one on the concept, and this test car appears to have conventional door handles, whereas the show car had them concealed in the front door skin and the upper door frame next to the C-pillar. We’re hoping they’ll have migrated to their original concept positions by the time the car makes its production debut.

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We don’t get to see inside the Twingo this time, but the concept had a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a separate 10.1-inch floating infotainment screen. Renault doesn’t make a habit of overpromising and underdelivering. It didn’t reveal any tech specs for the Twingo E-Tech, but common sense says it’ll identify on a shortened version of the same AmpR Small architecture found in the Renault 4 and 5.

If it gets the same 40 kWh battery and 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW) single-motor setup as the base 5 it should be good for over 200 miles (320 km) of range and zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) in around 11 seconds, though 121 hp (122 PS / 90 kW) and even 148 hp (150 PS / 110 kW) upgrades could be an option tick away.

Renault

Renault is giving the Megane E-Tech a much-needed refresh in 2026, five years after it first hit the streets. This mid-lifecycle update is set to bring the electric crossover, which is really more of a hatchback, up to date with sleeker styling and updated battery packs, so it can stay competitive with newer rivals on the market.

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The French brand has already made a few incremental updates to the Megane E-Tech, including adding one-pedal driving, Vehicle-to-Grid functions, and introducing an Esprit Alpine trim. However, these minor changes were just a warm-up for the upcoming actual facelift.

Small Changes, Big Upgrades

Our spy photographers caught a camouflaged prototype during testing, revealing some of the key changes. The front end will receive a major overhaul, adopting the latest styling from Renault’s other models, including the Scenic E-Tech and the ICE-powered Clio and Captur. Expect slimmer LED headlights, a new grille, and a more minimalist bumper design.

The profile will be largely left untouched, but Renault designers could add new alloy wheels and more options in the color palette. The rear will also see modest updates, with refreshed LED taillight graphics and a tweaked bumper.

Inside, the Megane E-Tech will probably stay the same. After all, it was the first model to feature Renault’s new digital cockpit and the Google-powered OpenR infotainment system, which has since been rolled out to other models in the lineup.

New Batteries Made In France

Setting aside the cosmetic changes, the new Megane E-Tech will bring important upgrades under the skin. Renault is expected to replace the current 40kW and 60kW LG battery packs that are being imported with new ones from AESC. These will be produced in Douai, France, and could extend the driving range of the EV over the 470 km (290 miles) offered by the current version.

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Judging from the new generation of the Nissan Leaf that also rides on the same CMF-EV architecture, the facelifted Renault Megane E-Tech could gain 150 kW DC fast charging capabilities.

At the moment, it is not clear whether Renault will upgrade the electric powertrain of the Megane E-Tech. The outgoing model is available with single electric motors producing either 129 hp (96 kW / 131 PS) or 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS). What we know for sure is that the Renault won’t get the tri-motor powertrain of the more upmarket Alpine A390 that generates up to 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS).

The facelifted Megane E-Tech is expected to be unveiled toward the end of 2025, with a market launch in 2026. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Renault is already working on a completely new generation of the model, which could arrive around 2029.

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