Twingo Renault Sport debuts alongside new F1 car
by John Neff on Jan 31st 2008 at 12:01PM 
click above for more high-res pics of the Twingo Renault Sport
As Bob Lutz likes to often remind us, Americans don't want to pay big money for premium small cars. But oh, if we did, the just unveiled Twingo Renault Sport might be what we get. Unveiled today along with Renault new R28 F1 car (more on that later), the Twingo Renault Sport joins the larger Clio and Megane Renault Sport in the automaker's lineup of hotted up forms of basic transportation.
Based on the new Twingo that was unveiled last year at the Geneva Motor Show, the Renault Sport model adds a 133-hp 1.6L motor to the small three-door hatchback. Coupled with Renault's expert chassis tuning and an inherently slim figure, the Twingo Renault Sport should make for one fun ride. For Europeans, that is, because Renault doesn't sell cars in the US. For shame, we say, as this little guy looks like fun. We'll see the Twingo Renault Sport up close and personal in March at the Geneva Motor Show, as well as bring you more details, specs and live photos. Until then, Renault's provided some high-res pics over which we can ogle.
[Source: Renault]
Gallery: Renault Twingo Renault Sport
PRESS RELEASE:
TWINGO RENAULT SPORT
EXPERIENCE THE RENAULT SPORT THRILL
Renault Sport Technologies profited from the international launch of the latest R28
Formula 1 single-seater in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, France, today to take
the wraps off Twingo Renault Sport. Renault's new, affordable, high-performance
car slots into the Renault Sport range alongside its bigger sister cars, Clio and
Mégane Renault Sport.
Twingo Renault Sport is a genuine hot hatch with looks to match and was designed
to deliver both enjoyable roadholding and genuine sports performance. Its efficient,
balanced chassis has been mated to a fiery but flexible 133hp engine to form a
package that is sure to appeal to all those who seek sporting sensations and
driving pleasure during everyday motoring.
Unmistakable sporting credentials
Renault has produced an affordable high-performance car which sits alongside Clio and
Mégane Renault Sport in the Renault Sport range. Twingo Renault Sport's compact
proportions and incisive, assertive styling are redolent of the Twingo Concept show car
which was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Show. Twingo's existing lines are underpinned by a
more curvaceous, athletic stance and the newcomer's sporty calling is further emphasized
by its wider front and rear wings, profiled sills and spoiler.
Driving pleasure and sporting sensations during everyday motoring
Twingo Renault Sport is the response of Renault Sport Technologies' experts to a two-
pronged challenge, namely to deliver sports performance while at the same time
ensuring that the new car is easy to use on a day-to-day basis. Twingo Renault Sport's
chassis is both responsive and finely tuned to provide precise, balanced sports handling,
while specific work on the pitch of its new 133hp 1,598cc engine reveals its punchy
temperament.
The public will have the opportunity to examine Twingo Renault Sport in further detail at
the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RMc 12:46PM (1/31/2008)
"As Bob Lutz likes to often remind us, Americans don't want to pay big money for premium small cars."
Yep, and all of those $25k Minis are proof of this, huh? I'd hardly call Mini's record in the US a failure. Does VW have trouble selling GTIs? Is the Honda Civic Si loosing money for Honda (okay, a civic is a bit bigger than this Renault...)
Automakers, just give us some decent small cars that aren't stripped down gutless afterthoughts and you'll see that Lutz is completely wrong (as usual.)
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John P. 12:59PM (1/31/2008)
I'm going to have to agree with you on this for the most part. I really like this thing and wish people could buy them here.
Isn't Mazda and/or Ford planning on selling a car in this class here soon though? Hopefully not too watered down "gutless afterthoughts" like you say.
psarhjinian 1:22PM (1/31/2008)
Ford is supposedly bringing over the next-gen Fiesta/Verve, though there's no saying whether they'll gut it. Given that the Yaris is competely gutted of features when it arrives in North America (the Fit less so) it might not be suprising.
Now, that said, Honda sells every Fit they can make and it's not far off the Twingo's ability, so there's some demand here. The problem is that French cars, well, if you take everything commonly said about VW or Mercedes' reliability and imagine it about ~30% worse, you're in Renault territory.
TwinTurbo3000GT 1:30PM (1/31/2008)
i disagree. I think the mini's success was because it was trendy and "in". The civic and GTI aren't really small cars. The Fit would classify...but the pricetag is too low to make an accurate comparison.
on another note, what's with the fake venting on the front corners? looks like something off of a cheap toy.
nagmashot 1:43PM (1/31/2008)
the Rneault Twingo GT 100hp cost 12,400Euro in Germany inclusiv tax.. this 133hp version will be around 14,000Euro inclusive tax... tranfered in US price this would be ~$12,500
Euro price turned into $ minus 10% that is the rule to get the idea what euro cars cost in the US..
example BMW 335i Coupe
Germany 45,000Euro
USA $40,800
45,000 - 10% = 40,500 Euro sticker replaced by $ there you have the price.. works pretty good plus minus some $
calebe 2:14PM (1/31/2008)
Boozo bob only thinks about high profit high number sales. Mini sells about 6 to 8 thousand cars a month. Bob only cares about cars that sell 20 thousand a month. In his eyes GM already has it's token small car in the Aveo. He probably gritted his teeth when giving any thought to Saturn getting the Corsa.
psarhjinian 1:00PM (1/31/2008)
There's two factors here:
-Americans generally don't want to buy premium small cars
-Many manufacturers cannot stomach the idea of a loss leader.
GM definitely falls into the second category. They're more than willing to make worldbeater cars with fat margins, but they're less willing to eat margin on cheap cars in hopes people will return to the showroom later.
This is changing (the Malibu is probably the first fully competitive GM car in a long while) but the closest an American car company has ever come to this is Ford with the first-gen Focus. When it was released, it was so much better than the competition that Toyota and Honda had to go through two model cycles before either produced anything as good.
The problem with the Focus is that Ford couldn't stomach the cost. It didn't help that they had teething problems either, as the Focus' chances were hurt rather badly by it's first two years' reputation. Hence, it was decontended twice and a platform change put off, well, nearly a decade. It hasn't sold well, and the experience (while thoroughly Ford's fault) has probably put all three American makers off the idea of a premium small car.
GM will never, ever, release a good small car in North America. They're far too focused on quarterly sales and/or far too cash-poor to invest in something with such a small return.
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the law 1:21PM (1/31/2008)
Nissan could bring it to US as 2dr verse.they are partners with Renault.
Side Note:GM will be bring over Corsa, and whatever comes of the triple Minis showed.
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Eric Liberatore 1:24PM (1/31/2008)
I just got back from my first ever visit to Mexico City. Lot's of Renaults and Peugeots. Great looking little cars. Would it be feasible to go down there and buy one and bring it north of the border?
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Mattias 1:29PM (1/31/2008)
No.
Mattias 1:35PM (1/31/2008)
By the way: I just had a 207 three door hatch over the weekend. At first I felt a little uncomfortable about the small size of the car, but i the end I really liked it. Those BMW engineered engines are much nicer than the PSA made TU family and I guess the THP found in the Cooper makes this 207 a real rocket. I also did some 300 miles Autobahn with it. The power steering felt very soft below 75mph, but above it stiffened remarkably. Travelling at 110mph+ was quite OK, those new "four metre cars" have a nice wheelbase so they don't stucker as their ancestors. I like this small thing and think about ordering a conertible with the Cooper engine.
Will jones 1:32PM (1/31/2008)
Please please please make a small American luxo-pod. I drive a Cadillac, which I love. I can't imagine having to buy a mini if I want to reduce my carbon-footprint but still own a luxury car.
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Playdrv4me 1:35PM (1/31/2008)
Actually here in Florida you see alot of Fiat Puntos and other tiny cars that people somehow manage to get up here temporarily, Mexican plates and all.
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Torrey 1:54PM (1/31/2008)
OK! I've had my 1990 CRX for way too long and I am ready for a new car. The problem is, the only small affordable sports car that I have to choose from is the MINI and, though I really love the MINI, I don't want it. Why can't I buy this little hot rod from Renault? Why can't Nissan import this to the USA. Hell, just build it in a US factory and Americans won't even know that it's French. I hope that Honda, Nissan, and Suzuki all build their own Twingo, Mini, Fiat 500 sized sports cars and import them to the States by 2010!!! I need a new car!!!
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fm 11:09PM (2/25/2008)
"Hell, just build it in a US factory and Americans won't even know that it's French."
That's not impossible. Fact is with the cheap dollar, it's actually pretty profitable. Now I don't know if it'll be built in eastern europe where it's probably even cheaper. In any case, you're right, they could slap a nissan badge and call it a day. One of the main problems of the french automakers during the years they sold in the US is that they had no real dealer infrastructure. With Nissan already here that's not an issue anymore.
Anyways didn't Autoblog report PSA signed a deal to build one of the cars in a Mitsubishi plant here?
L.Wood 2:21PM (1/31/2008)
I understand Fernando Alonzo was seen driving away from the ceremony in one of these little beauties with graphics explaining he would rather be No. 1 at Renault and drive a Twingo than be equal at McLaren and drive a Mercedes AMG with 6 gah-zillion horsepower. Because of the size of the car the graphics explaining the situation were more like a full wrap.
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spdracerut 2:25PM (1/31/2008)
While I was working in France, I spotted a Renault Clio Sport... I'd love to have that car here! 200hp, 6-speed, Brembo brakes as big as my Evo, and it only weighs 2200-2300 lbs! Now that's a pocket rocket!
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Dirk 3:16PM (1/31/2008)
This car looks exactly like a 2 door 2005 Scion xA RS1 with a closed air grille kit.
Nice, I'll take one. Bring it over here please! Scion went silly and introduced the horrible xD.
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Araba Resimleri 7:10PM (1/31/2008)
thanks.. burada da çok güzel arabalar var
http://www.arabaresimleri.somee.com/?marka=Renault&sayfa=araba.html
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sebastian mejia 12:54AM (2/01/2008)
Renault outta bring that car into the U.S.A as a Nissan Versa Coupe, or something like that. It looks caliente!!!
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