Renaultsport launches hardcore Twingo 133 Cup
Renault Twingo RS 133 Cup – Click above for high-res image gallery
Hot hatch enthusiasts the world over know that Renault makes some of the best in the business. The Clio Renaultsport, in its various iterations, has a strong following, as does the Megane RS. And with the current iteration of the Twingo, the French automaker has applied its winning formula to a smaller package. Launched a little over a year ago, the Twingo RS packs a 133 horsepower, 1.6-liter 16-valve four-cylinder. And while that may not seem like much, according to accounts from overseas, the little pocket rocket packs quite a punch. Now the boffins at Renaultsport have released an even more hardcore version.
Like the Clio 200 Cup, the Twingo 133 Cup does away with some of the frivolities – stuff like air-con, automatic headlights and independent adjustability for the rear seats – preferring instead to focus on being a tarmac-muncher in a compact package. But the Cup approach doesn't just delete, it also adds: the Cup suspension, already available on the equipped Twingo RS, features 10% stiffer springs, a 4 mm reduced ride height and 17-inch alloys on Continental Sport Contact3 rubber. Black and white trim is also available for a more track-focused look. But the best part about Renaultsport's Cup packages? They actually cost less than the heftier versions: £1,350 (over $2k) less, in this case, than a full-fat Twingo RS with the Cup suspension. Details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.
Gallery: Renault Twingo RS 133 Cup
Gallery: Renault Twingo Renault Sport
[Source: Renault]
PRESS RELEASE:
RENAULTSPORT TWINGO 133 CUP ARRIVES
Renaultsport's reputation for producing the very best hot hatchbacks is well recognised and 2009 is turning out to be a vintage year, as the 'Cup' version of the Twingo Renaultsport 133 becomes the latest model to join the fold.
Following the strategy with the recently-launched Clio Renaultsport 200, the Cup version of its Twingo baby brother provides a more focused driving experience with less equipment and a lower price.
The Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup is priced at £11,795, £700 less than the standard version. The Cup does without air conditioning, automatic headlamp and wiper operation, extra tinted rear windows and features a one-piece bench in place of the usual independent sliding rear seats. Obviously, the Cup suspension pack is fitted as standard. Normally a £650 option on the regular 133, the Cup version is priced £1,350 less than a similarly-equipped car.
The Cup chassis offers handling to satisfy the demands of the enthusiast, offering optimum body control. The chassis rides 4mm lower than the standard Renaultsport setting and its lower centre of gravity improves in-corner performance thanks to reduced weight transfer. Tuned damper settings and higher spring rates (10 per cent stiffer front and rear) bring greater performance through improved body control. Anthracite-coloured 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels are equipped with Continental Sport Contact3 195/40 tyres.
Two new options are now available for both the Renaultsport 133 Cup and Renaultsport 133. The 'Black and White' Renault i.d. pack is £150 and offers Glacier White bodywork with gloss black finish to the door mirrors, rear spoiler and front bumper trims. Gloss black finish is available for the Cup 17" alloys wheels at £175.
The Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup is available to order from 1st October and first deliveries are expected from November.
Customers can find further details on the official Renaultsport website at www.renaultsport.co.uk
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bloke 10:25AM (9/30/2009)
Fantastic stuff. Nobody makes a hardcore hot hatch like Renault does.
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jv2k 10:29AM (9/30/2009)
133 hp does not a hot hatch make. It's a hatch, and it might be fun to drive, but it's not a hot hatch.
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Bloke 10:39AM (9/30/2009)
133bhp does make a hot hatch actually, but what's important is the power to weight ratio and the chassis dynamics. The Cup-series Renaults excel because they're extremely light.
I doubt if you're aware since you're probably American and not old enough to remember, that the original hot hatch of the all - the 1976 VW Golf GTi - used a 110bhp 1588cc unit and was essentially a stripped out base Golf with a powerful engine.
Bloke 10:41AM (9/30/2009)
And also bear in mind that we're taking about an A-segment hatchback here - in other words, Ford Ka, Opel Agila and Peugeot 107 class.
Mattias 10:42AM (9/30/2009)
It is a hot hatch. Remember: This is a short (11.8ft) and light hatch. It might not be the coolest car on the autobahn, but it is lots of fun on curvy roads.
jv2k 11:03AM (9/30/2009)
Good point, I didn't take into account how small it was. I tend to completely overlook that size segment since it isn't even available over here.
Avinash machado 10:47AM (9/30/2009)
Seems to be about the size of a VW Lupo.
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ThreePedals 10:58AM (9/30/2009)
Those french, with their hopped up manual transmission hatchbacks and station wagons, how green with envy they make me. Come back to the USA, Renault, we can forget about Le Car and the Alliance and everything, we can make this work, I swear.
And by we, I mean me and the 13 other people who might actually buy a hardcore, googly eyed, stick-shift only RenaultSport hatch.
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Gompo 3:37PM (9/30/2009)
Sorry, but it's not a 'hot' hatch, not quick enough. This is based on the last model Clio - the hot versions of those had either 172 or 182 BHP. This Twingo is not that quick at all. Probably similar to the Mk1 Golf GTI, which is 30years old? Things have moved on.
This is probably a fun car to drive, but I wouldnt class it as hot. I dont think this would manage a 16 second 1/4.
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Ferrer 3:55PM (9/30/2009)
Judging hot hatches by straight line speed only is completely missing the point.
alexander 4:00PM (9/30/2009)
twingo isn't bassed at all on last generation clio. and i assure you, that this little car, is very very fun to drive, even in rs version.
Gompo 4:09PM (9/30/2009)
So what is your definition of 'hot'?
'Sporty' hatch might be fitting, or 'warm' hatch. To me, in 2009, this isnt hot. Out of anything I'd probably go with 'fun', but without driving one I wouldnt know.
Ferrer 4:09PM (9/30/2009)
It does 0-100km/h in 8,7 seconds. That's more than fast enough.
In anycase the hot hatch is the car we take to twisty country lanes to have fun and then do the shopping the same afternoon. They aren't meant to do a million mph or 0-60 in half a second.
Bloke 4:53PM (9/30/2009)
"Sorry, but it's not a 'hot' hatch, not quick enough. This is based on the last model Clio - the hot versions of those had either 172 or 182 BHP. This Twingo is not that quick at all. Probably similar to the Mk1 Golf GTI, which is 30years old? Things have moved on."
130bhp in a very light A-segment hatchback is more than enough to call it a hot hatchback. The Twingo II uses a floorpan based from the last-gen Clio but heavily modified, and the car is far smaller overall. It's all about power-to-weight, this would be far quicker and more agile than a 10-year old 2.0 litre Focus Zetec with similar power.
nagmashot 1:22AM (10/01/2009)
@Gompo...
to see how hot the Twingo is... the less hardcore but same power normal Twingo RS track tests...
Balocco race track Italy
tested by Italian Automagazine..
Honda Civic Type-R (FN1 200hp)
3:10.70min
Renault Twingo RS (not Cup!! 133hp)
3:10.81min
Suzuki Swift Sport (125hp)
3:15.20
Mini Cooper (120hp)
3:17.30
Magny-Cours France
tested by frensh autosport magazine
Honda Civic Type R (FN1 200hp)
1:32.90min
Mini Cooper S (174hp)
1:33.23min
Renault Twingo RS (133hp)
1:33.86min
Subaru WRX (224hp)
1:34.40min
Opel Corsa OPC (196hp)
1:34.74min
Suzuki Swift Sport (125hp)
1:35.59min
just some example of cars this little hotti can race at a track... it is amazing that a little 133hp fresh baguette trolly can bite 200hp japanese sushi...
To call it not hot is ignorant...
Gompo 2:20PM (10/01/2009)
..Ok I'll admit defeat! Track times prove it I guess. It'd probably be not far off my car around a track if not possibly quicker!
It's a shame I dont like the looks as could have been a potential next car for me, I am glad Renault still have the guts to make a somewhat stripped out car nowadays. Looks like they're about the only one.
Gompo 4:17PM (9/30/2009)
Ferrer;
The speed thing is subjective, and I agree with your twisty country lanes and shopping analogy, so fair enough.
Alexander,
I have found 3 different websites all claiming that the Twingo is based on the last generation Clio's platform, so I believe you are wrong. I tried to post links but it looks like they havent worked. I know Wikipedia isnt 100% reliable but that also states the Twingo is based on the Clio.
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aidsoo 5:07PM (9/30/2009)
My 100hp 1.2 Twingo GT does 0-60 at just one second more, plus it regularly achieves 10 mpg more than the RS model. So this won't be tempting me, even though it does look the bis!
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