Lazareth creates mid-mounted, Range Rover V8-powered Renault Twingo Trophy [*w/VIDEO]
Renault Twingo Trophy - Click above for high-res image gallery
Years ago, on a post-collegiate backpacking trip through Europe, we became strangely obsessed with the Renault Twingo. Going so far as to compose red vin induced Weird Al style poems, "Twingo, Twingo little car, how I wonder why you are." Today, we're having a slightly different reaction to this diminutive Renault.
Mostly because out back you'll find a 3.5-liter Range Rover sourced V8 kicking out 180 horses. That's right folks -- it's a Twingo with a mid-mounted V8. They call it the Twingo Trophy. Obviously, if you drop a V8 into the back of a runt like the Twingo -- even a small V8 -- you've got to perform some fairly serious mods. And French motorcycle builder Lazareth did just that, creating a modern day Renault R5. Albeit one with inboard shocks.
If you look at the pictures, you'll notice both the front and rear tracks got widened, comically so out back. The reason for the latter is a special rear tubular subframe Lazareth had to shoe horn in to deal with all the extra weight and power now suddenly present behind the front seats. They also put some goofy-sized 320 Yokohama slicks on the 18-inch rear wheels. Making the Twingo Trophy all the more ridiculous. But in a good way. We think. How much? About $100,000 give or take. A small price to pay for such a... distinctive Twingo.
*Update: There's a good chance the V8 makes much more than 180 ponies, especially judging by those wrapped headers. Also, we've added a pair of videos after the jump.
Gallery: Renault Twingo Trophy
[Source: Carscoop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phillip 3:09PM (10/26/2009)
CRACK PIPE! Oh, wait...
I understand this is being shoved into a light weight car, but all this work and cost to have the horse power of a 1980s Camaro? Build that little rover-8! Or drop in the venerable LS and annihilate.
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Shiftright 7:40PM (10/26/2009)
180h p is stock. I doubt they would go to that much trouble for only a 180 hp V8. That ridiculous rear track is about way more than 180 hp.
Seminole 3:09PM (10/26/2009)
Only 180 HP out of a V8? Sounds pretty weak to me.
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FitFan 3:13PM (10/26/2009)
That's exactly what I was thinking. 180hp is 4-cylinder territory. It's not like you're going to be towing anything with this car that would require torque provided by the V8.
gouzizi 3:45PM (10/26/2009)
No side radiators or scoops to cool the rear engine bay. I guess you need a bulletproof engine to handle such little cooling.
mk15 4:00PM (10/26/2009)
Maybe they have it tuned for torque?
TigerMil 7:28PM (10/26/2009)
NAh..180 is right. That LR V8 was/is a POS. Torquey, though.
JMills 3:11PM (10/26/2009)
It looks fantastic, but 180hp? They go through all that trouble & money to create something fantastic, then put in a crappy Rover V8.
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abbas350 3:11PM (10/26/2009)
that's cool and all but when are they going to paint it?
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larry raines 3:13PM (10/26/2009)
strange fender flares, could have done a better job with the body.
next they have to turbo the motor - or replace it with something more potent
why a British motor in a French car?
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Joe 3:15PM (10/26/2009)
The HP numbers are pretty weak, but the Wikipedia tells me that the 3.5L mill puts out almost 300 lb/ft of torque, so it's stout, and it's probably indestructible, too.
The SHOGun was cooler, though.
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DJ 3:46PM (10/26/2009)
Just luurve the classic Twingo... but not the new Twingo, which is dull as ditchwater.
From urber-tasty minimobile to also-ran minger in one model-change.
Hey ho, who fed the designers Mogadon?
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phunkyphoxx 3:15PM (10/26/2009)
Why should i bother about even thinking to spend 100K on a Twingo with a ridiculously lame V8 when i could have a much cheaper 250+ HP Clio V6....?
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Chumbawamba 3:16PM (10/26/2009)
Still a Girl Car: http://www.girlcarguycar.com/index.php?ID=70
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Tam 3:18PM (10/26/2009)
180hp from 3.5L (and a V8)? Are they retarded?
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jonnybimmer 3:21PM (10/26/2009)
What was wrong with the Renault Clio Sport? The V6 made more than 180 hp and it looked a heck of a lot better too.
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MeiSooHaityu 3:24PM (10/26/2009)
Hey, lets throw a Small V8 in the back of a Ford Pinto, it would be unique...
Wait, actually that might be kinda cool. Make sure you are wearing a good fire suit :D
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Franz 3:28PM (10/26/2009)
All that trouble for a 180hp V8. Disappointing IMO.
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Von Pinto 3:31PM (10/26/2009)
This one says SHOgun to me more than R5 Turbo, but that probably has more to do with the ginormous flares and the upright C-Pillar.
Regardless of hou you slice it though, you've got yourself some Redonkulous Pie...
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John H. 3:33PM (10/26/2009)
The bodywork is cool, but the English engine is horrible.
A Suby WRX / EVO engine makes 300+ hp from 2.5l - lighter and faster!
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