Autoblog

Renault fetes Red Bull Racing with special edition Twingo

Noah Joseph — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Renault

Used to be if Renault wanted to celebrate a Formula One team with special edition, it would celebrate its own. But having sold the bulk of its own team to Lotus and Genii Capital in favor of supplying engines to a greater variety of independent teams, its latest commemorative hot hatches honor the (current) king of them all: Red Bull Racing.

Just a couple of months ago, Renaultsport rolled out the special RBR edition Clio, and is now following up with a similar treatment applied to the smaller Twingo (with a special edition Megane to follow). Celebrating the team's 2011 constructors' title and the Renault-powered car that got them there, the Twingo RS Red Bull Racing RB7 features a black and yellow livery (though we don't know what the color scheme has to do with the team that races in dark blue with red), the otherwise optional Cup suspension, blacked-out 17-inch alloys and the RS Monitor onboard telemetry system.

Order books are opening in June across nine markets in Europe and in Japan. But even if you're not in one of them, you can still scroll on down for the full press release and scope out the images in the high-resolution image gallery above.

Continue reading Renault fetes Red Bull Racing with special edition Twingo

Renault fetes Red Bull Racing with special edition Twingo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renault announces facelifted F1-inspired Twingo R.S.

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Renault, UK

There are two additional performance versions of the Renault Twingo joining the base model introduced earlier this year: the Twingo R.S. and Twingo Gordini R.S. They are set apart from the donor hatch by a lower bumper element meant to mimic the nose of an F1 car (Mercedes-Benz once did something similar with its sporty cars). The rear bumper is also reshaped, getting a diffuser and "aerodynamic extensions," and the tailgate is topped by a spoiler.

Flared wheel arches set the tone along the flanks of the R.S., but the optional Design Package and 16-inch wheels add contrasting accents, and the Gordini R.S. swaps for 17-inch diamond-effect black rims. Yellow stitching, white and gloss-black inserts highlight the interior, and an optional telemetry system called R.S. Monitor can highlight your driving. Under the hood is the familiar 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 133 horsepower.

Both machines go on sale this month in France and will roll out 19 other countries in March, the U.S. not among them. The Twingo R.S. will require €16,900 ($22,187 U.S.) of your hard-earned cash in France, while the top-flite Gordini R.S. needs €18,100 ($23,762 U.S.). Follow the jump for the press release and more info.

Continue reading Renault announces facelifted F1-inspired Twingo R.S.

Renault announces facelifted F1-inspired Twingo R.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Street Legal Racer: Renaultsport launches entry-level rally-spec Twingo

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Hatchback, Renault, Specialty, Racing

Renaultsport Twingo R2 - Click above for high-res image gallery

For such a tiny car, Renault's punchy little Twingo RS sure has been getting a lot attention lately. First came the launch of the Twingo Gordini edition, reviving a long-dormant racing nameplate for the French automaker. Then Jeremy Clarkson took it for a ride (and a swim) around (and under) Belfast. Now Renault's motorsport division has released the a pair of entry-level rally machines based on the pint-size hot hatch.

Called the Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2, these are Renault's latest offerings to aspiring rally drivers getting in at the bottom. They pack 1.6-liter 16-valve four-bangers pumping out a substantial 160 horsepower - 27 over the standard RS - driving the front wheels through a five-speed sequential gearbox with a slip-resistant dog clutch and wheel-mounted shift paddles. There's little to distinguish the rally machines from their street-going counterparts, but inside, the interior has been stripped out and fitted with a roll cage.

Upgrading from the R1 to the R2 (which can be performed at any later point, helpful if your team is dependent on prize cash to re-invest into the car) gains Sabelt buckets with six-point harness and a few more bells and whistles. The best part? They're apparently still street legal (in Europe at least) so you can drive it home after the rally instead of loading it onto a truck. A fully equipped Renaultsport Twingo R2 will set you back €38,980, or the equivalent of $58k in American greenbacks...if only it were actually available here. You know the drill: details in the press release after the jump, high-res photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Renaultsport Twingo R2

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Street Legal Racer: Renaultsport launches entry-level rally-spec Twingo

Street Legal Racer: Renaultsport launches entry-level rally-spec Twingo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renaultsport launches hardcore Twingo 133 Cup

Noah Joseph — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Renault

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]

Continue reading Renaultsport launches hardcore Twingo 133 Cup

Renaultsport launches hardcore Twingo 133 Cup originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics & Details Aplenty: Renault Twingo RS

Noah Joseph — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Renault

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Twingo Renault Sport

After its initial unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, Renault has finally released full details - including pricing, equipment, and a whole $h!tload of new photos - of the new Twingo Renault Sport. Following the great line of eminently chuckable sport hatches from the French automaker - including the current Clio and Megane Renault Sport models - the Twingo Renault Sport upgrades the existing range-topping Twingo GT with a host of performance-oriented equipment inside, outside and underneath. Power comes from a 133-hp 1.6-liter 16-valve four-banger, and the Twingo RS comes right out of the gate with a choice of two chassis set-ups: Sport and Cup. The latter tightens up the suspension, cuts out 17 kg of weight and offers 17-inch dark anthracite wheels.

You'll recall that while its on-track rivals like Ferrari and McLaren turn their F1 know-how into six-figure supercars, Renault transfers its into sport hatches like this one. Renault Sport's latest offering will sell for just €15,601 in its home market, but includes a special bonus usually reserved for cars ten times its price. For a nominal fee of €1, Renault Sport Technologies is throwing in tutelage in its advanced driving course to show each new owner how to get the most out of their finely-tuned little chassis.

Follow the jump to get the full skinny on the little hatchback that could, and check out the hundred new images joining our live shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Renault Twingo Renault Sport

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Pics & Details Aplenty: Renault Twingo RS

Pics & Details Aplenty: Renault Twingo RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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