Retromobile 2023. The story of the Renault Twingo in an exclusive video
Renault is retracing the history of the Twingo I at Rétromobile 2023 for the model’s 30th anniversary, and is presenting a retrofit prototype in California tuning style alongside the limited series and other well-known versions of the city car.
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Max K
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Renault presents several types of Twingo I at Rétromobile 2023. We tell you about the models in the video.
As promised, Renault will launch the Twingo 30th anniversary festivities at the 2023 Retromobile show, taking place from 1eh until February 5 at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles. The manufacturer presents a selection of copies of the first generation of its city car to retrace its history, its concept and career, but also its future through retrofitting. And Renault to remind us of the dancing origin of the model name: Twist, Swing and Tango. Discover with Hugues Portron, director of Renault Classic, the unique story of this mini-city car at the Renault stand.
A colorful city car
Visitors to the show will be able to (re)discover what could have been the oldest existing Twingo according to Renault. This is a pre-production copy with a canvas sunroof, which left the factory on April 2, 1992. Everything is there: bright colors (yellow bodywork, patterned blue-purple upholstery), sleek presentation, speedometer digital and roominess, thanks in particular to a sliding and folding rear bench seat.
Bright colors, there’s more riding on the Twingo Benetton from the Renault stand. This special series launched in 1996 following the manufacturer and driver titles won in F1 by Benetton-Renault with Michael Schumacher the previous year is equipped with multi-coloured upholstery.
When the Twingo thinks it’s a Bugatti
More unexpectedly, the Renault Twingo Lecoq came to our happy memories. Presented by bodybuilder and car restorer André Lecoq at the 1995 Retromobile show, this luxury limited edition is openly inspired by Bugatti with a two-tone yellow and black livery that draws a “C” on each side. Its thicker-than-original seats are upholstered in leather and faux burl walnut covers the dashboard. A brass plate indicates the car number as well as the name of its owner. Less than 50 units were produced.
Return to simplicity in a red copy of the sixth and final “collection” of the Renault Twingo I in Europe, which has come full circle for the end of European production of the model. The car continued its race in South America until 2012. In total, 2,528,666 copies were made.
A 100% circuit Twingo
The first Renault Twingo of the name can have a sporting career in a one-make coupe, like the R8 Gordini or the Clio RS. Three Twingo Coupe prototypes were produced, some are powered by a 1.6 135 hp engine and others with a 2.0 150 hp. A 1995 2.0 model with a six-speed manual transmission is on display at Rétromobile. Its blue and white livery echoes Gordini models. Its stripped down interior allows it to weigh just 810 kg.
The Twingo goes electric in the retrofit
The third and current generation of the Renault Twingo will retire in 2024 and will not be directly replaced. However, the first in the rope is looking ahead for his 30th birthday. It was presented in a retrofit version, in the form of a prototype designed together with R-Fit specialists. For the occasion, Renault designers gave the city car a “West Coast” look with reduced ground clearance, gold rims shod with whitewall tires, cream-colored cashmere seats and red leather interior trim that contrasts with the gray bodywork. The icing on the cake, golden inscriptions in Gothic writing are present here and there, even on the back shelf of the parcel. Details for the retrofit kit, which replaces the internal combustion engine with an electric powertrain, have not yet been released as its development is ongoing. This should allow the “old” Twingo to continue to get through town centers during EPZs.
Low rider environment for this retrofit Twingo prototype.
Matthieu Meheust
This Twingo has been made electric thanks to a kit signed by R-Fit.
Matthieu Meheust
The interior is also inspired by American West Coast tuning.
Matthieu Meheust
Bling bling retrofitting exists.
Matthieu Meheust
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