This evening at the Paris Motor Show 2024, I spent some time around the Renault Twingo E-Tech, a show car that previews the production model due in 2026, which promises democratization of EVs in countries like France. Renault said at the show that the new all-electric Twingo will be priced below €20,000 (USD 21,896).
Renault’s first Twingo, launched in 1992, was the blue-eyed boy of the European car market, thanks to its playful design and practicality. The Renault Twingo E-Tech electric prototype retains that spirit but is 21st-century-ready with its electric drivetrain and modern design. The production vehicle is being developed not far from where I am in France, with help from an unnamed Chinese engineering company to ensure the project stays on schedule and within budget.
The prototype’s small footprint and agile design are giveaways that the production model would be strictly for the urban environment, while its five-door egg-shaped body signifies that practicality for a small family is high up on Renault’s agenda.
What struck me first about the Twingo E-Tech prototype is its distinctive, rounded front, which is in contrast to its cousin, the Dacia Spring. The floating LED rings around the headlamps is a wink to the original Twingo’s quirky, wide-eyed look, giving it an unmistakably friendly and approachable character.
At the rear, I found the taillights follow the same playful design of the headlamps, and the Twingo lettering pasted across the tailgate car’s heritage. The prototype’s minimalistic yet expressive design gave me a sense of familiarity, as I’m quite well versed with its predecessor from my travels to Europe.
It’s work in progress, and the Twingo E-Tech prototype features a fixed glass roof that creates a sense of spaciousness, though we’ll have to see if this feature makes it to production, given the strict cost targets. And, while on that topic, the Twingo E-Tech will be produced right here in Europe.
The dedication of Renault designers to making this vehicle a true “voiture à vivre” (car for living) is evident throughout the design of the Twingo E-Tech prototype, and it’s likely that the team is striving to ensure that nearly all these features make it into the production model!
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.
