Renault has pulled the wraps off the Twingo E-Tech Electric prototype at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, giving the public a first glimpse of the all-electric city car planned for 2026. The vehicle is targeting a price point under £17,000 (€20,000), positioning it to compete with the growing number of affordable electric vehicles, especially those produced in China.
Aiming to Disrupt the European EV Market
This new Twingo EV aims to be a key player in Renault’s strategy to defend the European automotive market from the influx of cheaper Chinese-made electric vehicles. The production model, which is expected to closely resemble the prototype, is set to arrive in 2026. Renault plans to leverage its Ampere electric division and refined industrial processes to achieve lower production costs for the Twingo.
Design and Engineering
The design of the Twingo E-Tech Electric prototype takes inspiration from the original Renault Twingo of 1992. Renault CEO Luca de Meo had previously hinted at this new model during the Capital Market Day in November 2023. The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of European electric vehicle production, with the goal of delivering a battery-powered city car with a price tag under €20,000.
At present, the Dacia Spring and the Leapmotor T03 are the only electric cars sold in Europe for less than €20,000; both are manufactured in China. Slightly above this price point, one finds the Fiat Grande Panda and Citroën e-C3, priced at €24,900 and €23,900, respectively.
Key Specifications
The Twingo E-Tech Electric Prototype has the following features:
- Length: 3.75 meters
- Width: 1.73 meters
- Height: 1.47 meters
- Wheelbase: 2.49 meters
- Battery: Approximately 40 kWh
- Target Price: Under €20,000
- Market Launch: 2026
Cutting Production Costs
To meet the aggressive price target, Renault is focusing on streamlining and accelerating production processes. The company aims to significantly reduce the time it takes to assemble each Twingo. While the Renault Clio takes about 14 hours, and the new Renault 5 will need just under 10 hours, the electric Twingo will need much less than 10 hours for production, according to Renault CTO Gilles Le Borgne.
This faster production time is a key factor that could make the Twingo highly competitive in the European market.
Platform and Components
The Twingo will utilize an adapted version of the AmpR Small platform, also used in the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Renault 4 E-Tech Electric. The vehicle will feature a steel body made using traditional methods, rather than the more advanced and costly Gigapress methods. Renault plans for about 70 percent of components to be shared between the Renault 5 and the Twingo, which will further reduce production time and costs.
The Twingo’s architecture will be similar to the R5, including the front end and a rigid axle at the rear.
Collaboration and Production
Renault is partnering with a Chinese company to reduce development costs and speed up the project timeline of the Twingo to just two years, which is considered a record. While the specific Chinese partner has not been named yet, the vehicle’s production will take place in Europe.
Production of the Twingo is set to begin in 2026 at Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. The factory previously produced the original Twingo and the smart forfour and currently assembles the Clio. The plant’s planned production capacity is 150,000 cars per year.
