Here’s the thing about the Renault Twingo — it’s always been a bit of an oddball. The Mk1 of 1992 looked like it had been designed by someone armed with a crayon, a bottle of French wine, and a carefree disregard for symmetry… and we loved it for it. The Mk2 and Mk3? Well, they tried to grow up. The Mk4? It’s decided adulthood is boring, electric is the future, and it’s about to bounce into the city like a caffeinated puppy.
Yes, the fourth-generation Twingo will roll into dealerships in mid-2026, starting at under £17,000. That’s not just cheap — that’s “you might have change left for a second-hand espresso machine” cheap. And it’s a direct slap in the face of Volkswagen’s upcoming ID.1, not to mention Dacia’s Spring and Leapmotor’s T03 — the UK’s current budget EV champions.
From Petrol Ghost to Electric Glow-Up
The last petrol Twingo quietly shuffled out of the UK in 2018 after selling a grand total of… 877 units that year. Now, seven years later, it’s back, and this time it hums instead of coughs. It’s riding on the momentum of Renault’s retro-cool Renault 5, which proved that affordable EVs can also be stylish. And Renault’s clearly taken notes: the new Twingo’s camouflage can’t hide its bubbly silhouette, funky semicircular lights, and design nods to the original 1992 model.
There are some concessions to reality — gone are the concept’s Mk1-style hidden door pulls, replaced by sensible grab handles. And the idea of showing your battery percentage on the bonnet like a futuristic toaster? That may or may not survive. But Renault promises it’ll still have that “fit-for-purpose urban vehicle with no compromise” charm.
Inside the Bubble
We haven’t seen the full production interior yet, but the concept’s cabin was “90% ready” — translation: basic seats, bare surfaces, and an emphasis on durability over luxury. At the centre sits a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a 7-inch digital instrument display, and — bless them — physical buttons and dials for the important stuff. The air vents are still ovoid, the hazard light button still bright red, and the vibe is still “friendly French pod” rather than “soulless appliance.”
Power, Range, and Wallet Friendliness
Renault hasn’t spilled all the powertrain beans yet, but expect it to borrow heavily from the Renault 5’s Ampr Small platform. In base spec, that means a single motor with 118bhp, a 40kWh battery, and around 190 miles of range. But — and here’s the budget magic — the Twingo could get an even smaller battery, like the 25kWh pack from the Dacia Spring, giving about 140 miles of city-friendly range. Efficiency could hit 6.2 miles per kWh, which is basically EV diet food.
Built at Double Speed
Perhaps the most jaw-dropping stat isn’t the price, but the time it took to make: 21 months from green light to showroom. The Clio took 48 months. That’s not just quick — that’s “we forgot to blink” quick. New Renault Group CEO François Provost calls it part of an “obsession with competitiveness,” which sounds suspiciously like corporate speak for “we want to beat the Chinese at their own game.”
The result? Production costs 50% lower than a new C-segment SUV thanks to fewer materials, smarter software, and Ampere — Renault’s EV-focused sub-brand — doing everything possible to make EVs as cheap as petrol cars.
Greener, Meaner, Right-Hand Drive
Renault says the Twingo will produce 75% less CO₂ over its lifetime than the average ICE car sold in Europe last year. And yes, UK fans — you are getting it in right-hand drive. That wasn’t always a given, but after the Renault 5’s warm reception, bosses decided Britain deserved a slice of the Twingo pie.
In the words of Renault’s Fabrice Cambolive: “The UK is very important in terms of product recognition… The Twingo can be one of the solutions of mobility for the UK tomorrow.” Translation: “We think you’ll like it, and we want your money.”
Source: Renault
