Personally, I’d say that Renault has been on a winning streak lately with their retro-futuristic EVs, from the boxy and tough Renault 4, and the sporty and eye-catching Renault 5. What is most impressive to me is just how well Renault understood the assignment, too – make some good-looking EVs, engineer in usable practicality, and price them right! Better yet, we are on the verge of possibly another win for Renault, with the all-new Twingo E-Tech. Granted, it’s a prototype for now, but after the Renault 4 and 5, I wouldn’t put it past them to put this cute little Renault Twingo E-Tech EV into production. Only time will tell, for now, come 2026.
The eagle-eyed among you might notice a lot of uncanny design elements shared between it and the original Twingo. Indeed, Renault intends on this being a modernised reinterpretation that echoes the adorableness and practical city car design of the first-gen Twingo of the 90s. It’s equally form and function too, with the Renault Twingo E-Tech Prototype featuring some improved aero, courtesy of a concealed front intake, and smaller rear wheel arch extensions, giving it that sleeker look. Elsewhere, this new prototype includes redesigned bumpers, which use a 3D-printed structure, and a rather cool lighting signature and lighting elements.
A Modern Take On A Modern Classic City Car Legend
Step inside the new Renault Twingo E-Tech Prototype, and you’ll find more than just a single nod to the first-generation Twingo. I love the cylindrical, airy dashboard design, which you’ll also find on the original Twingo, as well as some of the physical buttons hidden underneath translucent bubbles, making a comeback from the old Twingo, too! Given that this new and modern Twingo needs to offer some modern amenities, you’ll get a 7-inch gauge cluster, as well as a 10.1-inch infotainment system, with a fresh and updated UI, to boot. Practicality is the name of the game with the Twingo, with more than a handful of clever in-cabin storage.
For example, you’ll find plenty of compartments underneath the dash, in addition to cubbies that span the width of the dashboard, allowing easy access to even more stowage and cargo. Echoing Renault’s concept of a flexible interior layout in what is otherwise a very tiny Twingo, you even get a sliding rear bench, helping to maximise legroom, cargo capacity, or passenger comfort, depending on what you’re looking for. So, don’t let the Twingo E-Tech’s petite form factor fool you, as it could easily upsize to afford you more cabin space. Those rear seats fold 50/50 too, and you could handily swap between multiple boot and cargo configurations.
Pretty Small In Size, But Large At Heart And Spirit
Some of this versatility and flexibility are thanks to the Twingo E-Tech Prototype using Renault’s new AmpR Small platform, designed specifically for compact electric city cars. I found it pretty shocking, in a good way, that the Twingo E-Tech Prototype here was developed in just 2 years, with the development headed by Ampere, Renault’s new EV division. This doesn’t just mean a cost-effective production, but when it comes time for you to be able to order one, Renault has earmarked a starting price of below €20,000. This ought to make it one of the most accessible and cheapest electric cars that you can buy here in Europe, joining the rest of Renault’s line-up.
Alas, for now, we don’t have a lot of details on the more specific, nitty-gritty specs, but I can at least appreciate the plethora of easter eggs and cutesy little details on this prototype model. A good example is how the floor is made of tinted cork, known for durability and eco-friendliness. Other than that, the panoramic rounded glass roof floods the cabin with natural light and that airy feeling, shedding light onto the magnetic mounts on the front seat headrests, allowing the rear passengers to attach their phones, or the elastic straps for extra storage pockets. It’s not a guarantee that the production models will look just like this, but fingers crossed it will!
