Latest news with #Twingo
Auto Car
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
How Western car makers can hit 'China speed'
Renault believes it has already cracked China Speed – the new Twingo will take just 21 months to develop Close A senior member in the development team of a Chinese car maker told Autocar the story - on condition of anonymity - of when a storied German engineering consultancy visited earlier this year to offer their services. 'They told me we can cut vehicle development times from five years to three years and I said 'we can't work to those speeds''. He paused for effect. ''That electric car we picked you up in, we developed that in 18 months'.'
The Star
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Renault leverages Shanghai development centre for cars aimed at markets outside Europe
French carmaker Renault Group is using its Chinese development centre to design new models aimed at markets beyond Europe, a senior executive said, as the company seeks to cut production costs and accelerate development by applying insights from the mainland market. The company launched its Advanced China Development Centre (ACDC) in Shanghai last year, which employs around 200 people who are focused on developing electric vehicles (EVs) for the European market. 'ACDC is growing into a very important engineering centre, and we want it to work for the globe,' said Vincent Piquet, chief financial officer at Renault Group's EV division Ampere, in an interview last week. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Piquet said the Shanghai operation was working on developing battery-powered models for Ampere and Renault to sell to markets outside Europe. Renault operates in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, with a primary focus on Europe. Brazil and South Korea are also major markets for the company. His comments came as the rise of Chinese EVs in Europe has forced the bloc's carmakers to re-evaluate their strategies for survival. With support from the Shanghai operation, Renault developed a more affordable version of the electric Twingo car in just 21 months, significantly shorter than the previous three- to four-year cycle. Priced at less than €20,000 (US$22,646), the model is set for release in 2026 in Europe. The Shanghai centre also allowed for the rapid production of a new EV for Renault's budget brand, Dacia, in just 16 months, the fastest development of a model in the group's history. The company expects its cheaper EVs to compete with BYD's Seagull and Nio's Firefly in the European market. 'Competition from China entering Europe forced us to rethink how we organise EV and software elements at Renault,' Piquet said. 'We concluded that we need a dedicated team focused solely on EV software to compete with emerging players from China by learning from China. 'We're not selling [these] cars in China, but we're leveraging the expertise and the Chinese ecosystem to be more competitive in Europe.' With its Shanghai centre, Renault is seeking to cut costs for its next-generation EVs by 40 per cent by 2028. The company also planned to double its EV sales volume this year and double it again next year from less than 100,000 units last year, while further expanding the company's EV line-up to accelerate growth in the European market, he said. The French carmaker said it was also in talks with several of its Chinese parts suppliers to help them set up in Europe. In 2022, Renault partnered with Minth Group, a Chinese automotive supplier, to establish a joint venture for producing battery casings in France; it began production in 2023. 'The barriers to entry and logistics costs make production in Europe more efficient, and we welcome the globalisation of the supply ecosystem, where Chinese companies play a key role,' Piquet said. Having more global suppliers in Europe could increase competition among them and allow carmakers to reduce EV production costs, he said. As Chinese EV brands gain traction in the global market with lower production costs, advanced batteries and intelligent features like smart cockpits, Western car giants are looking more at China's advancements in EV technologies. In 2022, German auto giant Mercedes-Benz established a research centre in Shanghai focused on connectivity, autonomous driving and big data. China is also home to BMW's largest research and development network outside Germany. China accounted for more than 60 per cent of the more than 17 million EVs sold globally last year – including pure EVs and plug-in hybrids – according to data provider Rho Motion. But Chinese EV manufacturers held single-digit market shares in most European markets, where carmakers like Volkswagen and Audi continued to dominate. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
These Are The Best Looking Commuter Cars From The 1990s
Most of the time, when car enthusiasts talk about beautiful cars, their minds immediately go to sports cars, luxury cars, and even supercars. If you're anything like me, you've probably told yourself that it sounds silly to label commuter cars and economy cars as beautiful, or even good-looking, for that matter. While I still can't bring myself to do that even today, I can say with certainty that we've seen some fantastic-looking economy cars and commuter cars over the past few decades. The '90s were just one of many highlights. You've either seen the original Renault Twingo as a meme on the internet, or maybe you grew up in Europe and saw them around town. Launched in the early 90s as Renault's entry-level small car, the Twingo became an instant hit due to its fantastic, characterful design. The bubbly headlights, the tiny dimensions, that instantly recognizable cabin air vent on the hood, the short overhangs, one wheel at each corner, it was all there. The Twingo was a pioneer in the world of cutesy automotive styling, and it's such an icon that Renault is getting ready to bring it back as an EV. Mercedes-Benz had quite the idea to shake up the small car market back in the '90s. As Autoevolution tells us, it struck a deal with Swiss watchmaker Swatch to create one of the most revolutionary cars the world has ever seen. The Smart Fortwo, originally the Smart City Coupe, launched in 1998 and became pretty popular in Europe. An absolute masterclass of design, the original Fortwo was super distinctive and just looked fun. The impossibly short length, the tall proportions, the wheels at each corner, the bubbly headlights in the facelift version — it was unlike anything the world had ever seen before. After a 40-year production run, Ford finally replaced the compact Escort with the original Focus in the late 1990s, at least in most of the world. It set the hatchback world on fire, quickly becoming a bestseller in the UK and all over Europe. A brand-new model meant totally new styling. The Mk1 Focus was one of the first Fords in Europe to debut the Blue Oval's New Edge design language, and it definitely worked with the shape of the Focus. The design was also highly functional, including very high-mounted taillights to ensure maximum visibility. To sweeten the deal, the Mk1 Focus was also great to drive. Even Jeremy Clarkson loved it! Also called the Bora in Europe, the Mk4 Jetta was a huge hit in North America. This was one of the last VWs to carry the 1.9 TDI turbodiesel in North America, which everyone knows now as a reliability powerhouse. The styling was mostly Mk4 Golf, with a trunk on the back instead of a hatch, and a mildly restyled front end. For as simple as it was, it totally worked. Even in stock form, the Mk4 Jetta was subtly good-looking, made only better by the addition of exterior mods. Finally, something that should be very familiar to Americans and Canadians: The EM was the chassis code for the sixth-generation Honda Civic coupe, which was sold alongside the four-door sedan and the three-door hatch throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Some readers likely have fond memories of driving the EM1 Civic Si in Need for Speed Underground 2. It's a popular car for crazy exterior mods, but if we set those aside for a moment, the Civic coupe is a bit of a style icon. Sure, it's still a Honda Civic, but it's clean, simple, and effective. One of the most infamous cars to come out of the 90s, the third-generation Ford Taurus is well-known in the car community for its unusual and, according to most people, badly executed rounded design. While the sedan mostly deserves the criticism, the wagon is a different story. For some reason, when you add a longroof body to the otherwise bizarro third-gen Taurus, it really works. Japan loves these things, which is why you often see them with some pretty heavy exterior mods over there. The third-generation Taurus wagon is rare, but it's worth a second look if you do see one. There's one in Japan with three-spoke wheels, and it looks absolutely glorious. Before we got the revived Dodge Charger, the Intrepid took care of sedan duties in the Dodge lineup. As Car and Driver tells us, it rode on the same LH platform as the more luxurious Chrysler LHS, but it was a cheaper and less luxurious alternative. The second-generation Intrepid was pretty ordinary and nothing to write home about, but the first generation was really rather cool. Nowadays, you might see a similarly styled car on a cyberpunk-themed poster, or maybe on Pinterest. That's not a bad thing at all, as anything cyberpunk is cool. One of the longest-lasting cars in American automotive history, the Ford Thunderbird went through eleven generations before being discontinued in the mid-2000s. The retro-styled final Thunderbird wasn't particularly well received, so it's time we gave the tenth generation some love. While the Turbo Coupe did not come back for this generation, as reported by The Truth About Cars, the Super Coupe used a supercharged V6, and you could even get it with the Modular V8 from the Mustang. The tenth-generation Thunderbird was a very simple design, but it had a lot of presence, and the proportions were just right. It may not be that much of a commuter car, but it certainly is in comparison to a supercar or sports car. The 1990s were the last hurrah of the old-school American full-size sedan, notably GM's B-body sedans. The B-body platform has quite the story, as told by Curbside Classic. Along with the Chevy Caprice, Americans said their last goodbye to the Buick Roadmaster. The nameplate briefly returned to the Buick lineup in the early '90s, and this would be the last car to wear the badge. You could get the Roadmaster as a classic sedan, sure, but that's no fun. You could also get it as a wagon, and isn't this just one of the coolest wagons you've ever seen? Clean lines, insane length, and, of course, the fake wood panels. You could carry an absurd amount of stuff, and while it was nothing special back in the day, it has aged exceptionally well. Before Suzuki withdrew from the US and Canada altogether, it was really trying to make it big. The Vitara was an obvious choice to bring over, but it was initially sold under GM's Geo brand as the Geo Tracker. As CarExpert tells us, this is one of the many GM brands that were sent to the chopping block. Eventually, the US and Canada came to know it as the Suzuki Sidekick. It may not be a Jimny, but the Suzuki Sidekick is a brilliant piece of design, regardless. It screams, "Look, I'm an off-roader, too!" The chunky tires, the big fender flares, the boxy design, the spare tire on the back — it's all there. Suzuki did an excellent job with the design, which is why the Sidekick remains a pretty popular small off-roader even today.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
New Twingo e-Tech details revealed - and the EV will cost £17,000
Drivers after a cheaper EV with a pinch of nostalgia will soon be able to snap up an electrified version of the Renault Twingo. Renault boss Fabrice Cambolive says the Twingo e-Tech will be sold in Britain and the retro-inspired sub £17,000 supermini EV has 'huge potential' here, he believes. Like the new electric R4 and R5, the Twingo will be another 20th century inspired EV - this time bringing back the feel of the original 90s car in an updated electric form. The R4 and R5 e-Tech have both been hailed for being brilliant and budget, starting at £22,995 and £27,000 respectively, but the Twingo will top both price tags as it is set to cost £16,800 (€20,000). 'Accessibility to EVs is critical for the future, and Twingo offers something new for Renault, and for all car buyers,' Cambolive said. The news has yet to be given a definitive timeline but the Twingo's arrival was originally touted for 2026. Here's everything we know... Why is the Twingo coming? Cambolive said at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit on 14 May: 'I put all my attention on the challenge to launch Twingo in right-hand drive, because I believe a car under 20,000 euro equivalent has huge potential in the UK as well as Europe, both for opening up the segment because of its design, technology and dynamics as with R5 and R4, but also because it brings a new level of versatility for the class that I believe customers will respond to.' Confirmation of the Twingo puts Renault in a select class of sub-£20,000 EVs that are proving electric cars can be as cheap as combustion. Currently only the £14,995 Dacia Spring – the cheapest new EV in the UK - and the £15,995 Leap Motor T03 come in under £20,000. The new Fiat Panda EV starts just above at £20,995, as does the £22,715 Hyundai Inster and Renault's £22,995 R5. However, VW is bringing its £17k ID.1 to the UK in 2027, while Dacia has announced another sub-£15k EV will arrive soon and China's BYD has said its Dolphin Surf EV will go on sale later this year. At the Parisian concept launch in 2023 Renault Group chief executive Luca de Meo promised the next-generation Twingo will 'be a game changer once again like it was 30 years ago' and promises it to be a 'fit for purpose urban vehicle, state-of-the-art EV with no compromise'. He also said that a newly-formed spin-off design team has been tasked with fast-tracking the concept car's development into a full-production car in just two years. This is to match the progression of Chinese rivals he noted. He also promised that the Twingo will also be around 20 per cent smaller than superminis that currently sit in the smallest passenger car segment. The race to dominate the true budget end of the market and to make the chicest and cheapest supermini is on - and the Twingo very much puts Renault in contention for the crown. A nod to the 90s Twingo – how the Twingo EV will take inspiration At the moment all we've got to go on for what the Twingo will look like or what features it will have is the concept car which is loosely based on the first Mk1 Twingo. Launched in 1992, the Twingo got its name from a mix of the dance styles twist, swing and tango. Comparing the concept with the Mk1, it's clear to see that the semi-circular headlights have been carried over – although this time in LED-strip form – as have the rear lights and an updated version of the iconic upright rear window. The three air scoops on the bonnet lid are also nostalgic touches. While these were originally used to cool the 1.0-1.2-litre engines of the original Twingo, in the concept they show the remaining battery level instead. During the original concept unveil bosses said it should be available on finance for less than €100 per month (approximately £87), making it an affordable option The 1992 Mk1 Twingo was known to Europeans as a Tardis-like car because it was so spacious inside for such small exterior dimensions The EV Twingo will be the fourth-generation of the supermini city car and will captilise on Renault's current design success There are also circular recesses for the front door handles in a nod to the original, although the Twingo EV will be a five-door car unlike the three-door 90s version. The original car was famed by French owners for its Tardis-like packaging, with a surprisingly spacious interior for compact, city-car dimensions. Hopefully the electric Twingo follows suit. The interior has a similarly retro feel with a cylindrical-shaped dash, just with a modern digital driver display and landscape infotainment touchscreen. Since the Renault Twingo went on sale in April 1993, Renault has sold over 2.4 million Twingos worldwide. The first-generation Twingo alone saw production of 2.6 million units Original sales success of the Twingo The 1992 Mk1 Twingo was sold in Europe, but British drivers had to wait for the arrival of the second-generation in 2006 to get their hands on a right-hand drive version. The Mk3 version also came to the UK in 2014 with the unique selling point of having its engine at the rear under the boot floor. It wasn't a sales success though, with 2018 seeing just 877 examples sold to customers in Britain. Bosses axed it from UK showrooms a year later. However, if the fanfare surrounding the new R4 and R5 EVs is anything to go on the new Twingo EV will be shoo-in sales success.
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Iconic 1990s hatchback has comeback CONFIRMED for the UK with bargain start price
It follows the release of two other throwback hatchbacks BRING IT BACK Iconic 1990s hatchback has comeback CONFIRMED for the UK with bargain start price Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR car brand has confirmed that its new electric car will arrive in the UK shortly after its launch next year. British motorists will be able to buy the new Renault Twingo electric car in right-hand drive form after its initial launch, Renault boss Fabrice Cambolive has announced. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 The Renault Twingo electric car is set to launch in the UK sometime in 2026 Credit: RENAULT 6 Its seats are colour-matched to the exterior paintwork Credit: RENAULT 6 It features a modern interior while maintaining the charm of early models Credit: RENAULT The car is due to launch in mainland Europe next year but there were doubts about its viability in the UK because of the cost of converting it to a right-hand drive. It is now in its fourth generation, with an affordable starting price tag of under €20,000 (£16,700). Autocar reported yesterday that Cambolive would be retailing the model in the UK following the success of the Renault 5 and 4. Cambolive said: "The UK is very important in terms of product recognition, because your legacy in terms of cars is very important. 'I've followed closely the reaction to the R5 and R4 [in the UK], and with Twingo the exercise will be even more interesting because it's not only sportiness, agility, design and practicality but we can play on versatility. 'The Twingo can be one of the solutions of mobility for the UK tomorrow. "You couldn't have the genuine Twingo in 1992, because right-hand drive didn't arrive until a generation after, but I will put all my pressure and my attention to get the Twingo for the UK as soon as possible [after it is launched in mainland Europe].' The success of Renault's other cars in the UK has reassured Cambolive that the costly risk of producing the right-hand drive model of the Twingo will be worthwhile. The interior draws on its original 1992 design, while modernising with a 7.0in digital instrument cluster and a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen. Its seats mirror the exterior paint, again referencing early models of the car which featured bold upholstery options. Nostalgia underpins the cars design, even in the small details, like the front seatbacks being adjusted using skateboard wheels. Its interior is designed solely "to make life easier" with features that prioritise storage capacity and utility. This includes bag storage cubbies under the dashboard, in addition to a full-width shelf to increase storage efficiency. 6 With a starting price of €20,000, its an affordable option for motorists Credit: RENAULT 6 The interior prioritises storage capacity and utility Credit: RENAULT 6 Previous generations of the car were not available in the UK Credit: RENAULT Previous generations of the car, like its first 1990 model, were only available in Europe. Similarly, the Twingo ZE, was never sold in the UK and went out of production in 2024.
