The Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric: A modern take on the iconic city car.

Renault has launched the new Twingo E-Tech Electric, a revived model first introduced in 1992 which has sold over 4.1 million units in 25 countries. The new version aims to reinvigorate the shrinking A-segment by offering an affordable, fully electric city car priced under €20,000.

Built on the same AmpR Small platform as the Renault 5 and 4, the Twingo E-Tech Electric boasts a distinctive body measuring 3.79 metres in length - 30 centimetres longer than the original. It retains the original's flexible interior layout, including sliding rear seats and a folding front passenger seat. This allows the boot capacity to vary from 260 to 1,000 litres.

The front wheels are driven by a 60 kW (82 hp) electric motor, which is paired with a 27.5 kWh LFP battery. Although the WLTP range is rated at 263 kilometres, real-world consumption of around 15 kWh/100 kilometres suggests that the motorway range will be lower. The battery uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry, reducing reliance on critical metals and lowering costs.

The Twingo is assembled at Renault's Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia. Development was accelerated through collaboration between French engineering teams and a Chinese R&D centre. This resulted in a development time of just 100 weeks - half the usual duration for an electric model.

Inside, higher trims of the Twingo offer the OpenR Link multimedia system with built-in Google and a one-pedal driving function via steering wheel paddles. Although it takes over 12 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h, the car feels responsive in urban environments, where its light weight and precise steering are advantageous.

With a starting price below €20,000 in some markets, the Twingo E-Tech Electric offers one of the most affordable ways to experience electric mobility in Europe. However, its limited range and modest power output make it best suited to city driving.