Renault Twingoing cheap

Remember the baked bean price war in the 90s, when the cost of a can fell to mere pennies? Well, we're hoping for a similar battle in the city car sphere.

Because when Fiat announced the pricing for its new 500 last year, we were pleasantly surprised that the entry-level model weighed in at just £7,900.

But now Renault has gone and undercut the Italians by pricing the new base-spec Twingo Extreme at £7,500 - which, it notes pointedly, is a full £400 cheaper than the Cinq.

For your cash, you get a 1.2-litre, 60bhp petrol engine and more kit than you might expect: remote central locking, electric windows and fog lights. We were rather hoping for window winders and a four-speed 'box.

If you want to completely nullify the Twingo's cracking value, Renault will provide you with a bunch of 'personalisation exterior decals' - or stickers, as the rest of us call them - to chav up your city car. Union Jack door handles, St George wing badges... they're all there. Just say no, kids.

We eagerly await an even-more-base spec 500 from Fiat, priced at a competitive 99p.

© Source: topgear
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First Drive 2008 Renault Twingo

Beloved in France, the Renault Twingo that arrived in 1993 was undoubtedly one revolutionary little car. Small, but with a roomy (for its size) interior, the Twingo’s big round headlights and squat stance earned it the nickname of la grenouille (“the frog”). Roughly 2.4 million copies were sold during its life span, but after 14 years on the market and a couple of mild face lifts—plus countless special editions—the original frog had finally croaked its last. The new, more refined and mature Twingo arrived in France this past summer and officially bid adieu to the wide-eyed headlights and egg-shaped body of the original.

Unlike its equally new big brother, the Laguna, the tiny Twingo manages a smidgen of cuteness. Its tall greenhouse, very short front and rear overhangs, and upright silhouette have a jaunty charm. Far from being as adorable as the new Fiat 500, the Twingo is at least as visually appealing as the similarly sized Toyota Aygo or Volkswagen Fox. The Twingo’s 141.7-inch length (about four inches shorter than a Mini Cooper) makes it perfect for squeezing into tight parking spots and zipping through traffic.

Our Renault Twingo was in Initiale trim, which is a bizarre mix of luxury (leather seats and a large sunroof) and austerity (hard interior plastics, so-so stereo, and no tach). Thankfully, the Twingo manages to ride like a car one or two sizes larger, and the variable-assist power steering provide surprising amounts of feedback. The car’s simple strut-front suspension and torsion-beam rear axle provide a comfortable ride and soak up bumps well, in spite of the short, 93.1-inch wheelbase. However, even with a beefy, one-inch front anti-roll bar, the Twingo never gets close to what we’d call a sporty feel.

© Source: caranddriver
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