Paris Auto Show: Renault Twingo Concept

The Twingo is the smallest car Renault makes, and after several days spent driving around France, I feel confident in calling it the frumpiest of the French cars. But it's certainly economical in a country where fueling up a normal-size compact car (say, a Ford Focus rental car) costs 50-60 bucks a pop. Help could be on the way in the next redesign, though, because this concept car looks much sharper and more youthful than the current production Twingo. And with a turbocharged, 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine good for 100 hp, this Twingo would likely scoot around nicely for a car in the featherweight class...

Inside, of course, all the features that 20somethings supposedly want are in attendance -- in addition to a USB port, specific-branded ports for iPods and Nokia phones are included. And it goes without saying that there's internet access and an on-command interior light show.

Electronic gimmicks aside, this would definitely be a good styling direction for Renault to take with the Twingo. It would be also be a good direction for good buddy Nissan to take with its U.S.-bound subcompacts.

• Permalink | Comments (0)
•     
• Posted by: Erin Riches September 29, 2006, 4:50 PM
• Categories: Hatchbacks, Paris Auto Show, Renault