New Renault Twingo will be rear-engined and rear-wheel drive!

"Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)" (thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 11:52 • Filed to: RENAULT, TWINGO, REAR-WHEEL DRIVE, WTF, OMG

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Wow! I nearly spat my lunch out when I saw this appear today, but Autocar are reporting that the new Renault Twingo will feature a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. If this happens it will really shake up the small car market and give a super-affordable rear wheel drive car option to many young people and driving enthusiasts in general. Here is Autocar's video that went up this morning, and a link to their website article.

Autocar Renault Twingo Article

We can only wait and see if this really happens, but if it does I'll be getting a test drive and writing an article on it sometime in the future so I can let all you guys across the pond find out what it's really like.

EDIT: Check these out!

Kookanoodles wrote a good piece on this and the Smart Roadster earlier today that's also well worth a read: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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Also, Zac Estrada wrote a much better piece than this quick thing I've done over on Jalopnik: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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Klaus Schmoll > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 11:54

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It IS happening. The new Twingo is sitting on the new smart platform.

Brian Silvestro > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 11:54

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You're going to tell us what it's like just to tease/torture us, aren't you?

Kookanoodles > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 11:56

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It'll really happen, Autocar are a bit late with this video. These pictures aren't a concept, it's the actual production car , and it's indeed rear-engined and RWD. Now we just have to wait for the Renault Sport version, that'll be a riot.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Brian Silvestro 03/02/2014 at 11:57

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Possibly. But I promise that if I do go ahead and tease you I will definitely punish myself by not buying the Twingo.

A Twingo with a 911 layout?! Whatever next?!

Brian Silvestro > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 11:57

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If it came to the states, it would revolutionize the segment.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Kookanoodles 03/02/2014 at 11:58

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Kookanoodles, I am so pleased you know more than me about this! I'm actually quite excited!

If the RenaultSport version gets 150bhp it's going to be simply llllllllovely stuff.

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 11:58

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Don't get your hopes up till we see a performance version. The regular one will more likely be very underpowered, slow and not have very good handling, like the Smart.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:01

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Now if only they'd bring it stateside.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Brian Silvestro 03/02/2014 at 12:03

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It certainly would. I just hope Renault do the right thing and make sure this thing has enough power so it has some sort of hoonability on the road. This could be a very important car if it's done right.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa 03/02/2014 at 12:04

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I don't think much performance will be needed. Anything above 100bhp will be quite suitable in such a small and light car. I imagine a car this small will weigh less than the grapefruit I had for lunch this morning.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 03/02/2014 at 12:05

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Start a petition going, and maybe they will! It's about time Renault invaded America with some cars anyway!

Michael Ballaban > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:06

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Hey, check it out .

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Sinanigans > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:08

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faaaaaaaaaaack we need this in the US

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Michael Ballaban 03/02/2014 at 12:09

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Awesome, Estrada's called it already. That's a good place for the petition to start! When it comes out in the UK I'll see if I can get my hands on one so I can give Oppo a test drive and close look!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Sinanigans 03/02/2014 at 12:11

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Check out Estrada's article on it he wrote earlier this month, he's done a much better piece on it than me. Ballaban has just posted a link in the comments!

bob and john > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:12

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mini porsche

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > bob and john 03/02/2014 at 12:14

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Exactly. It could be a teeny tiny mini little french 911. It's not bad looking for a tiny car either, this thing has massive potential.

bob and john > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:15

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i wonder, if with enough weight stripping, and some stickies in the back, if this thing would wheelie of the line.

Brian Silvestro > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:17

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Exactly. If all they do is put sub-(around) 125 hp engines, then meh. But they're most likely going to make a hot version.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Brian Silvestro 03/02/2014 at 12:18

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They surely will make a hot version. From what I understand the last hot Twingo had around 130bhp and it was a right laugh. This version would be fine with around that much I think Brian, as it's almost certainly going to be lighter. My guess is they'll go for a 3-cylinder set up first?

Brian Silvestro > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:20

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That would be great, it's going to be a hit!

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:21

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Renault along with Peugeot and Citroen used to sell cars over here but they went the way of Alfa and Fiat. With the Italians back, I only hope they make it back someday.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Michael Ballaban 03/02/2014 at 12:23

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Just edited this post with the links Michael as I feel like I've hijacked some other articles a bit with this. It wasn't intentional!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 03/02/2014 at 12:25

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It could only be a good thing for the automotive market in the US. I personally feel the US is going to need to sell more small cars as time goes by anyway, purely for green targets and stuff. This sort of thing would go down very well with the city crowds over there I'm sure. It would stand out amongst the cars of New York!

davedave1111 > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 03/02/2014 at 12:29

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If you're petitioning Euro manufacturers for a small hatch, how about the Panda? At least Fiat's already back in the US market, and it's great fun to drive.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > davedave1111 03/02/2014 at 12:50

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Damn right! Always loved the Panda.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 12:52

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They'd make pretty good city cars but I still think most people would want to stick to bigger cars outside of the city. The roads are hugely wide and gas is cheap.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager 03/02/2014 at 12:55

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That is true, when I visited South Carolina I was really suprised how big the roads are over there. It really is true when people say everything is bigger in the USA!

Shiftright > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 03/02/2014 at 22:01

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This is very very good news.