Renault has launched the new Twingo city-car

Fourteen years after its original launch on the continent, UK drivers can get their hands on a right-hand-drive Twingo for the first time.
Renault has already sold more than 2.4 million Twingos worldwide since its launch in 1993, and travellers to France and beyond will already be familiar with the original's quirky styling. Now looking a little more sophisticated, the new Twingo is the first vehicle to have a make-over in an extensive range renewal programme under the Renault Commitment 2009 plan.
The good news is that the Twingo still offers low emissions and adds to the increasing number of small urban run-arounds available in the UK. Although not the greenest in the class, the base Twingo does make the 'top 10' petrol and has a WhatGreenCar? rating of 37 (best in class 30).

The new UK Twingo is available in two engines sizes and trim levels; the Dynamique 1.2 16V 75 petrol engine, and the GT with the 1.2 TCE 100 petrol engine (also used for some cars in the Clio and Modus range). With CO2 emissions of 135 g/km and a combined fuel economy of 49.5 mpg, the Dynamique is the greenest of the two (WGC? rating 37), with the GT coming in a close second (CO2 140 g/km, 47.8 mpg, WGC? rating 38).

As well as having a reasonably good driving performance for cars with CO2 emission of 135-140 g/km (the GT provides 145 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm), both Twingos carry most of the now standard safety features including ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and driver and front passenger lateral airbags. Those looking to keep insurance costs down will also be pleased with the Dynamique’s insurance rating of 3E (GT rating is 5E).

In parallel with the current green marketing initiatives of most of the major car manufacturers, Renault recently launched its 'eco2' initiative that aims to reduce the lifecycle impacts of its vehicles from cradle-to-grave. To be an eco2 vehicle, models must meet three global environmental standards: be produced in an ISO-14001-certified plant, have tailpipe CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less (or are biofuel-compatible) and, in addition to being 95% reusable at the end of their life, at least 5% of the plastics they contain have been recycled. Both versions of the new Twingo meet Renault’s eco2 criteria.