Renault South Africa launched the Twingo here in October 2008. Twingo is the smallest on the Renault lineup and features a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 56kW and 107Nm of torque. The French company didn’t mince its words in confirming that the more powerful Twingo RS would be made available this year and sure enough it’s here.
The RS is a small pocket rocket with much more verve than its normal sibling. A 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine is fitted into the car and Renault promises that it’s quite zippy. Maximum power is 98kW at 6750rpm while maximum torque of 160Nm comes in at 4400rpm.
Driving the front wheels is a 5-speed manual gearbox that Renault says will help take the car from 0 – 100km/h in 8.7 seconds. The top speed is 201km/h. Quoted average fuel consumption is 7 litres per 100km and C02 emissions are 165g/km.
Renault fitted plenty of kit to distinguish the RS from the normal Twingo. Included in that are 16-inch wheels, new bumpers, wide front and rear fenders, new sills as well as a new rear spoiler.
The interior has Renault Sport-detailed seats, orange seat belts, a leather sports steering wheel, aluminium sports pedals and an RS rev counter. More optional equipment can be bought by those looking for further individualisation of their Twingo RS.
The chassis and suspension system have been stiffened to help handling but still set for comfort. Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) provides a safety net if things should get out of hand.
Obviously the Twingo is not exactly an Espace or Scenic as far as space is concerned: two seats up front and two and the rear. Boot space is quite limited but then again the target market for this car is young and single. Space is not such a concern for them.
Standard pricing for the Renault Twingo RS is R195 000 which undercuts the similarly-powered Toyota Yaris TS. In addition Renault will throw in a free advanced driving course with the car through its new Renault Driver Academy. Finally a 3-year/45 000km service plan is thrown into the mix.
