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New Renault Twingo goes fully electric for £17,000

Currently in concept form, the new Renault Twingo will put a modern, electric twist on the ’90s original...

Renault Twingo concept front three quarters static

On sale 2026 | Price from £17,000

What do the films Blade Runner 2049, Mary Poppins Returns and Top Gun Maverick have in common? Well, they’re all legacy sequels: a film that succeeds another by many years, often building (and cashing in) on the original’s popularity and nostalgia. Now, the Renault Twingo may have never been a major motion picture – rather a small car that first launched back in 1993 – but it’s getting its own kind of legacy sequel in 2026. 

The new Twingo will take its styling inspiration from the very first Twingo – as opposed to the second or third-generation Twingo models. Although shown here in concept form, Renault says the final production version will look 90% alike and plenty of nods to the original Twingo (like the bubbly shape of the body and semi-circular nature of the LED lights) will carry over. 

Renault Twingo concept rear driving

If the above sounds familiar, it’s because the Renault 5 has recently received similar treatment. That small car has returned, and a new Renault 4 is on the way — both throughly modern electric cars with retro looks and appeal.

You’ll find the new Twingo is destined to be an electric car, too, and the pair will share mechanical underpinnings. That said, the Twingo will be a shorter, smaller model than the 5, aimed squarely at urban motorists. You’ll get a choice of two battery options and, while their capacities are yet to be confirmed, we do know they’ll be smaller than the 40kWh and 52kWh batteries offered with the 5. 

Inside, the Twingo gets a 7.0in digital instrument cluster and a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen. Chunky physical buttons control the air conditioning and hazard warning lights, calling back to the original styling of the first-generation Twingo. More retro touches can be seen on the colourful door panels and dashboard, which match the exterior paint.

Renault Twingo concept interior dashboard

There'll be space for five inside, rather than the maximum of four which the old Twingo could carry. The sliding rear bench folds into two 50/50 sections, which allows you to prioritise legroom or boot space depending on your needs.

Staying true to its urban design, the Twingo combines both retro and modern styling, including skateboard-inspired wheels to adjust the front seatbacks and magnetic phone slots in the back of the front headrests.

There are also a number of interior storage spaces, with cubbies underneath the dashboard and front seats for small bags, and a flat shelf stretching the width of the car for books and phones. 

Renault Twingo concept side static

With all of the above said, you might be thinking the new Twingo will be a similar proposition to the Dacia Spring, because that’s a small, sub-£15k electric car from a brand which is owned by Renault. Well, yes and no: while they may suit similar buyers, the Twingo will be positioned above the Spring in many ways.

For instance, its battery options will both be larger than the Spring's 26.8kWh battery, meaning the new Twingo will travel further than the Spring on a single charge – that car only has 140 miles of official range. The Twingo's funky, retro city car design will also come as a stark contrast to the boxy, SUV-like Spring. 

On the topic of price, Renault aim to achieve an entry-level figure of less than €20,000, so we'd expect the new Twingo to start at around £17,000 when it hits UK cinemas, so to speak, in 2026. At that price point, the Twingo would undercut many potential rivals, including the Fiat 500 Electric and Vauxhall Corsa Electric.


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