New Renault Twingo confirmed for UK at £17,000 or less
We've already had the reinvention of the Renault 5, a reborn Renault 4 is on the way, a reboot of the Renault 4 van is being evaluated and now Renault has confirmed that another retro revival is on its way to the UK in the shape of the new Renault Twingo.
The original Twingo was designed an affordable city car and launched in 1992, the name being a combination of dance styles twist, swing and tango. It wasn't until the second generation arrived in 2007 that the Twingo came to the UK, but by then it had lost some its charm and had grown in size. The third generation was something different again, being rear-engined and rear-wheel drive, sharing its platform and layout with the Smart ForTwo and ForFour.
The new Twingo was previewed by the Twingo E-Tech electric prototype show car shown at last year's Paris Motor Show with the production car expected to look very similar.
As with the latest Renault 5 and Renault 4 models, the new Twingo's design harks back to the original, with round shapes and lines including a new LED take on the first Twingo's semi-circular headlights. The rear lights follow a similar theme, with the new Twingo getting an update to the original's iconic upright rear window.
However, with the market moving away from small three-door cars, the new Twingo will be a five door, although the design of the rear doors makes them difficult to spot in the side profile. What you can see is another nod to the original with a circular recess for the front door handles, while the three plastic strakes on the bonnet pay homage to the air intakes on the old car.
The inside is similarly retro with the dash in a cylindrical shape with a digital driver display embedded in it and an infotainment touchscreen sitting prouder.
Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive has been in the UK visiting dealers and talking about the new Twingo at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit.
"I'm pleased to confirm Renault Twingo will launch in the UK,' said Cambolive. 'I put all my attention on the challenge to launch Twingo in right-hand drive, because I believe a car under €20,000 (£16.800) equivalent has huge potential in the UK as well as Europe, both for opening up the segment because of its design, technology and dynamics as with R5 and R4, but also because it brings a new level of versatility for the class that I believe customers will respond to. Accessibility to EVs is critical for the future, and Twingo offers something new for Renault, and for all car buyers."
Nissan will for the new Micra. That could mean batteries of 40 & 52kWh with ranges of between 200 and 250 miles.
Cambolive didn't mention when the new Twingo would go on sale, but we'd hope right-hand drive production would follow left-hand drive production pretty quickly sometime in 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
All the shops closing this weekend including iconic department store shutting after 124 years
A HOST of stores are shutting for good this weekend including a historic department store. Retailers have struggled over recent years as shoppers' wallets and purses take a hit from high inflation. 1 An increase in employer National Insurance contributions and wage costs since April has added to the pressure. Combined with soaring business rates, energy and rental costs, some retailers have been forced to hike prices and even shut stores. It's worth bearing in mind of course that retailers close shops for a host of reasons and not always because of a poor economic backdrop. Sometimes chains will shut a poorly-performing branch in one area and open another further afield where they think they'll see better footfall. Plenty of retailers are moving away from high streets and towards out-of-town retail parks too. In any case, five shops will shut this weekend including a more than 120-year-old department store. Here is the full list of shops we know are closing down permanently. Ginger Norwich-based Ginger will pull down its shutters for the final time on Saturday. The shop was founded by David and Rodger Kingsley in 1978 following the success of their sister company Jonathan Trumbull in 1971. But current store manager Beckie Kingsley said the store will close due to the economic climate and aftermath of Covid-19. Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down She said: "It's with truly heavy hearts that, after 46 unforgettable years, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors at our beautiful, beloved and historic Timber Hill home. "We've weathered many storms over the decades, but there's been ongoing challenges of today's financial climate - coupled with the lasting impact and huge shifts within the retail landscape since Covid. "This led us to ask - does it still work for us? After deep reflection, the answer, sadly, is no." Daniel of Ealing Historic department store Daniel of Ealing, in London, will shut for good on Sunday, after opening 124 years ago. Prices have been slashed across homeware, fashion, toys, sportswear and shoes, with up to 50% off. Shoppers finding out the iconic shop will close have shared their dismay online. One posted saying: "Loved this shop and it's top floor restaurant." While another added: "Ealing has lost its heart, soul and uniqueness!" The Works Stationer The Works is shutting its Margate store on Sunday, with shoppers' next nearest branches in Westwood Cross Shopping Centre or Ramsgate Garden Centre. A spokesperson for the chain said the decision to shut the branch had been made "as part of ongoing plans to optimise our store portfolio". The move has been met with sadness by shoppers, with one online stating: "No I love The Works." Another dejectedly added: "Be nothing left in the town soon." Emporium Worthing Independent bar and shop Emporium Worthing is closing to the public on Sunday "with a heavy heart". The owners posted a lengthy statement on Facebook announcing the closure. It said: "We share the challenging decision to close Emporium Worthing after five memorable years of serving you. "This has been a tough choice for us, but after careful reflection, we believe it is the best path forward and the right choice for us at this time." A huge closing down sale has been launched to clear stock, even including fixtures and fittings from inside. It's not all bad news though as the Emporium will be moving online and selling hardwares. New Look New Look is closing its branch in the Northfield Shopping Centre, Birmingham, on June 8. A picture recently posted on Facebook of the shop window advertised the closure and signposted customers to the retailer's website. Customers finding out about the closure have been left gutted. One posted on Facebook: "Will soon be a ghost town, absolutely nothing left." A New Look spokesperson said: "We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years. "We hope customers continue to shop with us online at where our full product ranges can be found." RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs would cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research published by the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year shows that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. Separately, the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Shoppers are running to B&M to buy 1960s retro lamp that's 50p instead of £20
SHOPPERS are running to B&M to buy a retro 1960s lamp scanning for 50p instead of £20. Eagle-eyed customers could not believe their luck when they found a black lava lamp scanning for just a few pence in the bargain store. 1 The funky lamp comes with a special coloured wax mixture inside that moves around, creating a mesmerising effect. B&M's take on the retro light also comes with a bluetooth speaker, which lets shoppers play music through their smart device. The deal was shared on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains Facebook group, with many savvy shoppers praising the find. One customer said they "wanted two," while another said their local store never has deals this good. The lamp appeared to be scanning for £20 on shelves, but found the £19.50 reduction by using the B&M Scanner App. The tool allows customers to discover discounted items before the staff have even reduced them. Often, products will be marked down in the system, but the staff haven't had the chance to change display prices. It is free to download on the app store on to your mobile device. One shopper recently bagged you can bagged £20 furniture at B&M for just £1 by using the device. Another customers saved over £225 thanks to the B&M scanner app. B&M shopper rushes to buy energy-saving gadget scanning for £1 instead of £35 If you are keen to shop the lava lamp, you will need to head to one of B&M's 770 stores across the UK because the retailer does not offer home delivery. With that in mind it may be worth ringing up your local branch ahead of time to avoid disappointment. You can find your nearest B&M by visiting And that is not the bargain spotted at stores in recent weeks. Parents have been rushing to B&M to take advantage of its £1 toy sale. Savvy shoppers have managed to pick up everything from Sports Racer cars, Monster High bags, a toddler DJ set and a DIY jewellery kit in stores. HOW TO SAVE AT B&M The best time to get cut-price products is 10am on a Wednesday, according to one ex B&M manager. This is when staff slash items to as little as 10p to clear excess stock and make way for new products. Deals expert Tom Church said to keep an eye out for red sticker products as well. These are added to special buy products that have been reduced in price. It's worth signing up to Facebook pages dedicated to hunting for bargains from B&M and other discounters too. Two worth joining are B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More, and Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Britain backs routine, mandatory eye tests for drivers - as one in four road users have not checked their vision in the past two years
The public has backed mandatory eye tests for drivers amid alarm over crashes caused by poor sight. Nearly one in four drivers (24 per cent) have not had an eye test in the past two years, a new survey suggests. The poll, commissioned by insurer Churchill, comes amid growing concern over the lack of checks on drivers once they pass their test. Drivers in the UK must read a number plate 20 metres away as part of their driving test, but that is the only time they are required to prove their sight is good enough to drive. The NHS recommends people have their eyes tested every two years. Motorists are required to self-declare if they have a medical condition that could affect their ability to drive. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander received a prevention of future deaths report from HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley in April, which related to the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight. The motorists had ignored the advice of opticians that their sight had deteriorated to a level where they should no longer drive. The Churchill survey suggested that 83 per cent of UK adults would support compulsory eye tests for drivers every decade. The figure rises to 88 per cent for those who would be in favour of sight exams every three years once drivers reach 70 years old. Some 12 per cent of drivers surveyed admitted they either thought their sight was not road legal, or were not sure it was. Department of Transport (DfT) figures show 240 people were injured and seven were killed in crashes on Britain's roads in 2023 in which defective eyesight was a factor. That was the most casualties since 2017, when the total was 262. Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: 'It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test. 'What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn't good enough - or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses. 'Our research suggests that there's overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers.' Ms Alexander recently told the Commons Transport Select Committee she is 'open to considering' requiring older motorists to pass eye tests to keep their driving licence. This could be part of the Government's upcoming road safety strategy. A DfT spokesman said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way. 'The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. 'We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this.' The survey was conducted by research company Opinium between May 20-23 among 2,000 UK adults, of whom 1,312 were drivers.
