The Renault Twingo is so cheap because it is not a car

Renault has published the first images of a new Twingo. Although little is known about the model, we can already formulate an expectation based on the information available: the Twingo is not a car at all.

The new Twingo will be fully electric and, according to the brand, is extremely efficient and very affordable. Renault even quotes a price that seems almost too good to be true. Does that mean it’s not a real car?

The new Renault Twingo

According to Renault, the new Twingo will be sold in Europe for less than 20,000 euros (before subsidies). The rental price will be less than 100 euros per month. For comparison: the Dacia Spring from the Renault Group costs at least 21,750 euros. Leasing is possible from 238 euros per month.

Laurens van den Acker, chief designer at Renault, said at the IAA in Munich when presenting the Renault Scénic that cars like the Renault Kwid could be offered cheaply in India, for example, due to the lack of safety systems.

Safety systems make new cars very expensive, but there is an exception to the rule: L7e. Last month, Autovisie conducted a comprehensive test of eight superminis, including cars like the Microlino and the Silence S04. Both are fully electric cars that sell for less than 20,000 euros and reach a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour. You can take it with you on the highway.

No car

It therefore seems likely that the new Renault Twingo will also be an L7e vehicle and can be produced cheaply due to the lack of safety systems that are not mandatory in this class.

An L7e Renault Twingo would also explain the low leasing price. The vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax and therefore the monthly amount can be significantly reduced compared to a vehicle with a license plate. Renault already knows the category with the Twizy.

Renault claims that the new Twingo has a very low consumption of 10 kWh per 100 kilometers. A consumption comparable to that of the Silence S04 and the Microlino.

The low consumption indicates a light car. This would also be necessary for an L7e vehicle, as it can only weigh 450 kilograms without a battery. This seems feasible. For example, the Dacia Spring weighs 912 kilograms and the battery weighs 188 kilograms. That would mean that another 274 kilograms would have to be saved.

Given the safety features that the Renault Twingo L7e may lack, this point does not seem unattainable either. The word “car” is not mentioned in connection with the Renault Twingo. The press release says “city vehicle,” although that reference may be a bit far-fetched.

Renault has not yet released anything about the new Twingo

Renault itself states that it cannot yet confirm or deny Autovisie’s suspicions. Although this seems like a logical step, it is still speculation. If you would like to stay up to date with all the news about the Renault Twingo, subscribe to our free newsletter now.