Photo: SB-Medien
The Twingo might be the cheapest and smallest model in the Renault range, but that doesn't mean it can't be exciting. Together with Daimler's in-house tuner Brabus, they are working on a hot hatch version of the pocket-sized car that could set your pants on fire as early as next year.
These latest spy photos of the new Twingo RS show a few new details we didn't have during the last sighting of the car. For example, the exhaust system appears to be ready for production with double tips that are likely to sit flush with a new diffuser insert for the rear bumper.
The Twingo has also sprouted a small trunk lid spoiler and appears to sit closer to the ground.
Looking at this prototype closely, we noticed that it still has drum brakes at the back, a big no-no if you plan on going to the track with this thing.
Because Renault doesn't want to drop an all-new engine into the Twingo, we might get a tuned version of the 0.9-liter 3-cylinder turbo. Currently, it offers only 90 PS and 135 Nm of torque, but Ford has proven a 3-cylinder could be tuned to 140 hp with its EcoBoost unit.
The basic car competes against a dozen other pocket-sized models with cute looks and in the top trim level can fetch over €16,000. Add some better suspension and engine components and the Twigo RS doesn't make that much sense when you consider how much performance you get from a 200 hp Clio RS, which costs just a little over €22,000.
Update: We've received new photos from another spy photographer we work. It's the same car on roughly the same stretch of Spanish road. Here's where the extra photos have been added to our not-so-little 2015 Twingo RS spyshots gallery.
The Twingo has also sprouted a small trunk lid spoiler and appears to sit closer to the ground.
It might be a Twingo GT, not an RS
Renault has been dropping hints that an RS version of the Twingo is not economically viable. Sales of the last model don't back up development of a full-on track tool with a different engine and chassis setup. That's why this hot Twingo could be a GT, like the mildly-hot Clio.Looking at this prototype closely, we noticed that it still has drum brakes at the back, a big no-no if you plan on going to the track with this thing.
Because Renault doesn't want to drop an all-new engine into the Twingo, we might get a tuned version of the 0.9-liter 3-cylinder turbo. Currently, it offers only 90 PS and 135 Nm of torque, but Ford has proven a 3-cylinder could be tuned to 140 hp with its EcoBoost unit.
Two sizes too small?
Lots of horsepower in a really small car sounds like fun, but it very rarely finds fans. Because of the short wheelbase and the inherent flaws built into the Twingo as a cheap car, it might not be the ideal car to go fast in.The basic car competes against a dozen other pocket-sized models with cute looks and in the top trim level can fetch over €16,000. Add some better suspension and engine components and the Twigo RS doesn't make that much sense when you consider how much performance you get from a 200 hp Clio RS, which costs just a little over €22,000.
Update: We've received new photos from another spy photographer we work. It's the same car on roughly the same stretch of Spanish road. Here's where the extra photos have been added to our not-so-little 2015 Twingo RS spyshots gallery.
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