Forbidden fruit: Renault prepping suped-up Twingo Gordini hatchback

By Andrew Hard Published July 30, 2014

The Renault Twingo hatchback has always been a good car, but it’s never been a particularly exciting one. Front-wheel drive, a small engine, and impressive fuel economy are great selling points for a city car, but they don’t exactly get a gearhead’s blood boiling.

So when Renault debuted the third-generation Twingo at the Geneva Motor Show this March, it was at the very least a pleasant surprise. Rear-wheel drive. Rear-engine. Turbocharged powerplant. Is this really the same car?

Well, the French automaker isn’t stopping there, because according to Left Lane News, Renault is planning an even hotter Gordini version of the tiny Twingo.

Gordini is the performance division of Renault Sport Technologies, and it was established in 1946 by Amédée Gordini, who was badassly nicknamed “Le Sorcier” (The Sorcerer).

Gordini used his black magic to create some exceptional racecars throughout the mid 1900’s, including the exceptional, single-seater Gordini Type 32. His cars competed in Formula 1 and 2 in early 1950s and even in Le Mans during the ’60s.

Renault has produced a Twingo Gordini before, in the car’s second generation, but it carried little more than a new paint job and some racing flair. The Gordini name has a real motorsport pedigree, and it looks like Renault is finally doing it justice for the Twingo’s third iteration.

The hot Twingo will draw power from a turbocharged, 0.9-liter three-cylinder engine that creates over 120 horsepower. That may not sound like a lot, but considering the lack of heft it has to push around, it should be plenty spry. Furthermore, the Twingo Gordini will ride on a Renault Sport-tuned chassis, with larger brake discs, stiffer suspension, and anti-roll bars.

Expect the racing treatment to carry over onto the vehicles aesthetics as well, with more aggressive aero, twin exhaust pipes, and Gordini’s favorite sporting color, bleu de France.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.