2026 Renault Twingo EV steps closer to Oz

Renault has confirmed it will go ahead and produce the 2026 Renault Twingo EV for right-hand drive markets, with sales already confirmed for the UK from next year.

Originally, the small French BYD Dolphin rival was only planned to be made in left-hand drive for mainland Europe, for a price of less than €20,000 (A$35,000). However, according to Renault boss Fabrice Cambolive, such was the positive reception to both the Renault 5 E-Tech and latest Renault 4 E-Tech that the brand has now changed its mind.

Speaking to Autocar, the Renault CEO said: “The Twingo can be one of the solutions of mobility for theA UK tomorrow. You couldn’t have the genuine Twingo in 1992, because right-hand drive didn’t arrive until a generation after, but I will put all my pressure and my attention to get the Twingo for the UK as soon as possible [after it is launched in mainland Europe]”.

Cambolive has yet to announce the Twingo EV for other markets, but it’s thought the cost of factoring in the engineering for right-hand drive was made much easier following the news it would be developed alongside both the next-generation Nissan Micra and an undisclosed Chinese hatch, with the former set to be sold in Japan.

Revealing a near-production-ready Renault Twingo prototype in January this year, the fourth-generation light hatch measures in at 3750mm. That means the entry EV is a significant 540mm shorter than its BYD Dolphin opposition, although to make up for the lack of space the car-maker says it will be both ‘joyful’ and ‘trendy’, while offering ‘upper segment tech’.

Beneath the skin, the five-door hatch (that hides the rear door handles in the C-pillar) is based on the same AmpR Small platform as the larger 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech and 2025 Renault 4 E-Tech.

Within, the Twingo features a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a relatively big 10.1-inch infotainment system. It boasts plentiful styling cues – like the oval theme and skateboard wheel adjustment for the seats – that pay homage to the first-generation city car that launched in 1992.

Maximising the available space are storage cubbies under the dash plus a flat full-width shelf for books or sunglasses.

In the second row, meanwhile, is a split-folding bench seat, plus magnetic phone-mounts on the back of the front headrests, as well as an elasticated bottle holder.

Renault has still not revealed what all-electric powertrain will drive the new Renault EV, but it’s thought that in an effort to keep costs down it will be related to that found in the Renault 5 E-Tech. That means the Twingo EV could combine a 90kW front-mounted e-motor with a small 40kWh battery to provide for a range of up to 350km.

While the previous three generations of Twingos were never sold in Australia, the new availability of right-hand drive for the latest EV could provide a new opportunity for the local importer Ateco to offer a cut-price EV.

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