Sep
04
[Cartoday]
The Twingo, the subject of an international driving impression in the August 2007 issue of CAR, looks set to make its South African début at the Johannesburg International Motor Show at the end of next month.
It will initially be available in a GT version, powered by a 74 kW 1,2-litre 16-valve turbocharged engine that produces 145 N.m of torque. That model (available in two trim levels) will undoubtedly appeal to a large market, but what's really our concern is the fact that Renault has confirmed the Renault Sport Twingo for local release in 2009.
Renault Sport is the division of Renault that produces la Régie’s hot versions of the Clio and Mégane. And they are no badge jobs either; Renault Sport has its own factory, which has just lavished the sporting treatment to the spunky Twingo.
Renault released the Twingo RS concept at the Paris Motor Show back in 2006 and it looked great, but what the best thing is that they have pretty much kept it the same with this production version. It still has the aggressive front bumper, flared wheel arches and aerodynamic spoiler at the back.It has a low-emission, 1,6-litre 16-valve engine that develops a pokey 99 kW and peak torque of 160 N.m and la Régie has uprated the Sport Twingo’s suspension to improve the hot supermini’s handling response. If the customer is a tad more enthusiastic, Renault also offers an even more extreme Cup suspension.
But Renault did not stop there and have also given the interior of this hot little Twingo a sprucing up by virtue of a sports steering wheel and racy bolt-on rev-counter. Furthermore, Renault claims to have tuned the exhaust system for a deeper engine note, which means that it won’t sound like its being charred when you’re giving it a go.
The Renault Sport Twingo recently went on sale in Europe and will reach South Africa early next year... late Christmas prezzies anyone?