First drive: Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133
Model tested: Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 (and Cup chassis option)
Price as tested: £11,550, £12,200
Insurance group as tested: 8E
CO2 emissions as tested: 165g/km
Company car tax %: 21%
EuroNCAP result: ****
Date and place tested: August 2008, Portugal
Road tester: Adrian Hearn
With models such as the Clio 197 and Megane R26.R, Renault knows a thing or two about making hot hatches so cue its latest offering – the Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133.
Based on the car’s entry level model, the Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 has been spruced up with a bodykit, sweet sounding exhaust and 133bhp engine.
With similar dimensions and power output to the iconic Renault 5 GT Turbo, could the new Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 be this seminal car’s spiritual successor? Adrian Hearn went to Porto for the first European drive of the new hot hatch.
View images of the new Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133
Punchy performance
The Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 offers drivers performance and excellent handling at an affordable price.
Under the bonnet of the Twingo is a 1.6-litre normally aspirated engine developing 133bhp and 160Nm of pulling power. This gives the Twingo 133 claimed performance figures of 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 125mph with the most excitement happening between 4,000 and 6,000rpm.
It’s more of a warm hatch than hot hatch, but this only tells half the story. It’s the handling and ride which showcases the car’s sporting pedigree. The Twingo’s chassis has been widened by 60mm at the front and 59mm at the rear to give the mini hot hatch more stability and help create a more planted feel.
Stunning handling
On Portugal’s demanding roads the standard Twingo handles superbly. Through the corners there is little roll, while there’s masses of grip. You really need to push it hard to get any understeer through the corners. It was also pleasant to drive on the cobbled roads of Portugal’s towns showing an excellent compromise between ride and comfort.
When we got behind the wheel of the Cup chassis (a £650 option) we were further impressed. It’s 4mm lower than the standard Twingo 133 with stiffer springs to reduce bodyroll through corners The ride was harder but not too firm, again offering a good compromise.
The Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 combines butch and cute in the same package thanks to its bug-eyed front lights and diminutive size gelled with a muscular bodykit, flared wheel arches and sporty alloy wheels.
The Cup model also gets a set of sexy 17-inch anthracite coloured alloy wheels (opposed to the standard car’s 16’s) which give the Twingo an aggressive stance when housed within the car’s flared wheel arches. The standard Twingo 133 looks great with its bodykit, but the Cup chassis looks even better thanks to those wheels.
The car’s trim plastics feel cheap, but this is a cheap car and it’s better for Renault to concentrate on the Twingo’s handling dynamics than interior cosmetics.
Carbon dioxide emissions of 165g/km mean an annual tax bill of £145, while the Twingo 133 will average a claimed 40mpg, which is respectable for a hot hatch.
The new GT Turbo?
Seventeen years after the last Renault GT Turbo rolled off the production line the Twingo 133 has arrived, which at 3607mm is just 1mm longer than the 5GT, making it arguably the spiritual successor to the modifiers’ favourite.
View images of the new Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133
But while the GT was turbocharged, the Twingo RS is naturally aspirated, ensuring more gradual and composed acceleration, while years of development mean better safety features, more luxury and improved reliability.
Standard features on the Twingo include electronic stability programme, driver and passenger airbags, CD player and air conditioning. Like with the new Mini and Fiat 500, there are plenty of personalisation options with Renaultsport decals, racing stripes and gear knob levers all on the list extras list. However, a heavy spending spree on the Twingo 133 could turn the £11,500 car into a £13,500 model.
In terms of practicality, the city car-sized hot hatch scores well. It’s only a four seater, but these seats can be moved forward and folded to create an impressive sized boot for a city car. There’s good all-round vision and thanks to its size it’s easy to park and manoeuvre through tight spaces.
At £11,550, the basic Twingo 133 is excellent value for money. But we’d spend the extra £650 and get the Cup chassis which handles better and has the stunning alloy wheels.
Renault has continued its rich vein of form in the performance car market. The Twingo Renaultsport 133 is arguably the new supermini warm hatch class leader thanks to its good looks, value for money and exceptional handling. The big test comes when the Fiat 500 Abarth – which will have similar power, good looks and an affordable price-tag – goes on sale next year.
View images of the new Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133
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