Renault Twingo: new baby hot hatch

Sitting beneath the hot Clio and Megane, the Renault Twingo Renaultsport will have a 1.6-litre engine producing 133bhp

Renault has taken the wraps off its Twingo hot hatch at the unveiling of Fernando Alonso’s 2008 F1 car.

Sporting a set of flared wheel arches, bodykit, rear spoiler and alloy wheels, the Renault Twingo Renaultsport will go toe-to-toe with the cute-but-quick Citroen C2 VTS and forthcoming Fiat 500 Abarth.

Sitting beneath the hot Clio and Megane, the Renault Twingo Renaultsport will have a 1.6-litre engine producing 133bhp.

Early details are sketchy, but this should give the pocket rocket a 0-60mph time of about eight seconds and have a top speed in excess of 120mph.

The pocket rocket was unveiled alongside the Renault F1 Team’s all-new R28 Formula One race car which will be driven by Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr.

Alonso has returned to Renault where he won two world championships after just one turbulent season with McLaren.

The Spaniard was overshadowed by rookie phenomenon Lewis Hamilton who out staged Alonso, finishing as runner-up to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. 
 
The Renault Twingo made its UK debut in September last year after being available on the continent for more than ten years and it has received warm acclaim from buyers looking for a chic city car with punchy performance.

Expect to pay about £11,500 for the Renault Twingo Renaultsport when it hits forecourts this autumn.