With a heritage of iconic cars such as the R8 Gordini, 5 GT Turbo and Clio Williams, the Renault range has always featured affordable performance cars based on mainstream production models. Twingo Renaultsport 133 is latest car to enjoy that distinction.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the result of a dual challenge which sought to deliver a car with genuine sporting credentials at the affordable price of £11,550. It is a Renaultsport car through and through, and features the same ingredients that have helped forge the success of its larger siblings, the Clio and Mégane Renaultsport. These include specific styling, coupled with a chassis, engine and braking system engineered for a high standard of performance that is also suited to everyday use. Twingo Renaultsport's release stems from a desire to broaden the access to the Renaultsport experience.

All retail customers who place an order for a Twingo Renaultsport 133 within the first 133 days of ordering opening will receive a voucher for a free place on a Renaultsport trackday in 2009 with driver tuition at either Brands Hatch, Oulton Park or Bedford Autodrome.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 (2007)
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Twingo Renaultsport's compact proportions and sharp styling echo the Twingo Concept show car which was a star of the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The newcomer's pedigree and sporty looks are highlighted by its bumpers, wider front and rear wings, and sculpted side skirts. Inside, the cabin has been tailored for focused sports driving, with Renaultsport front seats offering enhanced lateral support, plus aluminium pedal facings, leather steering wheel and rev-counter.

From launch, it will be possible to customise the car to owners' individual tastes thanks to a range of exterior and interior Renaultsport accessories, as well as a multimedia connection point.

As suggested by its standard-fit fully disconnectable ESP, Twingo Renaultsport 133 delivers a genuinely sporting driving experience but is also suited to everyday use. Its finely balanced handling ensures it is fun to drive, while ensuring a particularly high standard of safety. As is the case with the Clio and Mégane Renaultsport, two chassis settings (standard and Cup) are available. Both benefit from wider front and rear tracks, while the main components of its powerful, durable braking system are sourced from higher segment models.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre 16V engine newly developed by Renault Sport Technologies. This powerplant gives out 133hp at 6,750rpm, with 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The unit's punchy character is reinforced by a characteristic engine note which has been the focus of specific development. The four-into-one exhaust manifold has been fabricated to strike a perfect balance between acoustics, performance and low emissions.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 has plenty in its favour to win over a new, young clientele.

MOTORSPORT IN ITS GENES

Renault has always been a major player in the world of motor sport and its record reveals a long list of successes in many legendary races and competitions. From the R8 Gordini and 5 GT Turbo to the Clio Williams, the Renault range has always featured sports versions of mainstream production models. The latest car to enjoy this distinction is Twingo Renaultsport 133.

Renault's motor sport heritage… Ever since its creation in 1898, Renault has been a major player in the world of motor sport. It won the Paris-Madrid road race as early as 1903, won the first-ever Grand Prix in 1906, has notched up many memorable successes in rallying and endurance racing (1978 Le Mans 24 Hours) and has held several land speed records. It has also marked history with such bold innovations as the introduction of Formula 1's first turbocharged engine in 1977. Three decades on, Renault secured back-to-back FIA Formula 1 Constructors' titles in 2005 and 2006.

This commitment, anchored in Renault's DNA, is not simply founded on pumping up power outputs. "We have the privilege of addressing a demanding, enthusiast customer base and many of our competitors compete actively," points out Rémi Deconinck, the General Manager of Renault Sport Technologies. Buyers of Renaultsport vehicles are genuine enthusiasts, looking for a car that mirrors their personality.

These exceptional cars are derived from the Clio, Mégane and, now, Twingo ranges but have been developed by Renaultsport's specialists who are experienced in the demanding world of motorsport.

In Europe, the Renaultsport brand benefits directly from the reputation of the World Series by Renault motorsport-based events which have attracted almost two million spectators since the programme's creation in 2005. Renault is the only carmaker to run a free motor sport festival series of this sort.

A genuine community spirit has played a key part in the success of the World Series by Renault which makes a point of providing entertainment for all the family. A special welcome is also reserved for customers who attend World Series by Renault meetings with their own Renaultsport model or classic Renault.

"In emerging countries where Formula 1 serves as a locomotive for our brand's image and reputation," continues Rémi Deconinck, "the aim of Renault Sport Technologies is to showcase the tie that exists between motor sport and the brand's ability to deliver high performance motor cars." Renault Sport Technologies also has a role to play in Renault's international growth thanks notably to its experience as the world's biggest organiser of motor races.

…combined with Twingo's own DNA Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the result of a dual challenge - delivering sports performance and equipment at an affordable price. It is a genuine Renaultsport model featuring the same ingredients that have forged the success of its larger siblings, Clio and Mégane Renaultsport; namely specific looks and a chassis/engine package that has been engineered for performance and efficiency. Twingo Renaultsport 133 forms part of Renault's bid to make the Renaultsport range accessible to an even wider public. It also marks an extension of the Twingo range aimed at meeting the demands of all its customers.

ON-TRACK FOR FREE

All retail customers who place an order for a Twingo Renaultsport 133 within the first 133 days of ordering opening will receive a voucher for a free place on a Renaultsport trackday in 2009 with driver tuition at either Brands Hatch, Oulton Park or Bedford Autodrome.  Highly-trained instructors will give Twingo Renaultsport owners tuition in safe driving techniques, with subjects covered including driving lines, braking, grip and management of the ABS and ESP systems.

Twingo Renaultsport customers will be welcomed into the Renaultsport fraternity.  Owners can continue to try their car on-track at Renaultsport trackdays including Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Bedford Autodrome, and even abroad with days arranged at Spa-Francorchamps.  At each event, owners receive tuition and can experience other models in the Renaultsport range.

Through the lively Community section of the Renaultsport.co.uk website, Twingo Renaultsport owners will also be able to take part in competitions to attend race events and factory visits.

TWINGO RENAULTSPORT 133 SPORTY LOOKS DESIGNED FOR PERFORMANCE

Compact proportions and sharp styling echo the Twingo Concept show car which was a star of the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Twingo's distinctive looks have been made even more athletic thanks to the newcomer's specific bumpers, wider front and rear wings, sculpted side skirts and aerodynamic spoiler which all point to the car's sporting pedigree. Inside, the cabin has been tailored for focused sports driving, with a number of details that are unique to this model: Renaultsport designed seats with enhanced lateral support, aluminium pedal facings, a Renaultsport leather steering wheel and rev counter with an integrated gearchange light. A customisation programme is also available, allowing buyers to adapt their new car to their personal taste and needs. Exterior and interior Renaultsport accessories are available, along with a multimedia connection point.

Power and poise Twingo Renaultsport's compact proportions and sharp styling embody its fun-to-drive, sporty nature and are reminiscent of the Twingo Concept show car. Additional cooling for the 133hp naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre 16V engine is provided by a wide Renaultsport air-intake grille in the front bumper. The sculpted side sills, coupled with wider front and rear wings, underline Twingo Renaultsport's assertive pedigree and character. At the rear, the chromed exhaust tail pipe emerges through a two-tone bumper. The foglamp surrounds, exterior mirror housings, 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels and aerodynamic spoiler all sport the same shade of anthracite grey. Renaultsport badging can be added to the flanks or rear bumper. Like the chequered flag graphics, these designs echo the world of motor sport.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is fitted with generously-proportioned Continental Sport Contact3 tyres (195/45 R16 or 195/40 R17) mounted on aluminium alloy wheels. They house substantial brake discs and callipers which provide powerful, durable braking performance. Twingo Renaultsport 133 also introduces a new colour to the Renaultsport range, with the new Mirage Grey once again echoing Twingo Concept. Three other metallic shades are available (Deep Black, Extreme Blue and Mercury), in addition to the non-metallic Capsicum Red.

Sports styling inside The ergonomic driving position conjures up the world of racing with features that are centred firmly on the driver: aluminium pedal facings, and a four-spoke perforated leather Renaultsport steering wheel with dark charcoal stitching and a thicker rim. For added comfort, it gives the driver's hands perfect grip in the 'ten-to-two' position. The rev-counter is located directly behind the steering wheel, echoing racing car design: employing a specific typeface, the numbers grow in size as the needle approaches the red line at 7,000rpm. Just like in the cockpit of the ING Renault F1 Team's R28 Formula 1 car, the rev-counter features a gear change alert to warn the driver as the engine approaches maximum revs.

The dark charcoal interior trim neatly expresses sporting performance. Offering additional lateral support and outstanding comfort, the specific Renaultsport seats allow the driver to feel at one with the car. The colour of the Blood Orange safety belts matches the contrasting stitching of the upholstery.

As with all cars developed by Renault Sport Technologies, the Renaultsport logo can be found inside the cabin, on the rev-counter, door sills and front seats. Outside, the badge features on the rear hatch.

A hot hatch for everybody's taste From launch, Twingo Renaultsport 133 will be available with a wide range of options to cover the different tastes of every customer. Renaultsport graphics can be applied to the sides, rear bumper and can even be carried over to the ignition key. Several graphics are available, namely 'Grey Shadows', 'Chess' and 'Renaultsport Chequers'. Like the rest of the Twingo range, the newcomer places significant emphasis on communications technologies and is available with hands-free Bluetooth telephone controls, and a multifunctional ‘TunePoint' which allows personal MP3 or iPod® players to be connected in total safety.

COMBINING SPORTS PERFORMANCE WITH EVERYDAY USE

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the response of Renault Sport Technologies' experts to the double challenge of delivering sports performance in a package that remains affordable and suitable for everyday use. The standard-fit, disconnectable ESP forms part of this brief. Twingo Renaultsport's balanced sports handling ensures that the new car is easy and fun to drive, in addition to combining performance with a high standard of safety. The two Renaultsport chassis settings (standard and Cup) benefit from wider front and rear tracks than the Twingo GT, while the powerful, durable braking system is sourced from higher segment models. In day-to-day use, passengers will appreciate the roomy, modular cabin and generous boot space that are hallmarks of Twingo, the A-segment benchmark in these domains. Twingo Renaultsport 133 is also fitted with independently sliding rear seats.

Pleasure and safety in day to day use Twingo Renaultsport 133 delivers genuine driving enjoyment in total safety. Its responsive, finely balanced chassis benefits from the existing, excellent suspension and running gear already seen on New Twingo and Clio Renaultsport 197. Its set-up offers precise sports handling and ESP is standard to enable the driver to stay in control in situations where grip is lost. The ability to disconnect the ESP and absence of EBA (emergency brake assist) underpin Twingo Renaultsport's sports credentials, while its electric power steering has been calibrated to ensure precise, instantaneous response to the driver's steering inputs.

A composed, balanced platform Like Clio and Mégane Renaultsport, the newcomer offers two chassis setting options: standard and Cup. In both cases, track has been widened by 60mm at the front and by 59mm at the rear compared with Twingo GT. These modifications improve stability and lateral grip.

The front suspension is a pseudo-MacPherson type arrangement, with aluminium lower arms. The adoption of pushrods on the dampers improves the performance of the anti-roll bar for even better body control. Twingo Renaultsport's rear suspension is based on an H-type programmed deflection rear beam. To improve ride and comfort, the dampers are mounted vertically and coupled with variable rate coil springs. The 24mm diameter rear anti-roll bar (compared with 22.5mm on Twingo GT) brings a stiffness gain of 25%. The anti-roll front/rear performance split has been calibrated to improve rear-end agility for extra enjoyment and also enhance the overall sports performance of the chassis.

Standard Renaultsport chassis: nimble and responsive The standard chassis has been engineered for the best and safest balance between driving enjoyment and performance. Compared with Twingo GT, it features a lower centre of gravity thanks to a 10mm lower ride-height. Stiffer springs (plus 30 per cent compared with Twingo GT) and uprated dampers (also plus 30 per cent) contribute to the car's sporty handling, while firmer bushing has enhanced directional precision front and rear. The Twingo Renaultsport 133's chassis is also fitted with generously-proportioned Continental Sport Contact3 tyres (195/45 R16).

The performance-focused Cup chassis Twingo Renaultsport 133 is also available with a Cup chassis at £650 for incisive handling and maximum driving enjoyment. In this configuration, Twingo Renaultsport offers handling to satisfy the demands of the enthusiast. This chassis offers optimum body control and its natural home is on the track, where flat cornering and improved cornering speed demonstrate its effectiveness.

The Cup chassis rides another 4mm lower than the standard setting, and its lower centre of gravity improves in-corner performance thanks to reduced weight transfer. Tuned damper settings and higher spring rates (10 per cent stiffer front and rear) bring greater performance through better body control.

The Cup chassis-based Twingo Renaultsport can be identified by its anthracite coloured 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels equipped with Continental Sport Contact3 195/40 R17 tyres engineered for efficiency.

Powerful, durable stopping power Twingo Renaultsport 133 benefits from Renaultsport's braking expertise to deliver powerful, durable stopping power combined with a reassuringly progressive brake pedal feel. Twingo Renaultsport 133 is equipped with the same discs as Mégane II (280mm diameter vented fronts, plus 240mm diameter rears), New Laguna-sourced front callipers and Mégane II rear callipers.

Segment leading cabin space and flexibility In day to day use, passengers will appreciate the roomy, modular interior and spacious boot, all hallmarks of Twingo which stands out as the A-segment benchmark in these domains.   As is the case for Twingo, this new hot hatch offers a smart system that comprises two independent, sliding rear seats featuring fore-aft travel of 220mm. The different options made possible by the modular interior enable boot volume to expand from 165 litres VDA (with the rear seats in their rearmost position; a layout which favours rear passenger comfort), to 285 litres VDA (rear seats in their foremost position to favour boot space), and even 959 litres VDA with the independent seats folded and tipped forward.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 consequently boasts the biggest boot volume for a vehicle of its size. The same seats offer rear legroom of up to 230mm, which is equivalent to that of models from the next segment up.

Insurance Group The Twingo Renaultsport 133 has been awarded a 8E rating by the ABI (Association of British Insurers).

A PUNCHY, FLEXIBLE ENGINE

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre 16V engine developed by Renault Sport Technologies. This powerplant delivers 133hp (98kW) at 6,750rpm with 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The unit's punchy character is reinforced by a characteristic engine note which has been the focus of specific development. The four-into-one fabricated exhaust manifold strikes a perfect balance between acoustics, performance and low emissions.

A sporty, normally-aspirated engine Twingo Renaultsport 133 is powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre 16V engine (K4M RS) which delivers 133hp (98kW) at 6,750rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. This free-revving engine offers flexible performance and instantaneous throttle response. At low revs and in the mid-range up to 4,500 rpm, Twingo Renaultsport 133 has lively yet manageable performance for everyday use. Beyond 4,500rpm, Twingo Renaultsport 133 gives full vent to its sporting character with true punchy performance. The car accelerates from standstill to 62mph (100kph) in 8.7 seconds, while top speed is 125mph with the rev-limiter at 7,000rpm. Fuel consumption is a low 40.4mpg in the combined cycle, equivalent to CO2 emissions of 165g/km.

The 133hp 1.6-litre 16V powerplant has been developed from the 1,598cc petrol engine. The improved power and torque are the result of modifications and improvements to the mechanical components: The air filling rate has been improved thanks to a specific throttle valve unit and aluminium plenum chamber, plus revised diameters and lengths for the air-inlets.

To improve air intake and facilitate gas flow, research was carried out on the aerodynamics of the valve seats. The calibration of the camshafts was revised to a longer opening of the valves and higher lift (11mm compared to an average of 9mm).

The design of the combustion chamber and piston produces a high compression ratio of 11.0:1, leading to enhanced combustion and efficiency, as well as lower emissions.  The continuously-variable inlet camshaft improves performance right across the rev range. The actuator varies the timing setting to optimise valve opening and closing. This system operates continuously through 44° of crankshaft rotation.

Sports performance and acoustic enjoyment The experts at Renault Sport Technologies have worked hard to give Twingo Renaultsport 133 an engine note in keeping with its sporting character. The engine noise is minimal at low revs, but builds mid-way through the rev range to become ‘fiery' when pushed to its limits.

The four-into-one exhaust manifold, fabricated from steel tube, is being patented by Renault Sport Technologies. The technological feat is to have combined four long steel tubes in such a restricted space. This architecture offers an excellent trade-off between acoustics, performance and emissions. Indeed, the engine has been designed to be able to comply with Euro5 legislation.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is fitted with an evolution of the five-speed manual gearbox (JR5). The closely-spaced ratios are linked to a fast and precise shift mechanism to favour crisp acceleration in all gears.

THE TWINGO STORY CONTINUES…

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the latest addition to the Twingo range and reinforces Renault's status as a major player in the European small car market. It is manufactured at the Novo Mesto factory in Slovenia.

Renaultsport expertise packed into a small car Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the latest model in the Renault Sport Technologies range, and goes on sale in the UK from 5 September and in the third quarter of 2008 in Western Europe. This latest example of Renault's hot hatch prowess rounds off the Renaultsport family which already includes Clio and Mégane Renaultsport.

With nearly 13,000 registrations in 40 countries in 2007, the Renault Sport range registered an increase in volume of more than 50% compared with 2006.

The arrival of the new Twingo Renaultsport 133 will help the Group expand its presence even further in the hot hatch market. The United Kingdom is the number one market for Renaultsport vehicles, and should account for a third of sales. France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland are expected to share half of Twingo Renaultsport sales.

The Twingo success story Twingo was progressively introduced in Europe from June 2007. Up to the end of June 2008, approximately 140,000 cars had been sold which is in keeping with the ambitious objectives it has been set. It stands out as the segment's clear leader in France with sales in excess of 60,000. Twingo also sells very well in Belgium, where it tops its segment, Germany and Holland (second in segment). Twingo enjoys a 10 per cent share of the small car market in Western Europe, which puts it in the top-three. For comparison purposes, the segment share of the first generation Twingo in Europe was 4.5 per cent as of the end of June 2007.

Twingo GT has also proved immensely popular, with a mix of up to 25 per cent in the UK, showing a real appreciation for the sportiest model thus far in the line up.

In addition to rounding off the Twingo range, Twingo Renaultsport 133 reasserts Renault's role as a key player in the small car segment in Europe.

Optimised production lines Twingo Renaultsport 133 is produced at the Novo Mesto factory in Slovenia which is where all Twingos are manufactured. Novo Mesto enjoys both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. It applies the Renault Production Way (SPR) and the standard of quality it delivers is as high as that of any Renault Group production facility.

The Renaultsport version is manufactured on the same line as Clio Campus and New Twingo. The three vehicles are based on the same platform, which allowed the facility to adjust quickly to the new model. Some 80 per cent of manufacturing operations are identical between Clio Campus and New Twingo, while 90 per cent are common between Twingo and Twingo Renaultsport.