Photo: Renault
Hot hatchbacks used to be a lot cheaper in the days of the Citroen C2 VTS, and while the Renault Twingo GT costs less than half of what you'd pay for a Golf GTI, it's not your typical pocket rocket.
The engine is in the back, under the trunk. While we support this revolutionary platform because it frees up the space between the front wheels, there are other things we don't enjoy about the Twingo.
For example, you sit up high on what look and feel like outdoor chairs with integrated headrests. You can't disable the stability control either. And while nobody has test-driven the GT model yet, we don't see how that could have changed.
A German magazine recently posted a track battle between the Mk1 Golf GTI and the Twingo GT's sister car, the smart forfour Brabus. They concluded that the older car is more fun and worth picking up.
The GT body kit certainly helps it look the part. It brings larger 17-inch alloy wheels, a body kit and dual exhaust pipes out the back. Those things are connected directly to a 0.9-liter three-cylinder turbo engine that's been tuned to deliver 110 PS and 170 Nm of torque (125 lb-ft).
It took a lot of work for an engine this small to produce those kinds of numbers. A modified turbocharger, upgrated fuel pump, revised engine mapping, and a specially-designed, freer-flowing twin silencer exhaust have been installed. The official figures suggest it's enough to get from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds and reach an 113 mph (182 km/h) top speed.
The grown-up thing to do would be to buy a slightly bigger car, as the Twingo GT is neither fast not practical. For £13,600, you could either have the SEAT Ibiza or the Ford Fiesta Zetec with their own 1-liter turbo engines (95 and 100 hp, respectively). Both are known for delivering fun and have about 100 liters of trunk space over the Twingo.
Before we turn into complete Debbie Downers, let's mention that Renault has also launched the updated Dynamique S trim for the Twingo from £12,205 on-the-road. However, you only get the 70 horsepower naturally aspirated engine for that money. To get the 90 hp turbo, you'll have to spend £112,905 for the manual or £13,805, in which case you'd be better off with the Twingo GT.
For example, you sit up high on what look and feel like outdoor chairs with integrated headrests. You can't disable the stability control either. And while nobody has test-driven the GT model yet, we don't see how that could have changed.
A German magazine recently posted a track battle between the Mk1 Golf GTI and the Twingo GT's sister car, the smart forfour Brabus. They concluded that the older car is more fun and worth picking up.
The GT body kit certainly helps it look the part. It brings larger 17-inch alloy wheels, a body kit and dual exhaust pipes out the back. Those things are connected directly to a 0.9-liter three-cylinder turbo engine that's been tuned to deliver 110 PS and 170 Nm of torque (125 lb-ft).
It took a lot of work for an engine this small to produce those kinds of numbers. A modified turbocharger, upgrated fuel pump, revised engine mapping, and a specially-designed, freer-flowing twin silencer exhaust have been installed. The official figures suggest it's enough to get from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds and reach an 113 mph (182 km/h) top speed.
The grown-up thing to do would be to buy a slightly bigger car, as the Twingo GT is neither fast not practical. For £13,600, you could either have the SEAT Ibiza or the Ford Fiesta Zetec with their own 1-liter turbo engines (95 and 100 hp, respectively). Both are known for delivering fun and have about 100 liters of trunk space over the Twingo.
Before we turn into complete Debbie Downers, let's mention that Renault has also launched the updated Dynamique S trim for the Twingo from £12,205 on-the-road. However, you only get the 70 horsepower naturally aspirated engine for that money. To get the 90 hp turbo, you'll have to spend £112,905 for the manual or £13,805, in which case you'd be better off with the Twingo GT.
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