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RENAULT Twingo RS Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 2
First production year: 2008
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Hatchback
RENAULT Twingo RS photo gallery

Renault Sport was responsible for creating the hot hatches for the French automaker Renault and worked on the carmaker’s smallest three-door vehicle, the Twingo, improving it in all areas and transforming it from a mundane grocery getter into a pocket rocket.

Part of the Renault Group, the Renault Sport was more than just a department; it was a separate facility that took production versions, stripped them down, and created sportier versions from them. Several famous European hot hatches came from there, such as the Clio Renault Sport or the Megane R.S. But after the automaker decided to boost the image of the tiny Twingo, engineers from Renault Sport followed the same recipe, and the result stunned customers. Thanks to its affordable price, the three-door hatchback became attractive to young customers eager to thrash the car around corners.

The transformation began with the vehicle’s exterior. Renault Sport redesigned the front bumper, added a pair of round fog lamps, and created a splitter on the lower side of the apron. In addition, it placed a chromed R.S. badge on it. From its profile, the A-segment vehicle boasted a set of 16” alloy wheels, which were unavailable for the rest of the Twingo range. Both front and rear fenders were wider to cover the 195/45 tires. Furthermore, a set of aerodynamically profiled side sills made the car look lower to the ground. Finally, at the back, Renault Sport added a roof spoiler on top of the tailgate and a redesigned bumper that sported a diffuser and a chromed exhaust tip.

Inside, it was a complete makeover. Instead of the bland-looking seats and budget-looking plastics, the Twingo R.S. boasted a cabin with a racy feeling. At the front, the automaker placed a set of high-bolstered seats with leather upholstery and contrast stitching. Even the seatbelts were color-coded, not just black like in the rest of the range. Still, Renault couldn’t place them lower to the floor, so the seating position remained high. That favored the room for the rear-seated passengers, which could slit their feet under the front seats.

Unlike the rest of the Twingo range, the R.S. version featured a tachometer mounted in front of the driver, behind the steering wheel. Furthermore, it featured a shift light that lit green when approaching the 7,000 rpm. To emphasize the racy feeling, Renault added a set of aluminum pedals that sported a checker-flag pattern. Still, the instrument cluster remained mounted in the middle of the dashboard, slightly tilted toward the driver. It featured a round dial with a satin-chromed surrounding for the digital speedometer and a secondary LCD for other information coming from the car’s onboard computer.

But the most significant upgrade happened under the car’s skin, where Renault Sport installed a 1.6-liter gasoline engine specifically developed for the Twingo R.S. The four-banger powerplant featured a race-inspired exhaust manifold and could provide up to 133 PS (131 hp) to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. Renault Sport’s engineers continued with the suspension, which was stiffened to match the car’s look and power.

full description and technical specifications
RENAULT Twingo RS photo gallery

Renault had a long history of small sporty hatchbacks, and the Twingo RS was just the car to prove the French carmaker's expertise in that area.

Renault introduced the second generation of the Twingo in 2007 at the Geneva Motor Show and waited until the following year to launch its sportiest version, the Twingo RS. Like its other brothers, the Clio RS and the Megane RS, the little brother was available with a Cup package as well that added 17" light wheels, stiffer suspension, and a racy-look.

The RS version featured an aggressive bumper with a black, trapezoidal center side and two silver side pods that hosted the fog-lights at the front. Its slightly widened front fenders featured body-colored plastic molds. Renault installed a small roof-spoiler on top of the tailgate in the rear, which was slightly longer for the Cup package.

Inside, the little French vehicle featured all the advantages from its non-RS sibling with the rear sliding bench that could make more room for passengers or for the trunk. The RS trim added sport aluminum pedals, and a tachometer mounted on the steering column, and "Renault Sport" letterings on the hand-brake lever and on the seats.

Under the hood, Renault Sport installed a 1.6-liter engine that provided 133 hp. It wasn't the most potent four-pot unit developed by the French specialist team, but it was powerful enough for the small hot-hatch. The engineers paired it with a 5-speed manual.

full description and technical specifications