Future Car Trends: Renault Twingo RenaultSport revs up Geneva

A performance-focused Cup chassis

Twingo Renault Sport is also available with a Cup chassis for incisive handling and maximum driving
enjoyment. In this configuration, Twingo Renault Sport offers handling to satisfy the demands of any
enthusiast. This chassis offers optimum body control and its natural home is on the track, where flat
cornering and improved corner speed demonstrate its effectiveness.
The Cup chassis rides another 4mm lower than the sport version, and its lower centre of gravity improves
in-corner performance thanks to reduced weight transfer. Tuned damper settings and higher spring rates
(10% stiffer front and rear) bring greater performance through better body control.
Outside, the Twingo Renault Sport Cup chassis stands out by its Dark Metal Grey 17-inch aluminium
alloy wheels.

A punchy, flexible engine

Twingo Renault Sport is powered by a normally-aspirated 1.6-litre 16V engine (K4M RS) which delivers
133hp (98kW) at 6,750rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The free-revving engine offers flexible
performance and instantaneous throttle response. At low revs and in the mid-range below 4,500 rpm,
Twingo Renault Sport offers lively, easy performance for everyday use. Beyond 4,500rpm, Twingo
Renault Sport gives full vent to its sporting character with true punchy performance.
The 133hp 1.6 litre 16V engine has been developed from the 1,598cc petrol engine. The improved power
and torque are the result of a number 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 enables a high compression ratio of 11.0:1, leading
to enhanced combustion and efficiency and reduced harmful 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.

Sports performance and acoustic enjoyment

The experts at Renault Sport Technologies have worked hard to give the Twingo Renault Sport 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, made from thin-walled steel, forms the object of a patent by Renault
Sport Technologies. The technological marvel 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 Renault Sport is fitted with a revised version 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 Renault Sport Technologies entry-level model

Twingo Renault Sport is the latest model in the Renault Sport Technologies range, and will reach market
late in the third quarter of 2008 in Western Europe. This latest example of Renault’s hot hatch prowess
rounds off the Renault Sport family alongside Clio and Mégane Renault Sport.
With nearly 13,000 registrations in 40 countries in 2007, the Renault Sport range registered an increase
in volume of more than 50% compared to 2006. The arrival of the new Twingo Renault Sport will help the
Group expand its presence even further in the hot hatch market. Great Britain is the number one market
for Renault Sport vehicles, and should account for a third of sales. France, Spain, Italy, Germany and
Switzerland are expected to share approximately 55% of registrations.
Optimized production lines
Twingo Renault Sport is produced at Novo Mesto in Slovenia. In December 2007, the site celebrated the
production of its 200,000th vehicle in less than a year. This new record for the Slovenian facility reflects
the commercial success of New Twingo which was launched in June 2007.
The Renault Sport version will be manufactured on the Clio Campus and New Twingo production line.
The three vehicles are based on the same platform, which allowed the facility to adjust quickly to the new
model. Some 80% of manufacturing operations are identical between Clio Campus and New Twingo,
while 90% are common between Twingo and Twingo Renault Sport. The choice of this production site
also meets the affordability and profitability targets outlined in the Renault Commitment 2009 plan.

Twingo Renault Sport: specification

Exterior design
Specific front bumper with foglamp surrounds
Specific sills
Wider front and rear wings
Two-tone rear bumper with chrome exhaust tail pipe
16- or 17-inch (on Cup chassis) aluminium alloy wheels
Dark metal Grey exterior mirror shrouds, 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels, foglamp surrounds and
aerodynamic spoiler
Specific Renault Sport exterior detailing
Interior design
Dark charcoal interior trim
Chequered-pattern aluminium pedals
Leather steering wheel with integrated thumb rests
Renault Sport rev-counter with gearshift alert
Front seats with additional lateral support, double stitching and Renault Sport logo
Blood Orange seatbelts
Renault Sport logos on door sills
Renault Sport logos on carpet
Dimensions
Overall length 3,607mm
Wheelbase 2,368mm
Width (without exterior mirrors) 1,688mm
Height 1,470mm
Powertrain
1.6 litre 16V normally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, Euro 4-compliant
Maximum power: 98kW/133hp at 6,750rpm
Maximum torque: 160Nm at 4,400rpm
Manual five-speed gearbox (JR5)
Steering
Electric power steering

Suspension

Front: pseudo-MacPherson with aluminium lower arm and integrated anti-roll bar
Rear: programmed deflection torsion beam with coil springs.
Wheels and tyres
16-inch aluminium alloy wheels (195/45 R16)
17-inch aluminium alloy wheels (195/40 R17)
Brakes
Ventilated discs, 280mm at front and 240mm at rear
Callipers: 57mm front, 34mm rear

Source: Renault

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