Renault hits jackpot with Twingo

Renault will admit it made a bit of a mistake when it first launched the Twingo back in 1993.

It was viewed very much as a niche product and not expected to sell in great numbers. As a result it was engineered in such a way that it couldn't be made into right-hand drive.

And that meant it could never go on sale in the UK. But... it sold 2.4 million and was in production for almost 15 years - almost a record time for a modern car.

That indicates it would probably have done rather well on this side of the Channel. Oops, Renault, lost sales there then.

All was not lost, however, with a new Twingo that could be made in right-hand drive version. Albeit a Twingo that is not exactly a next generation; more of a hybrid.

There are three models, a 60bhp Extreme at £7,500 on the road, a 75bhp Dynamique at £8,375 and a GT version at £9,995.

It is a compact, city-friendly car with a clever sliding arrangement for the two rear seats (very useful, as I found out when on a major grocery shopping expedition normally reserved for when I am testing a large-booted car!).

As you would expect from Renault, standard active and passive safety features abound, including four airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD electronic brake. And it got four stars in the EuroNCAP adult passenger crash test.

Equipment includes electric front windows, front fog lights, height-adjustable steering wheel, sports body styling, tinted windows and CD radio player.

Now, to first impressions. When my Dynamique version arrived for test, first thoughts were that it's a quirky looker - but I wasn't terribly impressed. It's all edgy, I thought, and inside it seemed a little spartan and cold.

But within a couple of days it had grown on me and by the end of the week I was firmly attached.

It is a punchy little performer and with its size and shape an excellent car for towns and cities. Easy to park and very manoeuvrable, it proved very useful on the aforementioned shopping trip and other little sorties into the 'big city' - that's Ludlow for me!

Even on my 20-odd-mile journey into work via country lanes it pulled its weight and was real fun to drive - though I have to say it is no real cruiser on the motorway. Then again, it's not aimed at that sort of work.

The fun comes from the chassis, something for which Renault (and indeed other French manufacturers) were respected in their small cars but which has been sadly lacking of late.

Renault's boffins have gone back to creating a car that is not so rigid that it acts like an angry cat with arched back and stiff legs, but instead has the supple feel of a sleek, fast feline.

A friend who used to love those sporty little French cars poured scorn when I sang the praises of the Twingo but changed his mind after a few miles in the passenger seat.

"It doesn't look as if it should act like this," he said indignantly. Well don't judge a book by its cover, was my reply.

By Sharon Walters