Just a couple of days after the Smart ForTwo tuned by Brabus took to the road for the first time, Renault is also getting ready to put some spice into the new Twingo. Since the two models share platforms, engines and tech, it`s reasonable to believe this is no coincidence.
Although this is just a test mule with a few extra parts put together in a hurry, we have reason to believe that Renault are testing the next Twingo RS.
Previously, company officials have hinted that an RS model isn`t going to be made, since there`s not enough room for a bigger engine under the crammed boot floor of this rear-engined city car. Sales of the previous Twingo RS have also not been stellar. So could they have changed their minds or are engineers working with a re-tuned version of the 0.9-liter TCe turbo?
The prototype we spied has an extra air intake at the front, larger alloy wheels for the powered rear tires and a twin exhaust system. We also expect a myriad of spoilers and skirts that will serve both aerodynamic and aesthetically purposes.
Renault only uses the RS badge on its most exciting vehicles. For example, the Megane RS became the fastest FWD car to ever lap the Nurburgring, while the Clio RS is one of the fastest accelerating machines in its class. The French even side-tracked the Laguna Coupe RS project a few years ago because it wasn`t up to their standards. So the new Twingo needs to be something really special, not a half-baked box on wheels with a tickled engine.
Coming back to the topic of the engine, the old Twingo RS came with a 133 hp 1.6-liter engine before it was discontinued in 2013. That same mill was in the Clio GT before it was replaced by a 1.2-liter turbo making 120 PS. If it can be made to fit, this would be the ideal powertrain for the Twingo III RS, since it can easily be boosted to 140 hp.
`140 horsepower from a 1.2-liter engine? That`s crazy!` we hear you say. Except Ford has just gotten that much from a 1-liter turbo engine with only three cylinders. So maybe it`s time for the smallest Renault to start thinking big, really big!
Via autoevolution.com
24/07/2014
