Renault's Twingo sidesteps Mini head-to-head

Date: 14 March 2007   |   Author: Hugh Hunston

Renault's new Twingo, which will be launched on September 7 priced from £8500, will not go head-to-head with the Mini, according to Emmanuel Bouvier, Renault UK's marketing director.

Bouvier said: "We are not going into Mini territory on price or branding. Twingo promotion will have a very heavy online element."

Bouvier added: "Campus, Clio 3 and Modus are in a very diverse small car market so we need clear, unique selling points for Twingo to make it legitimate."

"Junior user-choosers in companies where recruitment of bright young things is an issue" was how a Renault source described "a likely Twingo business car element". The small hatchback, however, will not come with the 1.5-litre 65PS dCi diesel engine, with Bouvier claiming the "feisty, sporty, dynamic younger generation appeal" was underlined by the 100PS, 1.2-litre GT and its 75PS 1.2-litre Dynamique counterpart.

"Significantly fewer Twingos than Clio 3s will be sold," said a spokesman, while modest sales targets are also set for another small Renault, the five-door Clio 3 estate, due early next year and thinly disguised in three-door form as the Grand Tour Geneva concept.

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