Renault Twingo

French brand's retro spree continues with a fresh take on a 1990s design icon On sale 2027 Price from £19,000 (est)

- ELEANOR COOPER

THE LATEST TREND in cinema is remaking classic films for the modern age. Witness Dune, Nosferatu and The Lion King, which sought to appeal to fans of the originals while adding a fresh twist to attract new admirers. The new Renault Twingo follows similar lines; its looks pays tribute to the much-loved first-generation Twingo from 1993, and switching to electric power might help its box office success.

The original Twingo was never officially sold in the UK (it was offered only with left-hand drive), but Renault will correct that mistake with the new version. It follows in the footsteps of the brand's other fantastic electric models, including our reigning Car of the Year, the Renault 5 (R5), by marrying retro-inspired style with the very latest in technology.

In fact, the Twingo will share much of its mechanical underpinnings with the larger R5, but you won't be able to tell from the outside. The new Twingo's shape is faithful to the original, while semicircular LED headlights galvanise the resemblance. The new car is slightly longer than the electric Fiat 500e and bigger than the original Twingo, with five doors rather than its forebear's three.