Renault Gives The Cutesy Twingo ZE A Green Heart

• It has a 22kWh battery which takes 63mins to charge from a 22kW charger.
• The rear-mounted electric motor makes 82PS of power and 160Nm of torque.
• Renault claims a 0-100kmph time of 12.6 seconds and a top speed of 135kmph.

Renault has unveiled the Twingo ZE electric vehicle (EV), an electrified version of the Twingo hatchback on sale in European countries. The Twingo ZE is powered by an 82PS electric motor which makes 160Nm of torque. It has a 22kWh battery capable of a WLTP range of 250km. An on-board chameleon charger takes 2kW to 22kw AC charging and can juice the Twingo ZE up in a claimed 63 minutes using a 22kW-32A charger. Once launched, it will rival the Volkswagen e-Up! and the Smart EQ Forfour.

At 3.6 meters long, the Twingo ZE is the size of a Maruti Suzuki Celerio. It has a tall stance and cute proportions. The petrol Twingo’s rear-engined layout and short wheelbase gave it a tight turning circle, and that’s true of the ZE as well. Renault says the Twingo ZE’s front wheels can turn at 45 degrees! The resultant turning radius is 4.3 metres, which is 0.4m less than the Celerio.

The Renault Twingo ZE looks identical to the current-generation Twingo compact hatchback and retains the latter’s rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The Edison platform which underpins the Twingo was developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler AG for use in both electric and internal combustion (IC) vehicles.

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In the Twingo, the 22kWh battery is placed under the front seats. It leads to a raised driving position which, Renault says, gives the EV better visibility. The changes are not discernable from the exterior of the car, but the Twingo ZE gets a blue pinstripe below the window line. A blue halo at the alloy wheel hubs and “ZE” badges on the tailgate and B-pillar differentiate the EV from the IC Twingo.

Like the petrol Twingo, the ZE’s cutesy rounded aesthetic follows in the interior. ZE badges on the door sills and gear knob remind you that this is the electric version. A 7-inch infotainment touchscreen sits on the dashboard which features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

A suite of connected car tech is on offer. Apart from Renault Easy Connect, the EV-specific ZE Connected Services allows the user to schedule charging times and check the vehicle’s battery level and charging status. When you use Renault’s navigation, it shows you how far the car can go without more electricity and a map of the nearest charging stations and their real-time availability. The remote control allows you to operate the air conditioning and heating before you enter the car.

The Twingo ZE features a Caméléon charger which takes AC current from 2kW to 22kWh. It allows the EV to charge up in 63 minutes using the fastest 22kW-32A charger. A 7.4kW wall box takes charges it in 4 hours, while a Green-up plug takes 8 hours.

Renault is no stranger to EVs, and the Twingo ZE is the latest entrant to its stable. The carmaker has the Twizy, Zoe, Kangoo ZE, and Master ZE electric vehicles in Europe, the Kwid-based City K-ZE in China, and the RSM SM3 ZE sedan in South Korea. We saw the Zoe at Auto Expo 2020, and you can read about it in our story.

The Renault Twingo ZE is an unlikely contender for India. Currently, the carmaker is placing bets on localised, affordable models. While import restrictions and market tastes make cars such as the IC Twizy impractical for India, the electric revolution could open the gates for cars such as the Twingo ZE and ZOE. Here’s to hoping that we see this pocket rocket on our shores in the future.

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