In the early 90s Patrick Le Quément, Renault's design chief introduced the Twingo. Which could be hailed responsible for bursting the 'sub B segment' bubble in Europe in the recent past. The Twingo with its monospace shape has an increased interior space. Although it may be said that it was not the first time such an idea of a monvolume packaging was conceived for a car this size. But it was a first from a major manufacturer complete with its utilitarian values, and looks that seemed all right. It could have been a bigger success story had it been sold in Britain earlier on its life span. This was depicted by the success of a later entrant in the form of the Smart For Two.
For over a decade there has been no successor from the Renault stable for the Twingo other than 'facelifts'. The Modus would have shared a relation to a contemporary Twingo akin to that enjoyed by the Scenic with the Megane. However the benchmark set by the collaborative effort of Peugeot, Citroën and Toyota to produce a city car in the form of 107, C1 and Aygo may have alluded at the next Twingo from Renault. And so we have had a preview of the next Twingo in the form of 'Twingo concept' at Mondial de l'Automobile last month. ‘Concept' not translated from research of Design and function opportunities like the BMW Concept, Coupé Mille Miglia, but a projection of a design 'character'. This makes it appear as if Renault has taken the back seat in a segment it was the driver. To the extent that the car is no more a one box design.
Renault has portrayed music and independence in the character of the car with its heavy bias on telecommunication and iPod culture. Spell that as youth culture. Step back and look again. It looks like a car close to production with sophisticated interiors and lighting et al. In a way Renault is to set the next Twingo as an active and an engaging car using trends and technology that is definitely aimed at youngsters. Replacing the previously suave and simple Twingo with a relatively aggressive and trenchant front face. While also made to feel much sportier with its down road graphic, emphasised in its volume and stance. Though like its predecessor the major surfaces have not been made busy, but kept simple while also incorporating cues from the former in the interior.
Clearly as always Renault have tried to inject a soul into a machine, the car. Whose minimalist, less complicated interior is surrounded by hi-tech (in the form of blue tooth, internet, mood lighting) ambience. Ironical this, since the young urban culture it seems to be representing gets closer to the next generation of the machine world. So is the soul redefined? Perhaps this is an outcome of following the consumer patterns in other areas of design and labelling it as lifestyle. Nothing wrong when one considers that the modern lifestyle has been moulded by what is in offer from the 'Industrialised' world. Anything outside this regime may deem dated.
Having established its capability to deliver innovative design, and develop a corporate visual identity. It remains to be seen how the third phase of design at Renault, known as 'touch design' is succeeded. Would the next Twingo be a prelude to the transition into that next design phase?