Renault wants to bring the new Twingo to the UK

Renault is shaping up for a big year. The Top Gear Award-winning 5 EV has touched down, and the new Twingo, er, hasn't. Yet. But it might still make it to the UK.

“Depending on the attraction of R5, I will fight to get it,” says Fabrice Cambolive, Renault brand chief. “The Twingo is an interesting exercise for many reasons.”

Cambolive reckons the frog-eyed supermini has the potential to appeal in big numbers to legacy customers of the old ICE Twingo and Zoe, who'll be desperate to upgrade. And that its price and size all work in its favour. It's expected to have a sub-£25,000 starting price point, much like the 5.

Speaking of, Cambolive is cautiously optimistic about the electric supermini's capacity to turn the tables here. In France, it's been on sale since October and was the country's best-selling EV in both November and December. They're selling like hot cakes! Or warmed-up pains au chocolat.

Truth be told, Renault has a lot riding on the success of both the 5 and the Twingo. The Group missed its ZEV mandate target with EVs only making up nine per cent of its total sales in Europe, when 22 per cent was the agreed threshold. For the record, it wasn't alone, prompting the UK government into a consultation with other carmakers about the arrangements.

On the surface, shifting the Renault 5 in the UK shouldn’t be too hard, if that's the barometer Renault is using to gauge Twingo appetite. The electric take on the legendary hatch looks brilliant, has over 250 miles of range and doesn’t cost the earth... relatively speaking. A Good Car.

Other Renault Group EVs joining the fray soon include the 4 E-Tech electric, Alpine A390 and revamped Renault Twizy in the guise of the Mobilize Duo and Bento. Our money's on the Twingo making it to the UK. Is yours?