The new Renault Twingo has fewer spotlights, more power

Renault has updated its Twingo city car, giving it a slightly new look and a greater sheen of quality. Most evidently, its little spotlights up front have gone, arguably removing a bit of character from its styling.

But that's not the worst news; this facelift isn't coming to the UK. So once the current gen sells out, you'll no longer be able to buy a Twingo in Britain.

Mainland Europe will see the Twingo enjoy a 5bhp hike. Both its engines are three-cylinder petrols, your choice now split between a 75bhp nat-asp 1.0-litre and a 95bhp turbo 0.9-litre, the latter offering a twin-clutch automatic. No word yet on if the Twingo GT ‘hot’ hatch survives the update.

Renault reckons the Twingo’s new, cleaner exterior makes it look wider, while a 10mm drop in ride height helps contribute to a better drag coefficient. Inside, a seven-inch touchscreen links up to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and also incorporates Waze navigation. And, if you so wish, it can display a rev counter too. Yep, you still can’t have one via a traditional analogue dial.

There is now a handle on the boot lid, though, solving one of the Twingo’s more frustrating woes. Open that up and you have a 2.3m-long load bay, making this unfathomably practical for a city car if you frequently transport lengthy objects, despite the engine still being at the back. There’s also a reinforced parcel shelf (hurrah!), a lid for the glovebox (woohoo!) and “a collection of more modern gear knobs” to up the feeling of quality.

They may also up the price, but such details no longer concern those of us on British shores. Does that make you sad? Or does the inherently more sensible VW Up render the Twingo too niche?