Renault Twizy

Renault Twizy
Overview
ManufacturerRenault
Also calledNissan New Mobility Concept (Japan)
Production2012 – September 2023[1]
Assembly
DesignerFrançois Leboine, Eduardo Lana[3]
Body and chassis
ClassMicrocar Quadricycle
Body style2-door quadricycle
LayoutRear-engine, rear-wheel-drive
DoorsScissor
Powertrain
Electric motorISKRA asynchronous motor
TransmissionSingle gear
Battery6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery
Electric range90 km (56 mi) (NEDC)
Dimensions
Wheelbase1,686 mm (66.4 in)
Length2,338 mm (92.0 in)
Width1,234 mm (48.6 in)
Height1,454 mm (57.2 in)
Curb weight450 kg (992 lb)
Chronology
SuccessorMobilize Duo (Europe)

The Renault Twizy is a two-seat electric microcar designed and marketed by Renault. It is classified in Europe as either a light or heavy quadricycle depending on the output power, which is either 4 kW (5.4 hp) for the 45 model or 13 kW (17 hp) for the 80 model, both names reflecting its top speed in km/h. Originally manufactured in Valladolid, Spain,[4][5] production was moved to Busan in South Korea in March 2019 to meet increased demand in Asia.[6] In July 2023 it was announced that production of the Twizy was to end in September 2023; it is to be replaced by the new Mobilize Duo.[7]

The 2009 concept

The Twizy debuted as a concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show[8] and was designed by Françoise Leboinne and Luciano Bove. In November 2010, Nissan announced a rebadged variant to the Twizy, called the New Mobility Concept, or NMC. It was also displayed as a concept with Renault Samsung badging at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show,[9] although it was branded as a Renault in South Korea for production. In May 2011, Renault announced they would produce the Twizy and began taking reservations.

In March 2012, the Twizy was released to the French market, followed a month later by several other European countries.[10] Available in three models, the Twizy sales price does not include the battery pack, which is leased for a monthly fee that includes roadside assistance and a battery replacement guarantee.[11][12] In 2020 the Twizy became available as a direct purchase in the UK, no longer requiring the battery rental.[13]

The Twizy was the top-selling plug-in electric vehicle in Europe during 2012.[14] The milestone of 15,000 Twizys sold worldwide was achieved in April 2015.[15] Global cumulative sales totaled 29,118 units through December 2019, with Europe as its main market.[16]

  1. ^ "Le Renault Twizy tirera sa révérence en septembre 2023". Auto Moto. July 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Park Tae-joon (October 25, 2018). "[단독]르노 '트위지' 부산서 생산한다" [Exclusive: Renault 'Twizy' produced in Busan] (in Korean). Daum. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  3. ^ Traverso, Marco (2012-05-29). "Exclusive: Renault Twizy design story". carbodydesign.com. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  4. ^ "Renault Twizy". Renault.com. Renault. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Renault ultima la primera hornada de su vehículo 100 % eléctrico, 'made in Spain'" (in Spanish). 24 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Renault to move Twizy production to South Korea". 16 December 2018.
  7. ^ Kim, Thomas (2023-07-24). "Renault Twizy: le quadricycle électrique va bientôt raccrocher!". L'Automobile Magazine (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-08-16.
  8. ^ Pulman, Ben. "Renault Twizy ZE electric concept at 2009 Frankfurt motor show". Car Magazine. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  9. ^ "[서울모터쇼] 혁신적인 2인승 초소형 전기차 '트위지'". 탑라이더 (in Korean). 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  10. ^ King, Danny (2012-06-15). "Twizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in France". Autoblog. Retrieved 2020-05-23. Renault started selling the Twizy EV in France in March and debut sales of the model in the UK in April.
  11. ^ Loveday, Eric (2011-08-12). "After driving the Renault Twizy, reviewer calls it "the only EV I could imagine owning"". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  12. ^ Pulman, Ben (2010-09-30). "Renault Twizy (2011): the tandem-seat electric city car". Car Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  13. ^ "Electric Vehicle Range - Renault Cars & Vans - Renault UK". Renault.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference TopPEV2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "15,000 Renault Twizy Now in Circulation". AutoVolt magazine. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2015-04-02. Electro mobility helps respect the environment, reduce acoustic pollution, and contributes to preserving our cultural heritage, damaged everyday by car exhaust gases... With 20% of vehicles using electric power, particulate concentration in the city air could be reduced by up to 30%, and NO2 concentration by 45%.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Renault2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).