Renault has removed its Twingo city car from sale in the UK, citing slow sales and an overall streamlining of the brand’s range.
Slow sales have been blamed for the demise of the model, along with an overall Just 877 Twingos were sold in the UK in 2018, down from a peak of 5,555 in 2015.
This ties in with Renault’s decision to simplify its model range, offering a new ‘Easy Life’ package on its Clio, Captur, Megane, Scenic and Koleos models to make things easier for consumers.
The Twingo was one of very few rear-engined cars on sale in the UK, and Renault claimed its packaging allows for greater passenger space and an improved turning circle. It seems, however, that its quirky layout didn’t endear it to British buyers.
At the same time, Renault has given the Twingo a mid-life facelift for other European markets where it still sells in profitable numbers. The updated model sees a cleaner, simpler exterior design and some interior tweaks, along with some engine updates.
Smart ForFour staying on
Meanwhile, Smart has announced that the Twingo’s withdrawal from the UK market will not affect its mechanically-identical twin, the Smart ForFour.
The two vehicles were jointly developed as part of a broader co-operation between Daimler (Smart’s parent company) and the Renault-Nissan Alliance on a number of vehicle projects.
