The original Twingo was launched in April 1993 and was sold in Europe until June 2007, only in LHD markets.
Project
The Twingo was designed under Patrick le Quément, Renault's chief designer. Le Quément's belief was that it was a greater risk for Renault to take no risks at all, having seen its market share suffer from cars such as the Renault 9 and 11. The design of the Twingo resembles that of the 1982 Polish prototype Beskid, from which its monobox silhouette is claimed to be derived. Renault "borrowed" the design when the Polish company making the Beskid, FSM, didn't extend the patent on the cars. However, Renault participated in the 1981-1984 'Mono-Box' ECO 2000 car project along with PSA Peugeot-Citroën and the French government. This inspired a Mono Box design intended for the Citroën AX that didn't make it to production, after negative reactions in focus groups.
Production
The Twingo has been built since its launch in France in 1992 and in Colombia and Uruguay from 1997 to 2003, undergoing three intermediate restylings in 1998, 2000 and 2004—solely as left-hand drive models in its first-generation and not sold in most RHD markets.
Production of the first generation model ceased at the Flins factory in France on 28 June 2007. It was produced in Colombia by the Sofasa conglomerate for the South American market until June, 2012.
Characteristics
The Twingo featured unusual features (at the time of launch) of an electronic centrally mounted instrument panel, consisting of a speedometer, fuel gauge and clock, with the odometer and trip recorder selected by pushing a button on the end of the steering column stalk. This left just a strip of warning lights in the area behind the steering wheel. (A central analogue instrument cluster was a feature of the 1959 Austin Mini). It also had a sliding rear seat, which could be moved to either increase boot space or rear seat legroom. (This was a feature of the late 1980s Kia Pride/Ford Festiva/Mazda 121.) The boot parcel shelf was also unusual in that it was attached to the inside of the tailgate, and lifted up with the tailgate. It could also be clipped back against the rear window when not required. (This was a feature of the 1978 Citroën Visa)
Production ceased in 2007 when it was replaced by the new Twingo.