Stop Everything, The Renault Twingo Is Coming Back As A Cheap EV

How’s this for a daily dose of cuteness? The internet’s favorite French economy car, the Renault Twingo, is once again coming back from the dead and this time it should pay heavy tribute to the original. Renault claims the next Twingo will be all-electric, start at less than €20,000, and go on sale in 2026. Even with a nearly three-year timeline, the automaker has already released a concept version and it’s absolutely adorable.

Sure, in profile, this city car may look more like a second-generation Twingo than anything, but details of the original abound. That smiley face, the three hood vents, its translucent-era Parisian chic.

Look, we all complain that cars are getting too big, but how okay are you with dying in a small overlap crash anyway? Besides, the Twingo concept has good reason to offer a decent footprint: It could be one of Europe’s cheapest electric cars.

That targeted sub-€20,000 price tag I mentioned in the intro? It’s notable for several reasons. Firstly, that’s the plan before incentives. If government gravy trains keep it up, the next Twingo could be a properly cheap car. Oh, and in Europe, value-added tax is included in new car pricing. With the Euro roughly nine cents ahead of the dollar at the time of writing, the next Twingo could be the blueprint for EV domination. After all, automakers can hype up pricey electric crossovers all they want, but they won’t see exponential sales growth if people can’t afford them.

Believe it or not, Renault already has experience building a popular, affordable electric car. See, Renault owns Dacia, and Dacia sells something called the Spring. It has a top speed of yes, a zero-to-60 mph time of eventually, and most importantly, a dirt cheap MSRP. We’re talking about €20,800 for an electric car with 140 miles of WLTP range, good enough for runabout use. If the next Twingo is cheaper and better, that would be one hell of an achievement.

The, um, third rebirth of the Renault Twingo is both exciting and mildly shocking. Is this what it takes for millennials to understand how baby boomers felt when the New Beetle was unveiled? Regardless, we’ll never say no to yet another adorable European hatchback, and will be watching closely in 2026 to see if Renault sticks to its pricing estimates. Anyone want to place a bet?

(Photo credits: Renault, Dacia)

Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.

• For Three Days In California, This Once-Forbidden Renault Twingo Was The Best Car On Earth

• The Lane Museum Finally Got A Renault Twingo So Let’s Take A Look

• What It Was Like Driving A $20,000 Crossover From A Romanian Car Brand

• The Spacious Honda N-Van EV Is Yet More Evidence That Cheap EVs Can Totally Happen

• France Plans To Make Dirt Cheap 100 Euro/Month Lease Options Possible For Entry-Level EVs

Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.