Topless Twingo for Frankfurt?

The Renault Twingo is the French car firm’s new baby…well for now anyway, because speculation has arisen that Renault is expected to unveil a new concept, the Twingo Coupé-Cabriolet, at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

According to a report from Greek motoring website , the new car will be a convertible version of the Twingo hatch, featuring a revolving one-piece roof unit that spins back into the cargo area and supposedly eliminates the complexity of a folding roof. Think of a unit similar to that of the Ferrari Superamerica and you’re not far off the mark.

Visually, the CC version is unlikely to share many styling cues with its hatch counterpart. In fact, it has been suggested that the instrument panel could be the only carryover from the original model. Although platform, and powertrains are said to be the same, , suggest that the Twingo CC will be powered by two 1,1-litre engines developing 89 kW and 100 kW respectively – although the report on the launch of the Twingo in the August issue of CAR Magazine states that the petrol engines used in the Twingo hatch are 1,2-litre units that develop less power.

The car’s lines will be slightly altered, especially at the rear, which needed to be redesigned in order to accommodate the roof mechanism and storage. The compact interior of this concept only has space for two occupants.

The Twingo hatch is currently manufactured in Slovenia, but the Coupé-Cabriolet will reportedly be built at the same factory where the legendary Alpines were made in Dieppe, France.

Although such a model is likely to hold a great deal of appeal to those in the market for a cute convertible, the complex engineering behind such a roof mechanism would probably add a great deal of weight and cost to a car that boasts a competitive retail price as one of its prime virtues. We will have to wait and see if anything further comes of this cheerful little design concept.

Don’t forget to read Mike Monk’s report on the launch of the Renault Twingo, to find out more on this popular little Euro-hatch and its impending arrival on our market - in the August issue of CAR Magazine.