Renault has confirmed its ingenious Twizy two-seat electric commuter car – first shown last month at the Frankfurt Motor Show - will go on-sale in Europe shortly with sales in the UK scheduled for kick-off in March 2012. In fact Renault was quick to point out while rivals showed headline-grabbing two-seat electric cars as concepts in Frankfurt, the Twizy is already a production reality.
The Renault Twizy will be available in three model grades – ‘Urban’, ‘Colour’ and ‘Technic’. ‘Colour’ is an addition to the model range and, as the name suggests, introduces some snazzy paint schemes such as ‘Flame Orange’, ‘Ivy Green’ and ‘Urban Blue’ with co-coordinating interior hues.
Tipping the scales at only 450kgs, the Renault Twizy’s electric motor delivers 57Nm of torque instantaneously. It rides on 13-inch wheels and comes with two gloveboxes (one lockable) and a three-metre power cable for re-charging.
In Britain, Renault Twizy owners can hire their batteries in for exchange at re-charging stations (rather than waiting for re-charge).
Renault Twizy passengers sit behind the driver and both are securely strapped-in with three-point seatbelts (extra lateral strap in-front) and there is also a front airbag.
With a top speed of 80km/h, a range between re-charges of almost 100kms and a full re-charging time of just 3.5 hours, Renault says urban commuters and even Britain’s ubiquitous ‘White Van Men’ should consider the Twizy as an ideal vehicle for their needs – a zero emissions vehicle that is.
