After having its disappointing price leaked, now Renault announces that French customers will be able to order the limited and overpriced Vibes edition of the Renault Twingo ZE in September.
In Germany, customers can order it a few weeks earlier in mid-August, but I think it’s just a symbolic date. Most German customers will prefer the Volkswagen triplets over this more expensive and with less range alternative.
Let’s see the press release.
Renault unveils the Vibe Limited Series:
- A Limited Series with colourful accents
- A new colour: Valencia Orange
- More than ever all the Twingo energy
- Orders open in France with Twingo Electric from September 2020
While the queen of city is about to become electric, Renault presents a brand-new Limited Series called Vibes. While this Limited Series celebrates the arrival of Twingo Electric, it will also be offered later on in its petrol engines versions. Orders will be open for France from the start of the new academic year in 2020.
Called Vibes, this Limited Series is based on New Twingo Electric’s Intens finish and features an exclusive new colour: Valencia Orange. It features a radiator grille with white accents and 16-inch white diamond alloy wheels with orange wheel covers. In keeping with the idea of duality, the Vibe Limited Series is also available in the palette of colors available* on Twingo Electric.
In addition to the possible colour choices, the bodywork is adorned with specific patterns – such as vibrations – composed of several white and grey or orange and grey lines depending on the chosen colour. Two versions of the stripping are available: a “light” version emphasising the edge line along the bodywork, and a “full” version extending to the roof. To underline the fact that Vibes belongs to the electric world, it is enhanced by a specific motif on the right rear wing above the recharging hatch, symbolizing a battery. A Vibes monogram on the rear doors adorns the side protection strips in the image of a belt buckle.
Inside, the dashboard above the display feature the Vibes pattern with colored stripes. The 7-inch EasyLink display allows the driver to check the availability of charging stations in real time and features Google Android Auto & Apple CarPlay smartphone replication. The seats also come in an exclusive finish with mixed leather/cloth upholstery with orange accents. Special door sills, overlay mats and an anodised orange gear selector base complete the package.
*except Flame Red and Mango Yellow
I don’t know exactly what Renault’s strategy for the Twingo ZE is, but it definitely seems to be a backup car. It’s the electric car that Renault will actively sell only if needed, it’s a plan B.
Right now Renault doesn’t need this small electric car to comply with EU emissions regulations since ZOE’s sales are more than enough. Don’t forget that thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars sales dropped a lot, which means that fewer electric cars are required to reach the quotas for this year than what was previously expected.
However, next year, the scenario will be different and if Renault concludes that selling the ZOE won’t be enough to comply with EU emissions regulations, it can easily give the little Twingo ZE a nice discount to boost sales.
Moreover, in 2022 the Twingo ZE will get a new generation with more range and probably CCS fast charging, which means that in 2021 the current generation might get generous discounts…
Additional, cheaper equipment versions of the battery-powered city car will be available for order in the fourth quarter of 2020 and will be delivered in spring 2021.
Renault’s secret calendar reveals two new BEVs
Anyway, it’s a shame that Renault considers the Twingo ZE a backup car, just like Volkswagen does with its triplets. There are a lot of European customers that just need and want a nice A-segment electric car with decent price and availability.
Knowing that a new generation is not far away, what do you think it would be a fair price for the current Renault Twingo ZE?
