"Small can be joyful": Frank Stephenson on the reborn Renault Twingo

Frank Stephenson is a car designer with more hits than the Beatles, including the Escort RS Cossie, first BMW Mini, Maser MC12, numerous Ferraris and the McLaren P1. These days he runs his own consultancy – Frank Stephenson Design. Here he shares his views on the reborn Renault Twingo

If optimism had four wheels and a city parking space it would look a lot like the new Renault Twingo. Not because it’s trying to relive the 1990s, but because it understands something often forgotten: small can be joyful.

The original Twingo was a masterclass in packaging and personality. The new one feels less like a reboot and more like a quiet love letter to the OG Twingo – affectionate, self aware, but disciplined enough not to drown in nostalgia.

The first thing you notice is proportion. Short. Upright. The wheels are pushed outward, maximising stance within a tiny footprint. It’s honest – no fake aggression, no oversized grille to compensate for compact dimensions.

The face is where nostalgia flirts but doesn’t overstay its welcome. Circular headlamp graphics echo the original, but they’re executed with modern LED precision. They feel intentional rather than sentimental. The smooth front is clean, friendly, and refreshingly free of unnecessary vents.

In profile, the Twingo resists the temptation to over sculpt. That restraint is the design’s greatest strength.The upright greenhouse is perhaps its boldest statement. Generous glass area improves visibility and reinforces the car’s democratic character. You can see out of it. That matters more than designers often admit.

At the rear, the vertical theme continues. Simple light graphics, clean surfacing, no dramatic diffuser theatrics. It’s a city tool. And that’s exactly why it works.

The new Twingo doesn’t pretend to be more than it is. It embraces scale. It embraces friendliness. It embraces accessibility. In a market obsessed with rugged crossovers, the Twingo dares to be small – and that takes confidence.

Design isn’t always about dominance. Sometimes it’s about humility executed beautifully. The new Twingo remembers that cars can be companions, not statements.

Verdict: HOT