Renault Twingo E-Tech electric UK 2026: price, range and when right-hand-drive cars arrive

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More than 100 left-hand-drive Renault Twingo E-Tech electric cars have arrived at UK dealerships ahead of the official launch, but customers won’t be allowed to take one for even a short test drive. The cars were shipped over from France and don’t yet have approval for UK roads. Their job is to let customers get a first look at the model and build interest before the right-hand-drive version arrives.

The entire batch is finished in bright “Absolute Green” and rides on black 16-inch steel wheels. The delivery doesn’t mean sales have actually started: Renault’s UK website still lists the local specification as going through type approval, and Twingo R Pass holders only get priority access to place an order once books open.

The production Twingo is built on Renault’s AmpR Small platform and uses an 82-hp electric motor with 175 Nm of torque. A 27.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery delivers up to 262 km of WLTP range. The model was designed first and foremost for the city: the compact battery keeps weight and price down but limits how far you can go on a single charge.

The talk of 50 kW fast charging needs a caveat. The base car comes with a 6.6 kW AC charger. The 50 kW DC port is part of the optional Advanced Charge pack, along with 11 kW bidirectional AC charging. In France, that pack costs €500 and takes the battery from 10 to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Renault is promising to keep the UK price below £20,000. A final price list hasn’t been published yet. In France, the base Twingo starts at €19,490.

SPEEDME.RU previously covered Renault’s decision to keep the Twingo to a single motor and a single battery, growing the lineup instead through trim levels and a soft-top version. The compact EV’s platform will also underpin the next Dacia Spring, which is targeting a price below €18,000.

The first hundred cars help Renault fill showrooms and start engaging with customers, but they don’t answer two key questions: how much the right-hand-drive Twingo will cost, and when dealers will be able to hand certified cars to buyers.