Renault Twin’Z Concept unveiled

Dubbed “a playful city car that plays with light and opens up a whole new world of personalization opportunities,” the Renault Twin’Z Concept made its public debut this week at a design showcase at the Milan Triennale in Italy. The car draws inspiration from the automaker’s iconic Renault 5 and Twingo, and is expected to influence an upcoming production model, possibly a Twingo successor.

The Twin’Z Concept is a collaborative effort between Renault design chief Laurens van den Acker and British industrial design ace Ross Lovegrove. The car’s exotic satin-blue finish has a near-anodized appearance set off by a mega-load of LED lighting elements that run from its grille to its rear bumper. The look of the Twin’Z Concept’s iridescent 18-inch wheels was inspired by nature, and each is wrapped in a bespoke tire specifically created for this application by Michelin that extends the rim design into the tread pattern.

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Access to the Twin’Z Concept’s cabin is eased by four power-actuated doors — front-hinged fronts and rear-hinged rears — and the absence of a conventional B-pillar. Inside, this surreal realm reprises the vivid exterior color scheme and does away with all normal convention. It replaces the standard dash/instrumentation with a centrally mounted touchscreen tablet that handles all main system functions and a smartphone mounted in the driver’s line of sight that displays the vehicle’s speed, range, and warning lights. Four compact and lightweight individual seats are wrapped in a unique 3D woven fabric and feature visible frame structures. Each sits on a pedestal that appears to be growing from the floor.

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While offering few specific details on the car’s powertrain, Renault did confirm that the Twin’Z Concept is fitted with a 67-horsepower rear-mounted electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The car reportedly will be able reach a speed of 50 mph.