Renault Wind – née Renault Twingo CC – announced

The Renault Wind will debut at the Geneva Motor Show

It’s not exactly a secret that Renault has been planning a coupe/cabriolet version of the Twingo for some time. First revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007, we reported back in April last year that the Twingo CC would arrive this Spring; and it will. But as the Renault Wind.

We quoted Renault’s Yves-Eric More as saying in April that “It’s going to be a niche vehicle, and like any niche vehicle, the objective will be to do something different, that gives a boost to the brand’s image.” And it is different – it has a new name.

Actually, that’s a little unfair. Although the Wind is yet another Coupe/Cabriolet it does look a good stab at something with a bit of flair. It features a pivoting roof mechanism which not only opens/shuts in just 12 seconds but leaves a healthy 270 litres of boot space whether the roof is up or down.

The Wind is a but longer than the Twingo, but get’s the Twingo’s front end – but with better looking lights and a lower air intake – and a stubby tail with spoiler and LED lights front and back. The interior isn’t dragged over from the Twingo, but features components from Renault models further up the range.

Engines on offer at launch are the 100bhp, 1.2 litre turbo 4-pot which gets to 60mph in 11 seconds and the 1.6 litre from the Clio GT which offers 128bhp and 0-60mph in 9 seconds.

The Renault Wind gets its debut at Geneva next month together with Renault’s other new Coupe/Cabriolet – the Renault Megane CC.

By Cars UK