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Renault reveals 235kW V6 concept

MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Amidst Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg's controversial win at the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix, Renault previewed its next-generation Twingo with a beastly concept car - the Twin’Run.

The Twin’Run is a performance-built car and will continue the French automaker's racing legacy by picking up where the famous R5 Turbo and Clio V6 left off.

The Twin’Run led the way with Carlos Tavares, chief operating officer at the wheel, tailed by a Clio V6 driven by F1 star Charles Pic and a Maxi 5 Turbo with its celebrated driver Jean Ragnotti, at the helm.

V6 POWER

The model uses the same 3.5 V6 used in the Megane Trophy race car as well as the Nissan 350Z, producing 238kW at 6800rpm/380Nm at 4850rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed sequential and whisks the Twin’Run from 0-100km/h in 4.5seconds to a top speed of 250km/h. Keeping the model on the tar is a limited slip differential while its twin clutch is borrowed directly from competition.

The cooling system has received special treatment with polished aluminum pipes set into the floor. The engine is separated from the driving position by a plexiglass panel.

The model is 3.6m long, 1.7m wide and 1.4m tall.

The axles have an anti-roll bar with a diameter of 22mm at the front and 25mm at the rear. The concept car is balanced with a 43/57 weight distribution with the model weighing 950kg. To reduce weight the model has a tubular steel chassis, glass-polyester bodywork and has carbon-fibred front, roof and wheel arches.

The model has 18" alloys wrapped in 205/40 tyres at the front and 245/35 at the rear.

‘A COCKTAIL OF ENERGY’

Twin’Run sports the automaker’s styling shift as seen on the latest Clio debuted in SA earlier in 2013. The Twin’Run’s blue paint job is a reference to the “Play” petal of the fifth stage in the French automaker’s design strategy.

The “5” on the doors refers to the R5 Turbo, the emblematic 1980s rally car. a host of details pay homage to Renault’s iconic racer including the design of the headlights and rear styling.

The LED headlights are a contemporary take on the light racks used in night rally specials.

Renault’s senior vice president of corporate design, Laurens van den Acker, said: “Twin’Run is a cocktail of energy, passion and athleticism, rekindling the memory of emblematic Renault racing cars. Following its twin, Twin’Z, a stylish urban concept car, Twin’Run shows that personalisation is a core strategy at Renault.”

HEIR TO THE MAXI 5 TURBO


So what’s it like to drive?

Rally champion Jean Ragnotti was involved in the final tuning of the Twin’Run.

He comments: “Following this first drive, I’d say that this is a sound car with a strong pedigree. It’s easy to control. You can feel straight away that it’s a sports car. In terms of balance and ride, it brings the R5 Turbo to mind to some extent.

“The gearbox is smooth and you’ve got powerful brakes. Excellent traction with a responsive engine delivering full power at all revs, rounder and with more torque than the R5 Turbo, making it particularly efficient and easy to drive, unlike the R5, which required more technique.

“All we need to sharpen our attacking edge a bit more are racing tyres. There’s a slight roll but no understeer. This concept car is a worthy heir to the Maxi 5 Turbo.”

Ragnotti is the celebrated rally driver of the R5 Turbo in the 1980s. He won three World Rally Championship races behind the wheel of the iconic Renault - Monte Carlo in 1981, 1982 and the 1985 Tour de Corse races.
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