Renault Wind: Twingo-Based Roadster Officially Revealed


These are the first official photos of Renault's brand-new, small coupe-roadster model, the Wind, that it will have its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Known as the Twingo CC from the spy shots over the past couple of years, the Wind will go up against the likes of the Peugeot 207CC and Opel Tigra in Europe when sales start later in the year.

The strictly two-seater model shares its platform and mechanical hardware with the Twingo, though at 3.830mm long, it's 230mm longer than the hatchback.

Despite the fact that Renault pitches the car as a coupe-roadster, unlike other CC models with retractable hardtops, the Wind uses an electric roof that rotates 180 degrees into the trunk.

A similar (but not the same) system was employed on the Ferrari 575 Superamerica.

The whole process takes only 12 seconds and according to Renault, the Wind's luggage space remains at 270 liters whatever the position of the hardtop.

The French automaker is keeping a tight lid on other details for now, but it is expected that the Wind will be offered with two of the Twingo's petrol engines, a 1.2-liter turbo with 100HP and a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter unit with 133HP.