Renault is set to launch a replacement for the Twizy in the form of two new models, the Duo and Bento. The two newcomers will be launched under a new Renault sub-brand, Mobilize, and won’t wear the familiar Renault diamond badge when it arrives later this year.

Despite looking like concept cars, both the Duo and Bento are production-ready and will go on sale in France before the end of the year. Like the Twizy, both models are classed as heavy quadricycles rather than cars. This means that they are limited in terms of power and performance and aren’t required to meet the same safety standards as cars. 

Designed for urban use, the Duo is a two-seater commuter vehicle while the Bento features a large storage cube at the back and is aimed at commercial users. At 2.43 metres long and 1.30 metres wide, the Duo is 93mm longer and 66mm wider than the original Twizy but features similar scissor-action doors. Like the Twizy, the Duo also places its passengers in a tandem arrangement, with the passenger sitting behind the driver. According to Mobilize, the Duo is still small enough to allow drivers to park at 90 degrees to the kerb in a conventional parking lot. 

Like the Citroen Ami, both the Duo and Bento have been designed in such a way that production costs are as low as possible. The front and rear bumpers are identical, as are the door sills. According to Mobilize, the Duo uses five times fewer parts than a conventional car. 

The Bento version features an integrated cargo box of 649 litres, which is the equivalent to two city car boots. Combined with other storage areas in the cabin, the total usable volume is just under one cubic metre. 

Inside, the Duo is basic but adds significantly more kit than the Twizy offered. The most obvious feature is a dashboard designed (for an unexplained reason) to mirror the design of a classic ‘boombox’ portable hi-fi system. Mobilize describes the switchgear as ‘deliberately basic’, which could also be interpreted as being cheap. Screen and connectivity functions are provided by the driver's smartphone using a Bluetooth or USB-C connection rather than an integrated infotainment screen. A transducer installed between the ‘boombox’ and windscreen transforms the passenger compartment into a giant loudspeaker, delivering all-round sound without the need for speakers. Access to the Duo is via a smartphone digital key that can be shared with up to six users. 

In terms of battery and range, both the Duo and Bento models are fitted with a 10.3kWh battery (in improvement over the Twizy’s 6.1kWh pack) and drive through a motor borrowed from the Renault Austral hybrid. According to Mobilize’s figures, the Duo has a WMTC range of 100 miles while the Bento can manage up to 88 miles. However, it’s worth noting that these figures are achieved on the WMTC cycle for motorcycles and not the more familiar (and tougher) WLTP cycle for cars. That said, 100 miles is around twice as much as the original Twizy offered. 

Like its predecessor, the Duo features a standard three-pin plug at the front for domestic connections or, optionally, a Type 2 plug suitable for most public or company charging points. According to Mobilize’s figures, the Duo can add just under 20 miles of range from a simple domestic socket in just one hour, the time to have lunch. Charging from 20% to 80%, i.e. around 75 miles, takes 3 hrs 50 from a domestic socket, and 3 hrs 25 with a Type 2 socket. 

The Duo will be available from launch in three guises. An entry-level 45 Neo model is aimed at markets where drivers are able to drive powered vehicles without a licence. As the UK isn’t one of those, the range here will start with the 80 Pro, which starts at €11,600 (£9,700). A higher spec 80 Evo (which adds luxuries including a heated drivers seat and Bluetooth connection) is priced from €12,500 (£10,500) while the commercial Bento version is priced from €12,900 (£10,800). 

In France, where the Duo and Bento will be launched initially, customers can take advantage of a special contract hire scheme that will allow drivers to drive off in a Duo for less than €30 a month (£25) with a €2,990 downpayment. 

Further information about the Duo’s availability and pricing in the UK market is expected to be announced shortly. 

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