photos © Stéphane Marie

Launched in 1993, the Twingo will only have a “luxury” version from 1999 in an Initial definition. In the meantime, Renault will have released two very “fashionable” versions, the Twingo Kenzo in 1995, or the Twingo Elite in 1997. If the small car is particularly aimed at a female target, Renault did not see fit to decline it immediately. a high-end version. This will not have escaped the coachbuilder Lecoq who decided to produce “his” version.

A popular car certainly, but also and above all a city car with a crisp face, it knew how to charm Madame who found it ideal for doing her shopping on Rue de Passy. In 1995, Lecoq saw it as a way to make people talk about him again, his period of glory being part of the past, contenting himself with an activity of restoring old vehicles.

For his “luxury” Twingo, André Lecoq will draw inspiration from a recognized French brand, Bugatti. It is by its two-tone “polished-gloss” paintwork in the style of the extremely rare pre-war Royale that the Twingo Lecoq can be recognized. Added to this are 14-inch BBS rims inspired by the rims of the Bugatti EB110 adorned with the Lecoq logo and “Bugatti” logo, and aluminum grilles in place of the plastic vents on the hood. To ensure its difference, a Lecoq monogram completes the specific exterior equipment.

The interior is also completely refitted:

• We replace the foams and strengthen the lateral support.
• The seats are adorned with leather.
• We add a storage compartment between the leather-covered seats.
• The steering wheel and gear lever gaiter are also covered in leather and all the controls, initially blue, are repainted black.
• Veneers, imitation burl walnut, appear in the passenger compartment and a brass numbered plaque is affixed to the ventilation control block.
• We add overlays to leather-trimmed carpets.

This special series was not an initiative of Renault, but indeed of Lecoq, but the manufacturer validated the transformations, to the point that today, Renault Classic has a copy in its reserves in Flins: it was presented at Rétromobile in 2023 for the 30th anniversary of the Twingo.

A little less than 50 copies were made, and it is estimated that only around ten remain in circulation.

This Twingo Lecoq made you pay dearly for the difference, since you had to add 75% of the initial price for these transformations. The price of exclusivity, certainly, but still.

The Twingo Lecoq was available with a 5-speed manual gearbox, or even with the Easy transmission. It was equipped with the 1.2 liter 55 horsepower engine. It is possible that certain models at the end of the series could have been equipped with the 8-valve 60 horsepower D7F, but without certainty.