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Ken Gratton25 Oct 2014
NEWS

The 24 minutes du Twizy

Renault claims it has never considered its trendy Twizy for a one-make series... but pictures don't lie
Renault's faced with a conundrum. Its Twizy quadricycle can't be registered for the road in Australia. 
Unlike other markets, Australian law makes no allowance for a passenger vehicle that's not quite a car, but definitely not a bike. 
Here at motoring.com.au, we've driven the Twizy, and its pleasing to note that it has many of the makings of a serious race car: independent suspension all round, four-wheel discs and the drive unit mounted over the rear axle, with torque sent there. There are no lengthy overhangs and weight is minimal. Also minimal is the list of comfort and convenience features that are the first things track pilots rip out of their cars for the weekend sprints. No need for a roll cage, because the Twizy has its own built-in safety cell.
So it's obvious, or so we thought. The Twizy could be the track-worthy equivalent of PWC (personal water craft). It can't be used on the road, but it can be trailered to venues where it can be driven. In fact, the Twizy is just about small enough to fit in the back of a 6x4 trailer. Furthermore, commuters might object to paying $12,000 or thereabouts for a basic four-wheeled 'scooter', but as an entree to motorsport, $12,000 is cheap!
But no. It's not so obvious at all. Renault has never entertained thoughts of a one-make Twizy series for Australia – or anywhere else in the world. No WTC or WTTC, no IndyTwizy or NASTAR. If you want close racing in a field of Twizys, close off a bike path and charge entry for an occasional Twizy tarmac rally. That's not going to happen though.
When the whole question was put to Renault Australia's Corporate Communications Manager, Emily Fadeyev, she made a valiant effort at formulating an answer. 
"There was a concept car: a Twizy RenaultSport F1 collaboration. That had Formula One wheels on the Twizy... beefed-up engine power and spoiler and all sorts of things. It was done as a bit of a fun exercise..." she said. Beyond that however, Renault has not previously considered the Twizy for motor sport competition.
"We've never thought about it, would be the honest answer..." Ms Fadeyev remarked.
But would Renault think about it now that the question is out there? At this point, and presumably lost for words, Ms Fadeyev turned to Renault's EV Specialist Elena Wood, and said: "All yours..."
Wood made the observation that Renault wouldn't want Twizy to be locked into a role that was distinct from its original design purpose, and a one-make race series for the car would detract from that. Put quite simply, as a brand-building exercise for Twizy, motor sport competition is just not a good fit – although wouldn't you love to see a field of Twizys, each with a Suzuki Hayabusa engine residing where the standard 13kW electric motor is normally located?
"There's a lot of different ways of promoting Twizy," Ms Fadeyev gamely continued, after re-gathering her thoughts.
"[Renault] partnered with David Guetta – the DJ – for the launch of it... I think Twizy featured in one of his film clips. 
"In terms of what we're doing in Australia, I think our first step is 'awareness' of Twizy."
Awareness... something like Volvo's S60 has been enjoying in V8 Supercars this year? Forget music videos; awareness and motor sport make a perfect pairing.
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Written byKen Gratton
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