Renault’s new Twingo city car now has a new top-of-the-range model, the Dynamique S TCe 90.v

• Sporty new flagship for Renault’s hot-selling new city car
• Previously optional Sport Pack added as standard
• Exterior styling and interior trim embellishments
• Powered by 90 hp TCe 90 0.9-litre turbo engine
• £12,545 on the road including 4+ warranty and assistance package

Renault’s award-winning new Twingo city car range has been further bolstered by the addition of a new top-of-the-range model, the Dynamique S TCe 90.

It features the previously optional ‘Sport Pack’ of exterior styling and interior trim embellishments as standard, and is powered by the 90 hp 0.9-litre TCe  turbocharged petrol engine fitted to the former top model, the Dynamique TCe 90.

Standard features unique to the Dynamique S include an aluminium pedal set, red/black part leather upholstery and a red interior touch pack. The exterior lines are set off by 16-inch sport diamond-cut alloy wheels, matt black side decals and an exterior touch pack in red, with white as a no-cost option.

The red interior touch pack adds stylish finishing touches to the steering wheel, centre console and air vents, while the exterior touch pack does the same for the front grille insert, door mirrors and side door protectors.

The Dynamique S also comes with LED daytime running lights, front foglamps, electric heated door mirrors, cruise control, a lane departure warning system, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshift knob, air conditioning and white instrument backlighting. As with every new Twingo, it has electric power steering, electric front windows, a trip computer and gearchange indicator, a lane-change function for the indicators and automatic activation of the rear screen wiper when reverse gear is selected. 

Practicality is ensured by the unique-in-segment folding front passenger seat and a split-folding two-seat rear bench. The safety equipment includes Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Brake Assist and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

The 0.9-litre TCe turbocharged engine endows the Dynamique S with the performance to match its sporty looks. It develops 90 hp at 5,500 rpm and 135 Nm of torque at 2,500 rpm – sufficient for 0-62 mph acceleration in 10.8 seconds and a top speed of 103 mph. Yet with engine Stop & Start as standard it is also extremely efficient, recording an official 65.7 mpg – and more than 50 mpg in urban city use – with CO₂emissions of just 99 g/km to put it in VED Band A for free Road Fund Licence.

Fuel economy can be improved by up to 10 per cent by making full use of the gearshift indicator, the Renault Driving eco² feature incorporated within the R & GO^®or R-Link connectivity systems and the in-built ECO switch, which alters the throttle mapping and air conditioning power.

Variable Gear Ratio steering is also standard, giving a firmer feel to the leather-rimmed wheel in the straight-ahead position while ensuring a higher steering ratio as the car starts to turn. The result is effortless manoeuvrability in congested cities with great precision when changing direction on open roads.

The Twingo Dynamique S is available in Crystal White, Diamond Black or Flame Red paint colours and is available to order now, with first deliveries expected in April 2015.

It costs £12,545 on the road and comes with the peace of mind of Renault’s 4+ warranty and assistance package. This protects against defects recognised by Renault for four years or 100,000 miles (first two years unlimited). In the event of a breakdown, Renault provides emergency roadside repairs or towing to the nearest dealer 24/7 every day of the year, plus three years’ European cover. There is also a three-year paint warranty and 12 years’ cover against corrosion.

All-inclusive servicing packages are also available for up to four years.

25,000 Dacia models sold from scratch in just 18 months, you do the maths !

In just 18 months, Dacia, the darling of the European car market, has blazed quite a trail in the UK. And now, not long since cruising past 10,000 sales, it’s already popping a few more corks, of high quality, but affordable, bubbles, after handing over its 25,000^th model.

With supermarket price wars still very much headline news, it’s fitting that in the car market at least, one challenger brand is doing exactly the same, taking on the establishment, and winning.

The “shockingly affordable” brand proudly makes an enemy of the unnecessary, offering high-quality, spacious and well-built cars at affordable prices. Clearly, after racking up an awe-inspiring 15,000 extra sales in just eight months, it’s a winning combination.

With its sales still soaring, it’s setting a pace which quite frankly, others are struggling to match. In fact, even though it’s already celebrating its latest milestone, Dacia is already sitting pretty on an order bank of a further 3,500, and is now hunting down established players like Mazda, MINI and Volvo in the sales charts.

The 25,000^th customer, Alison Beirne, a customer service executive, has just taken delivery of her new pride and joy at Bristol Street Motors in Derby. Handing over the keys was Sales Manager, Andrew Peacock. To Mrs Beirne’s delight, he also had the pleasure of surprising her with a bouquet of flowers, as well as a gift of one year’s local gym membership, so that she can enjoy some well-deserved R&R, on top of her Dacia adventures, in her imminent retirement.

Mrs Beirne splashed out a grand total of £9,995 on her gleaming new Sandero Stepway Laureate TCe 90, in white, but “having done the maths” for herself, she saved herself thousands of pounds compared to rival cars.

Commenting on her decision to plump for Dacia’s fast-selling Sandero Stepway, she said, “I had a 12 year-old car which was reaching the end of its life and a friend of mine casually said why didn’t I just pop into Bristol Street to check out the Dacia range. As soon as I saw the Sandero Stepway in the showroom, I knew it’d be just perfect for me. It looks good, the higher seating position is great and its got some good features, including the touchscreen sat nav. I know Dacias have great reliability, so it won’t let me down either. The hassle-free buying process was the icing on the cake.”

Dacia, Europe’s fastest-growing car brand, is also the most successful UK retail car launch in history. Its “pay for what you value” ethos, offering British buyers exactly what they need, nothing more, nothing less, is clearly striking a chord. 

Renault’s value offshoot is famed for its shockingly affordable, high-quality cars, which favour function over frivolity, but not at the expense of style. Its four-model range of Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV and Duster kicks off at just £5,995, topping out at £15,495.