Following the launch of new Renault Twingo at the start of the year, Renault Sport will soon bring out new Twingo RS, as well as the latest Gordini RS version.

The new Twingo RS, which will go on sale in Europe from mid-March 2012 and is expected in South Africa in the third quarter of 2012, features the sporting interpretation of Renault's new styling identity, including a new grille design with four lights and a front bumper incorporating an F1-style blade.

This detail, which now runs across the Renault Sport range, recalls Renault's success in Formula 1. The rear end of the car features a tailgate-mounted lip spoiler, a bumper incorporating a diffuser and aerodynamic extensions on the rear wheel arches. Also available is a Design Pack, which includes grey/dark gunmetal grey door mirror housings, F1 blade and RS lip spoiler, plus chrome details for the fog light surrounds. It will also be possible to specify new 16-inch "Emotion" alloy wheels complete with RS-badged centre caps.

Renault Sport yellow stitching will feature inside (on the steering wheel, seats and dashboard cowl), while the dashboard, radio console, rev-counter housing and lateral air vents all come with gloss black inserts. The top of the steering wheel, seat backs and cushions, rev-counter surround and manual climate control controls are picked out in white.

The new Twingo RS features a normally-aspirated 1.6 16V RS engine (98kW at 6750rpm, and 160Nm of torque at 4400rpm), and a standard Sport chassis. The Cup chassis (ride height lowered by 4mm) is optional. Also optional is the RS Monitor, an on-board telemetry system.

The Twingo RS boasts low CO2 emissions (150g/km, 3.2 percent lower than the previous version) and fuel consumption (6.5 litres per 100km, three percent lower than before).