You already know that we at Jalopnik (and me personally) love the Renault Twingo, both the iconic original and the new fourth-gen electric one with a slam-dunk retro design (and the other two in between, as well). That new Twingo EV is Renault's latest in a slew of throwback models, including the 5 hatchback and 4 crossover, plus the bananas 5 Turbo 3E supercar. When Renault first unveiled the Twingo back in November it only showed photos of the hatch in its highest-spec, so I've been waiting to see what sort of design changes the lower-end ones would have.
Luckily the base Twingo's exterior design is exactly the same — there's no cheaping out on lights or trim pieces here — aside from the wheels. And the wheels are what we're here to talk about today, folks. The Twingo's Evolution trim level comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels that wear "Domino" hubcaps, and they're some of the best hubcaps I've ever seen, using the Renault logo to incredible effect.
Typically, hubcap designs have been an afterthought. They're supposed to give some semblance of a real wheel design so that, at a glance, it won't look like you're riding on cheap steelies. They're also usually just cheap plastic, as they're such a wear option (and can easily fly off). Every once in a while a company will put out a great hubcap design, and there are a lot of phenomenal aero cover/disc designs out there, but I think that's a different sort of thing.
The Twingo Evolution's disc-like hubcaps have nearly full coverage, instead of the steelie being partially visible like on most hubcaps. Rather than going with a design that mimics the look of a normal five-spoke or something, the Renault's design features hundreds of perforations that are shaped like Renault's diamond logo, with further indentations to extend the look. The chamfered hole for the valve stem is also shaped like the Renault emblem, which is a very cool way to do it. They're just so charming.
For an extra €600 you can get 18-inch alloy wheels called "Mikado," seen above. Their four spokes are shaped similarly to the pill motif seen throughout the rest of the Twingo's design, with subtle Twingo branding on one of the brushed aluminum–look spokes and a cool treatment for the center cap. They're very well suited to the Twingo's styling, but neither the Mikado nor the Domino hubcap are my favorite wheel design for the new Twingo.
That honor goes to the 16-inch "Diabolo" wheels — also steelies with a hubcap — on the Twingo's higher-end Techno trim level. While there's no Renault diamond motif here,
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Renault's new Twingo EV features exceptional hubcap designs that elevate typically overlooked wheel aesthetics.
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Great hubcap design matters because it shows automakers can prioritize style even on budget-friendly trim levels.
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The Twingo is part of Renault's retro revival lineup including the electric 5 hatchback and 4 crossover models.
