Before you get too excited, know that this Twingo Gordini Renaultsport doesn't have any more power than the standard Twingo RS. So, it still has a fizzy 1.6-litre petrol with 133bhp, and it will still feel like it could handle more. However, if your hot hatch predilection is more 'dab of luxury' than 'dab of opposite lock' this could be just the diminutive performance car for you.

It will be on display on the Champs-Elysées until January before going on sale in March 2010, though we're not told what it'll cost yet - possibly because Renault is still working out how much more expensive it can make the Twingo without starting to look silly. MINI - expect a call from France.

Whatever the Gordini costs, it'll always come in blue with white stripes, with white mirror caps, a white spoiler and white front fog light surrounds. Inside the theme's bluer than Chubby Brown's set during dirty hour at a Misogynists Anonymous secret comedy night. The dials are blue, the door cards, the gear stick top and a host of other interior garnish too. The seats are of the quilted leather variety and the dash cowl is also swathed in cow hide.

A set of 17-inch alloys are standard, with either a blue or black inner rim, and if you want you can specify the harder Cup chassis, as with the normal car.

Mark Nichol - 26 Nov 2009