| Week at the Wheel | Twingo Renaultsport Cup Gordini |

Inside & Out:

The Twingo's fundamental appearance is carried over, but the Gordini package brings with it a choice of exclusive colours and accessories. Externally, the bold blue and white stripes are a Gordini signature and the various white highlights around the car - like the wing mirrors and spoiler - integrate the theme nicely. The only dubious note in our eyes is the colouring of the wheels in the same blue as the body. This visual tweak met with universal disapproval. At best the consensus was that a white highlight on the wheels' spokes might have worked, though most reckoned that the wheels would be best left alone.

Inside, blue abounds. The steering wheel, gearstick gaiter, mats, seat belts and sundry other items are the body colour blue. Welcome touches, but you really need to like the exterior colour.

Engine & Transmission:

Renault's decision to stick with a relatively large normally aspirated engine in its smaller sporting models is a welcome move. Thrashing a rev-happy little engine tends to be much more gratifying than stroking along a turbocharged unit - you have to work for the performance and drive in a manner that keeps you in the zone where the engine does its best work: i.e. north of 4,000rpm. In these upper echelons it spins freely and happily and actively goads the driver into doling out a bit more punishment so it can lap it up.

The Twingo is refreshingly engaging and the diminutive 1.6-litre engine, with its modest 133bhp, still tugs at the heart as you fling it down your favourite road. The gearshift feels slightly notch-like when peddling around town but as you begin to push a little harder and work the 'stick harder it slickens up engaging accurately and quickly - though our test car's gearbox required some circumspection around a rushed down shift from fifth to fourth, where it is possible to catch the gate for reverse, positioned where sixth would be - below fifth.

Ride & Handling:

The Gordini drives much like the regular Twingo Cup, a car we thoroughly enjoyed driving last year. It drives as you think it would when you look at it, with the wheels pushed far out to the corners and a footprint almost as wide as it is long. Cornering is a flat, roll free and grippy experience. The steering wheel may feel a little bit big for the car but the joy brought by the accuracy with which one can place the front of the car never deteriorates and the adjustability and composure under duress is a treat to explore. Of course, the trade offs remain - the ride is as poor as it ever was.

Our test car's middle pedal wasn't as feelsome or reassuring and it should be, or as good as in other Twingo Cups we've tried, actually feeling rather numb and dead in its movement, offering very little feedback other than the telltale pulsing when the anti-lock brakes cut in. In fairness, stopping power was strong and even when the brakes were glowing after a spirited drive down some of our favourite twisting routes there was little or no fade. On a car we'd never driven before we'd doubt the brakes' part in proceedings; as it is we'll question the pad material and condition on our particular test car.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The premium Renault asks for on the Gordini is very difficult to be subjective about. The Twingo is something of a cult car in the first place. A limited edition version is guaranteed to appeal to the target audience and sell out quickly and easily. One should also bear in mind the active encouragement from Renault UK to get involved in fun events in your Renaultsport car, as we appreciated with our long term Clio.

Overall:

Time hasn't dulled the brilliance of the Twingo Cup. If anything the progressive move of the majority of new cars further away from the hardcore ethos of the baby Renault serves to further distance it from the humdrum norm. It remains an absolute hoot and a breath of fresh air in an increasingly stale and staid automotive atmosphere.