The Twingo was developed under the direction of Renault chief designer Patrick Le Quément. Its lineage traces to the W60 project, originally led by former chief designer Gaston Juchet, which aimed to replace the Renault 4 with a minivan-style model. Renault's thinking was also shaped by its participation in the 'Mono-Box' ECO 2000 car project with PSA Peugeot Citroën and the French government between 1981 and 1984.
Le Quément selected a design by Jean-Pierre Ploué for the production version, stretching the original prototype and adding a front-end layout intended to resemble a "smile." The first-generation Twingo debuted at the Paris Motor Show on 5 October 1992 and launched in continental European markets in April 1993.
The original Twingo was a two-door, front-engine city car. Its interior featured a centrally mounted electronic instrument panel and a sliding rear seat that allowed the driver to prioritize either boot space or rear-seat legroom. At launch it was priced at 55,000FF (approximately €8,400).
All engines were replaced in 1996 with a 1149 cc unit from the Renault Clio; a 16-valve 75 hp version of the 1.2-litre D-series engine followed in December 2000. The car received major restylings in 1998, 2000, and 2004. Production at the Flins factory ended on 28 June 2007; by 30 June 2007, 2,478,648 units had been produced in France. Including continued production in Colombia by Sofasa until 8 June 2012, the first-generation total reached approximately 2.6 million units.
Renault debuted the Twingo II at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. Built on the Renault Clio II floorpan, it was the first generation offered in right-hand drive. Production moved to the Revoz plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. In January 2008, the Twingo Renaultsport 133 was introduced with a 133 PS 1,598 cc engine; ordering and production of the 133 ended in August 2013.
The third generation debuted in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show in a five-door, rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. It was co-developed with Daimler's third-generation Smart Fortwo and second-generation Smart Forfour under "Project Edison," announced in March 2010. The Edison platform was designed from the outset to accept either an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. Renault specialised in the engines; Daimler in transmissions. The rear-engine layout allowed a 45° steering angle for tight urban turns. The car achieved a four-star Euro NCAP rating in 2014.
In February 2020, Renault launched the Twingo Z.E. (marketed in France as the Twingo E-Tech Électrique), the electric variant based on the Smart EQ Forfour drivetrain. It carried a 22 kW-hr lithium-ion battery, a 60 kW rear-mounted motor, and a rated WLTP range of 180 km (full cycle) or 250 km (city cycle). The vehicle accepted AC charging up to 22 kW only; no DC fast charge was available. Production of the internal combustion Twingo ended in summer 2024. Renault CEO Luca de Meo confirmed in 2021 that the range would be discontinued in its current form due to forthcoming Euro 7 emissions standards.
Since 2011, a one-make racing series for first-generation Twingos, the Renault Twin Cup, has operated in France.
The 2013 Twin'Run concept, developed with Tork Engineering and Poclain Véhicules, featured a mid-mounted V6 engine producing 320 hp, a twin-clutch six-speed sequential gearbox, a limited-slip differential, and double-wishbone independent suspension on both axles. Its tubular steel chassis drew inspiration from the Mégane Trophy and the Renault 5 Turbo Maxi from WRC.
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