Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At its most basic level, a car is a box that, by using levers and wheels, gets you to your destination. But we humans find personality and character in everything around us, especially our automotive pride and joy. The BMW 5-series exudes a serious intent for owners who see that in their own character. The Ford Transit has the look of a no-nonsense truck ready for business. If Renault’s customer research is to be believed, half of the people who saw the thumbnail for this video thought the Twingo was hideous and should never have existed. If you’re watching then you’re either curious as to why anyone thought this car should exist, or like me, you’re the one in four who think this is the happiest, smileyest, and greatest car of the 1990s. And like the BMW 5-series and Ford Transit, maybe its our playful, carefree side that loves it so much. Whichever camp you’re in, this is a fascinating tale that spans five decades. So, join me, and Renault’s head designer and father of the Twingo, Patrick Le Quément, as we delve into the Renault Twingo Story.
Link to Patrick's book - "Design Between The Lines": merrellpublishers.com/9781858946764
Patrick's new book "Luckyman": https://lignesautoeditions.fr/?p=905
Link to my full interview with Patrick: youtu.be/wdpxUtku4Bg
Music: "Powerup!" by Jeremy Blake, and "Enchantée feat. Mr Stabalina" by Slynk. Both from the YouTube audio library.
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using Paypal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_directe
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_L%C3%A9vy
Patrick Le Quément interview
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo_I
renaultgroup.com/en/news-on-air/news/20-years-of-twingo-in-20-cartoons
https://www.dna.fr/magazine-automobile/2020/02/23/renault-twingo-le-succes-qui-aurait-pu-ne-jamais-voir-le-jour
https://www.lesechos.fr/1992/10/yves-dubreil-faire-mieux-avec-de-faibles-moyens-933900
msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/1993-renault-twingo-review-i-bought-the-happiest-car-on-the-planet/ar-AAMFbva?ocid=BingNewsSearch
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moteur_Cl%C3%A9on-Fonte
press.renault.co.uk/en-gb/releases/504
petrolblog.com/2015/07/feeling-blue-the-renault-twingo-coupe-concept
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twizy
renaultgroup.com/en/news-on-air/news/moca-yves-dubreil-twizy-origins
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Wind
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo_II
web.archive.org/web/20120212004930/http://www.renault.co.uk
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo_III
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordini
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_(2007)
#bigcar
At its most basic level, a car is a box that, by using levers and wheels, gets you to your destination. But we humans find personality and character in everything around us, especially our automotive pride and joy. The BMW 5-series exudes a serious intent for owners who see that in their own character. The Ford Transit has the look of a no-nonsense truck ready for business. If Renault’s customer research is to be believed, half of the people who saw the thumbnail for this video thought the Twingo was hideous and should never have existed. If you’re watching then you’re either curious as to why anyone thought this car should exist, or like me, you’re the one in four who think this is the happiest, smileyest, and greatest car of the 1990s. And like the BMW 5-series and Ford Transit, maybe its our playful, carefree side that loves it so much. Whichever camp you’re in, this is a fascinating tale that spans five decades. So, join me, and Renault’s head designer and father of the Twingo, Patrick Le Quément, as we delve into the Renault Twingo Story.
Link to Patrick's book - "Design Between The Lines": merrellpublishers.com/9781858946764
Patrick's new book "Luckyman": https://lignesautoeditions.fr/?p=905
Link to my full interview with Patrick: youtu.be/wdpxUtku4Bg
Music: "Powerup!" by Jeremy Blake, and "Enchantée feat. Mr Stabalina" by Slynk. Both from the YouTube audio library.
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using Paypal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_directe
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_L%C3%A9vy
Patrick Le Quément interview
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo_I
renaultgroup.com/en/news-on-air/news/20-years-of-twingo-in-20-cartoons
https://www.dna.fr/magazine-automobile/2020/02/23/renault-twingo-le-succes-qui-aurait-pu-ne-jamais-voir-le-jour
https://www.lesechos.fr/1992/10/yves-dubreil-faire-mieux-avec-de-faibles-moyens-933900
msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/1993-renault-twingo-review-i-bought-the-happiest-car-on-the-planet/ar-AAMFbva?ocid=BingNewsSearch
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moteur_Cl%C3%A9on-Fonte
press.renault.co.uk/en-gb/releases/504
petrolblog.com/2015/07/feeling-blue-the-renault-twingo-coupe-concept
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twizy
renaultgroup.com/en/news-on-air/news/moca-yves-dubreil-twizy-origins
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Wind
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo_II
web.archive.org/web/20120212004930/http://www.renault.co.uk
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twingo_III
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordini
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_(2007)
#bigcar
