god please let it be true.....

d_brennen · 31 Mar 2013 at 10:22

Sadly the market for cars like this is dwindling... People who want them can't afford to run them, thanks to insurance and petrol gouging, and those that can would probably be old enough to prefer something more luxurious and practical

Dogbreath · 31 Mar 2013 at 10:34

233 said:
Small red cars are immense fun.

No other colours though?

atpbx · 31 Mar 2013 at 11:15

I don't know what market this is aimed at.

Is there any desire for a small hatch that isn't already catered for by better looking, more established and more importantly not French cars already?

Skeeter · 31 Mar 2013 at 11:24

Its quite clearly aimed at the Fiat 500 crowd. Any hot versions would go against the Arbarth 500s. There is that Ferrari branded halo model, but thats still FWD.

To engineer a RWD version for a limited run would mean it will cost a bomb. Any 'affordable' versions of this will likely be FWD.

Am I the only one which likes the styling?

spaz · 31 Mar 2013 at 11:33

Skeeter said:
Its quite clearly aimed at the Fiat 500 crowd. Any hot versions would go against the Arbarth 500s. There is that Ferrari branded halo model, but thats still FWD.

To engineer a RWD version for a limited run would mean it will cost a bomb. Any 'affordable' versions of this will likely be FWD.

Am I the only one which likes the styling?

Very likely this is based on the new Twingo/ForTwo/ForFour which is known to be a rear engine/rear drive.

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/02/scoop-2014-smart-fortwo-wears-renault.html

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/smart-ramps-forfourtwingo-testing

d_brennen · 31 Mar 2013 at 11:52

atpbx said:
I don't know what market this is aimed at.

Is there any desire for a small hatch that isn't already catered for by better looking, more established and more importantly not French cars already?

Is there any true pocket rockets at all these days? I mean in the mould of the 106GTi/Saxo... Every "small" car is now a boring medium sized car in 90s terms.

If you've never owned a R5t/Uno Turbo/205 GTi/106 GTi/Saxo VTS~VTR/Clio RT you really missed out

Skeeter · 31 Mar 2013 at 12:03

spaz said:
Very likely this is based on the new Twingo/ForTwo/ForFour which is known to be a rear engine/rear drive.

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/02/scoop-2014-smart-fortwo-wears-renault.html

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/smart-ramps-forfourtwingo-testing

Hmmm. But there are rumours Renault have pulled out of this partnership now.

If the entire platform is RWD then this could be epic lols. Its simply not going to be V6 though

. 1.6 turbo at most, but more likely smaller.

There are other photos from that shoot showing it being followed by a Renault 5, and with the numbers on the door the more I see of this the more I expect to see it shown at a motor show as a "Renault 5 concept" just to spur interest in its new design direction, like the Apline concept they ran around Monaco last year.

But considering the Clio has graduated from pocket rocket to hot hatch Golf rival, there is a void in Renaults range that the current Twingo 133 simply isn't good enough to fill.

Housey · 31 Mar 2013 at 12:05

I bought my wife a 106Gti to replace the 106Xsi she had. Both were great fun the GTi was superb and sharp as a tac. Not sure I'd want an old one but as brand new cars they were great and didn't lose much come resale time either.

atpbx · 31 Mar 2013 at 12:41

d_brennen said:
Is there any true pocket rockets at all these days? I mean in the mould of the 106GTi/Saxo... Every "small" car is now a boring medium sized car in 90s terms.

If you've never owned a R5t/Uno Turbo/205 GTi/106 GTi/Saxo VTS~VTR/Clio RT you really missed out

A Cooper S and 500 Abarth offer similar 0-60 times with higher top speeds, with not vastly different dimensions to an R5gt (other than weight)

Adjusted for inflation a base spec R5gt has a higher new OTR price than a Cooper S as well.

The rest, 0-60 times around the 8 second mark, 125 odd mile an hour flat out, lively and entertaining chassis, take you pick from any number of cars that offer that today.

I dont think we are too badly done by today for hot hatches.

I think we look back on somethings and the excitement of youth clouds our memories.
I used to think my legacy turbo was the greatest car in the world in 1998, today I can buy a diesel saloon for the equivalent inflation adjusted OTR it would cost today that would blow it away.