There have been murmurings for a while, and now Renault’s groundbreaking Twizy EV is finally heading to our shores.
Developed by Renault Sport and built in Spain, the Twizy is Renault’s answer to congested inner-city streets.
The small two-seater electric vehicle doesn’t conform to the norms of a car apart from having four wheels and a steering wheel.
Only 2.34m long and 1.24m wide, it will make city parking a breeze if it achieves homologation for New Zealand roads.
(Homologation is the process of certifying or approving a vehicle to indicate it meets safety and technical requirements.)
Thanks in part to its featherweight — 450kg, including batteries — the 13kW/57Nm electric motor can power the Twizy to a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of 69km before needing a charge.
Renault NZ expects to initially sell the Twizy to private operators who own land — currently the only space the car can be driven — such as those in the tourism industry.
The Renault Twizy will make its official New Zealand debut at the Renault Auckland showroom on Great South Rd today.