For months I had marveled over the Renault Twizy in Top Gear, hoping that someday I would get to see this quirky French design in person. So when, on my recent trip to Spain, I saw a Twizy on the street, I was just as excited as I would be seeing a Lamborghini Gallardo or Ferrari 458.The Twizy lived up to the hype. It is a very skinny vehicle at about 4 feet wide, and in Europe it is legally classified, not as a car, but as a heavy quadricycle. The "car" seats two people surprisingly, if the second person is willing to squish in in a tandem position behind the driver. Oh, and those doors--they're optional (and cost extra). The driver and passenger sit in a sort of cage that is perched on top of a small base which is fitted onto the chassis and wheels. The bare wheel axles protrude from the plastic base piece, and lead to tiny 13 inch alloy wheels, which sport a clean looking three triangle design. The black base features an indented Z.E. logo (which is Renault for electric vehicle) and two small orange turning indicators. Normally I dislike large pieces of plastic on cars (for example, the Honda Element), but it doesn't look too ugly on the Twizy. Onto the main body of the Twizy, the capsule has two circular headlights sandwiching a shiny blue Renault logo, all of which is set back about half an inch in to the body of the car. The vehicle features a contrasting white bit that runs around the side windows and the doors, almost coming full circle, and this reminds me of the design of the Smart Fortwo, which features a similar piece. The doors have a relatively skinny black glass and plastic rectangular piece just below the side windows (which are made of plastic), which holds the sideview mirrors. Below this is a large black piece that finishes off the rest of the door.
Around back the Renault has a long, singular rounded taillight, that is placed in its own little indented area, and this creates a simplistic yet futuristic look. The rear of the Twizy is considerably skinnier than the front, and this gives the car a more streamlined look, and helps with aerodynamics and therefore boosts efficiency. The base, like the front, has two small orange turning indicators, but also features two more lights, possibly brake indicators, in little pockets on either side of the license plate.The Twizy is the perfect mix of quirky and simple design.
Grade
Front: A-
Back: A
Overall: A
