Renault Twin’Run Concept – RWD mid-engine race car

The Renault Twin’Run Concept has been officially unveiled in Monaco, and it’s a mad one. Picking up where the famous R5 Turbo and Clio V6 left off, the Twin’Z's crazy sibling is a rear-wheel drive, mid engined race car with a tubular chassis lifted directly from motorsports.

It was a spectacular debut as well. At this weekend’s Monaco GP, the Twin’Run did its first laps with COO Carlos Tavares at the wheel, tailed by a Clio V6 driven by F1 driver Charles Pic and a Maxi 5 Turbo with its celebrated driver, Jean Ragnotti, at the helm.

Said to preview the looks of the next-gen Twingo due in 2014, the Twin’Run has wheels set in the far corners, minimal overhangs and a high waistline. The “5″ on the doors refers to the R5 Turbo, the famous 1980s rally car. The four flat LED headlights are a modernday take on the light racks used in night rally specials.

The Twin’Run was developed with the assistance of Tork Engineering / Poclain Vehicules, a French firm specialising in race car chassis. The glass-polyester composite bodywork covers a multi-tube steel chassis. Carbon fibre was used for the front blade, roof, rear vent and wheel arches.

This little race car is powered by a mid-engine 3.5 litre V6 derived from Mégane Trophy. Mounted longitudinally ahead of the rear axle centreline, the V6 makes 320 hp and 380 Nm, and is mated to a SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox with LSD. To ensure decent weight distribution (43:57) despite the layout, the fuel tank, radiator and hydraulic system are located under the bonnet.

Crazy stuff! The Twin’Run has a more sedate, electic-powered urban sibling called Twin’Z, and you can see ithere.

Paultan