Carscoop: Renault Twizy

French carmaker Renault has suspended three senior managers on suspicion of industrial espionage linked to the firm's electric vehicle plans. A company spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday that the three individuals were suspended over unspecified ethical issues.

“In late August 2010, an ethical alert was brought to the attention of the compliance committee," a Renault spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday. "The investigation that followed led to the suspension of three Renault executives”, the spokeswoman added without providing any more details.

On Wednesday, unnamed inside sources told the news agency that all three individuals were in charge of electric vehicles projects, with one of them being a member of a 30-strong panel of executives headed by chief executive Carlos Ghosn.

The three men were required to leave their offices on Monday, but Renault has not yet filled a formal complaint.

The French carmaker plans to launch four electric models by the end of 2012 including the Fluence EV, Kangoo Express EV, Twizy and Zoe. Along with sister-company Nissan, Renault is investing €200 million (about US $263.4 million) a year in the EV programme.

Source: AFP via Yahoo News

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Welcome to the Twizy, Renault's third model in its Zero Emissions lineup after the Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Van Z.E. The little city car pod is an all-electric mix between a scooter and a car, allowing for clean and efficient city driving thanks to its 20-horsepower / 42 lb-ft (57 Nm) electric motor. That helps it reach a top speed of 47 mph after it has charged for 3.5 hours.

Renault plans to build the tandem two-seat Twizy in Valladolid, Spain for a late-2011 European release (early 2012 in the UK), and orders can be placed online right now at the official Z.E. site. Aimed at urbanites looking for an adorable second car, Renault says it may also be suitable for teen drivers as a pre-car car. How? it may be drivable in some countries with a lower top speed of 28 mph and without a driving license (feel free to discuss that below).

Since the Twizy is a very open car, additional door panels will be available to seal the lower area should harsh weather show up. For practicality, storage is located under the rear seat (31 liters that's expandable to 55 liters) and on either side of the steering wheel (3 liters). Behind the steering wheel you'll see a display housing an "econometer", available range, and other necessary stats.

Safety features include the collapsible pod set within the four wheels, a driver airbag, and 4- and 3-point harnesses (front and rear, respectively).

The three Twizys shown at Paris were designed by Renault to emphasize the customization possibilities available to consumers; they include the Twizy Dot Dot (providing an "emphasis on elegance"), the Circuit (with a sci-fi touch), and the Totem (the automotive equivalent of a tribal tattoo). There will be nine more customized virtual Twizys online, with the highest-rated design getting its own limited edition when the car debuts.

Here's a list from Renault describing who the typical Twizy buyer will be:

-Busy, car-owning city dwellers looking for a second vehicle
-Younger drivers interested in a safe way to gain experience in traffic
-City dwellers looking for a stylish yet particularly practical vehicle
-Sensitive to new design trends

If Renault's PR guys have you locked down and pretty well described, then the Twizy may just be for you.

By Phil Alex