At the time of the original Twingo’s launch in 1993, it took motorists by surprise thanks to a refreshing communication campaign which became a signature of the model. In 1992, images of the car invaded the Paris Motor Show and the walls of the French capital itself. It then starred in cartoon form – penned by comic strip artist Petit Roulet - in a cheerful TV ad. The same cartoon character also appeared in a light-hearted, yet upbeat, campaign featuring the slogan: “Invent a life to go with your Twingo!”. This unconventional approach marked a fresh take on city cars which went against the day’s trends. The spirit of the campaign was totally in keeping with the underlying spirit born years previously with other small Renaults, namely the 4CV, the Renault 4 and the Renault 5.

Two decades on, the new Twingo’s communication takes a similarly original approach with a campaign that harnesses the optimistic side of Renault’s latest city car. Indeed, the model was revealed in the form of an original strip-tweet on this year’s Saint Valentine’s Day (February 14) before being captured on film by French photographer Dingo who had formerly immortalised the new Twingo’s predecessor back in 1993. With a keen eye for the sort of humour associated with the Twingo spirit, he recently travelled to five major European cities to shoot the new Twingo set to a series of original, chic urban backdrops. In September, the new Twingo was subjected to the original treatment of Kuntzel & Deygas – the two artists who brought Guerlain’s ‘Little Black Dress’ to life – in a resolutely modern and sparkling ad campaign based on the slogan “Go anywhere, Go everywhere!”

The new Twingo is the latest chapter in the story of small Renault city cars showed off to the backdrop, like them, of a boldly graphical world.