Mobilize Duo: Renault-Twizy successor set to launch at €9,990

Renault division Mobilize unveiled the production versions of two models, Duo and Bento, ahead of the Paris Motor Show. The successor to the Twizy, the Duo, is set to launch in France on 14 October, with prices starting from €9,990.

Image: Razorfish

For this price, the Mobilize Duo will be available as the L6 version – with a permitted top speed of 45 kph. According to the publication Autocar, the L7 version, capable of speeds up to 80 kph, will start at €11,600. The commercial version, Bento, with a storage box instead of a second seat, will be available later, though pricing is not yet known.

While Mobilize has not disclosed pricing in its announcement, it did reveal the technical specifications of the Twizy successor. The Duo measures 2.43 metres in length, and the Bento, due to its 649-litre cargo box, measures 2.54 metres. That makes the Duo approximately 20 centimetres longer than the old Twizy but also eight centimetres narrower at 1.30 metres.

Both the Duo and Bento are powered by a 48-volt electric motor taken from the hybrid system of the Renault Austral. The battery uses NMC cells and offers a net energy capacity of 10.3 kWh, similar to one of the five modules in the new Renault 5 with its 52 kWh battery. It should give the Duo a WLTP range of up to 161 kilometres, while the Bento can go 149 kilometres on one charge. “The range will be well in excess of 100 km for most drivers, even in winter,” said Mobilize.

The vehicle is charged via a connection hidden behind a flap at the front. The car also comes standard with a plug for household sockets. In just an hour (for instance, during a lunch break), it can add enough charge for 25 kilometres, while charging from 20 to 80 per cent takes three hours and 50 minutes. A Type 2 plug is also available as an option for charging at public AC stations (or a wall box), reducing the charging time by about 25 minutes, according to Mobilize.

“For young apprentices or students far from public transportation, Duo is a true tool of independence. Its generous range and the need for fewer charges mean that students can enjoy their journeys without worrying about running out of power,” explained Benjamin Manceau, Product Manager for Mobilize Duo & Bento.

Compared to the Twizy, the chassis has also been improved. “In terms of the suspension layout, the wide tracks allowed optimised positioning of the shock absorbers for exceptional ride comfort, particularly at the low frequencies caused by the speed bumps found everywhere in modern cities,” the company said. Safety has also been enhanced, with an airbag integrated into the steering wheel for the driver – something quite unusual in this vehicle class.

Sustainability was also a priority in the development: key body parts such as bumpers, fenders, and wheel arches are made from 60 per cent recycled polymers. At the end of their life cycle, the Duo and Bento should be 95 per cent recyclable. To lower production and repair costs, the front and rear bumpers are identical, and the side skirts are interchangeable between the left and right sides. Additionally, only one indicator light is used instead of two, resulting in five times fewer parts than a conventional vehicle.

It remains to be seen whether the Mobilize Duo will be cheaper than its predecessor. The €9,990 price tag reported by Autocar for France cannot be directly applied to other countries. In Germany, the 45 kph version of the Twizy cost €11,450 just before production ended, while the 80 kph model started at €12,150.

mobilize.com, autocar.co.uk

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