04 Mar 09 13:26
Twingo to be hotted-up
Though Renault has abandoned plans to revive the Alpine brand, it is to bring back another name from its archives: Gordini.
Car magazine reports that Renault is envisaging the brand as a rival for Fiat's Abarth, with models promising performance upgrades above and beyond the current mainstream Renaultsport hot hatches.
Gordini will operate as a distinct division, with its own facilities and dedicated engineers.
First Gordini model will be a hotted-up Twingo, due next year, with Gordini Clio and Megane Coupe to follow.
These cars are likely to feature the traditional Gordini blue racing colours, with white bonnet stripes. Renault is also considering a one-make race series.
Gordini is named for Italian-born engineer and racing driver Amedee Gordini (1899-1979). He began his career working for Maserati, drove for Fiat - including Grand Prix events and in the Le Mans 24 Hours - between the two World Wars, and then settled in France and founded his own sports car company.
His speciality was engine-tuning; Gordini engines were supplied to companies including Simca, and he built his own cars including road-racers and single-seaters before taking on a role at Renault in the late 1950s.
Renault last commemorated Gordini with a limited-run 93bhp, five-speed Mk1 Renault 5 (badged 'Alpine' in some markets), but the best-known cars to bear the name are probably the popular rear-engined Dauphine and Renault 8 Gordini production models.
