Ultimate Girl’s Car? Renault Twingo Goes Pop, by Nicola Roberts

The Champs-Elysées is the most beautiful avenue in the world, at least that is the French like to tell the world. The French pride is evident. Renault’s own press release did not refer to the Champs-Elysées as one of the most beautiful. No, they made it clear that it is the most beautiful avenue in the world. Renault’s exact words. Ah the French. The world will be a much more boring place without them.

‘illuminations’ at Champs-Elysées.

Renault is the first car company to setup a retail shop in the Champs-Elysées, and has been there now for 100 years. L’Atelier Renault is located at 53, avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris (France). The “illuminations” of the Champs-Elysées is an annual Christmas celebration for the Parisians. Between year 2011 to 2013, Renault will be the official partner for the ‘illuminations’ celebrations.

For this year’s event, Renault will be hosting a public launch of the new Twingo at its L’Atelier Renault outlet in Champs-Elysées. The Twingo is France’s No.1 selling car. Think of it as the French equivalent of our Myvi. Likewise, the French perceive the Twingo in the same way we look at our Myvi; too many of them running around, too boring, too typical, too mainstream. To support the new Twingo’s launch, Renault wants to do something a little bit different, inject some urban chic fun into what is normally perceived as a gloomy urban transport tool with the desirability of a street lamp post. And being French, their ‘cultural eccentricity knob’ cranks on a vastly different scale from the rest of us.

Between December 21 and January 22, Renault will be displaying 4 different concepts of the new Twingo, under the ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ theme. 4 different Twingos were given to 4 different artists from 4 different nationalities, as a sort of ‘automotive canvas’ for them to express their interpretation of the theme.

The four artists are French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajae, Italian creative chef Davide Scabin, UK singer and former Girls Aloud band member Nicola Roberts and German designer Nils Holger Moormann. We are most intrigued by Nicola Roberts’ work.

Nicola Roberts describes her creation as a synopsis of her life – music and fashion, washed down by gallons of coffee. Nicola’s Twingo, aptly named ‘Twingo Goes Pop’ is best described as an all-purpose car-living space for a British working girl, but one that is far from the run of the mill.