2015 Renault Twingo : more pictures of rear-drive, rear-engined runabout

A number of exterior images of the French brand's tiny city car have been offered up prior to the show, although Renault has yet to show any detail interior shots, nor any of its old-school rear-mounted engine.

Renault's rival to the Volkswagen Up! and Fiat 500 will be revealed incrementally on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #NewTwingo.

So far, though, the brand has given some information about the new model and why the engine is at the back:

"The aim was to create an even roomier and more agile city car, despite its smaller footprint, and this is how the idea of switching to a rear-mounted engine took form, in spite of the higher development costs this entailed," a release from the brand stated.

The Twingo is based on the same platform as the upcoming Smart ForTwo and ForFour. It's a product of the joint venture between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler, and as a result is a reminiscent hat-tip to the brand's rear-engined icon, the Renault 5.

"New Renault Twingo was inspired not only by the original Twingo but also by the Renault 5. It is a modern take on the city car genre with the accent on innovation in terms of its lines and architecture. New Twingo is a fun, playful and vibrant city car," said Laurens van den Acker, Renault head of industrial design.

Renault claims the rear-engine layout offers an improved turning circle that makes the car capable of completing parking in "only a few turns of the steering wheel". The brand also claims better interior space, though we'll wait for more images or a sit in the car before we can vouch for that.

Following on from our spy images from 2013, the new model will be five-door only with pop-out rear windows and hidden back door handles , and its styling has been heavily influenced by the cute Twin'Run concept car.

Powertrains are likely to be limited to small capacity engines shared with the new-generation Smart, but may also include the zesty 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder as is seen in the larger Clio city car.

Sadly, the Twingo looks unlikely to be sold here according to Renault Australia corporate communications and sponsorship manager Emily Ambrosy. She said the brand is currently focusing on building sales of other models in its range, including the larger Clio hatch.

"We’re still considering Twingo," Ambrosy said. "At this point it’s not looking very likely – but it’s certainly not off the agenda."