WITH its engine at the rear the new Renault Twingo is a city car that is outside the norm.

Cute, chic and styled with more than a touch of French flair it is also very clever when it comes to being practical.

Putting the engine at the back - a configuration normally favoured by supercar designers - has enabled Renault to pack an awful lot into a tiny car and make it incredibly manoeuvrable.

The new Twingo is a five door, four seater measuring 11ft 9ins in length yet has plenty of solutions to the proverbial quart into a pint pot problem.

Door pockets, bottle holders, a glovebox and a removable storage bin in front of the gear lever are backed up with underseat storage in the rear, a 188 litre boot and fold flat seats which increases luggage capacity to 980 litres with a load length of 7ft 6ins.

That's enough for some flat-pack furniture, a couple of overnight bags and a pushchair - all in one go.

For a little car it is roomy and has plenty of character to set it apart from some keen competitors such as the Fiat 500, the VW up! and the new mini trio from Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot.

The Twingo is built at Renault's factory in Slovakia and the new model is part of a joint venture with Daimler which will see the new smart forfour built alongside.

Priced from £9,495 the third generation Twingo is bang on the money for a five door and the three trim line up spans just £1,500 making the range topping Dynamique version available from £10,995.

Even the basic Twingo includes a digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and an app-based sat nav system linked to the car via a smartphone - a feature which will also give you a rev counter on your phone screen, a gauge which is otherwise missing  from the car.

There's also electric front windows and a full set or airbags but air conditioning is not included unless you part with an extra £800 for the second level Twingo in Play trim which also brings in the ability to personalise the interior with different colours - a must for trendy city cars these days.

In typical Renault fashion the Twingo has a cheeky side and is available in some bright paint jobs set off with decal style packs. It is also plush inside with some quality trim and comfortable seats.

The Twingo is at its best in Dynamique trim which brings in big car features such as a lane departure warning system, cruise control and the option of a touchscreen controlled navigation system with a reversing camera which adds £800 to the price.

The Dynamique model is also available with a more powerful 90ps engine which takes its price up to £11,695 but is much more driveable.

It's the 898cc three-cylinder engine Renault also uses in the Clio and with the benefit of turbo charging makes the Twingo quite lively with a 0 to 60 time of 10.8 seconds and a top speed of 103mph.

On the road it has a typical three-pot raspy note and coming from the rear it sounds sporty although muted in comparison to a front engined car.

The balance is good - weight distribution is 45/55 front to rear - and the Twingo rides well although the power steering is a little inert. Electronic stability is fitted to all versions and not once did the Twingo feel tail happy.

Renault is claiming 65.7mpg from the 90ps stop/start engine with tax free emissions of 99g/km and we managed to average 46 to the gallon which outshone the 30mpg we saw from the new 70ps, 999cc normally aspirated three cylinder engine which is fitted in the cheaper versions.

On paper the new engine is rated at 62.8mpg with a CO2 figure of 105g/km (67.3mpg and 95 g/km with stop/start) but we found it had to be worked hard as reflected by its 0 to 60 time of 14.5 seconds and 94mph maximum.

Both engines have five speed manual transmissions (a dual clutch auto is slated for later next year) and the Twingo is easy to drive with good all round visibility.

It is also very easy to park with the front wheels turning through 45 degrees giving a turning circle of just over 14 feet.

That's a bonus of the rear engine set up which allows the front bulkhead to be further forward, the bonnet shorter than normal and no clutter to interfere with the steering rack.

Under the bonnet - as well as sturdy crash protection - all you will find is the fluid reservoirs, the battery and the windscreen washer. The bonnet itself is a composite structure which just slides forward a few inches. It doesn't pop up.

The engine is housed below the boot floor and can be accessed by releasing a panel for routine oil checks but that's about all.

Heat insulation from the engine is top class and your luggage will not be warmed through at the end of a journey and although there is no spare wheel a tyre repair kit is housed in the passenger foot well.

That's another neat solution in a car that brings a new meaning to the space race. The Twingo is packed with innovation and that alone is going to bring it plenty of attention.