- Japanese tuner Hatano transforms the Twingo into a safari special.
- The C’eLavie Cross features wide fenders, grippy tires and a lift kit.
- It joins the tarmac-focused builds based on the French hatchback.
The new generation of the Renault Twingo is winning plenty of fans with its retro charm, echoing the 1992 original. Hatano Automobile, however, is not quite ready to move on. Instead, the Japanese tuner has returned to the outgoing third-generation model, reworking it into a rugged, safari-style homage to the wild R5 Turbo of the 1980s.
The C’eLavie Cross and the tarmac-focused C’eLavie 1985 build on earlier Hatano projects unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024. They reappeared at the Automobile Council 2026 in Japan, this time with production plans rather than just show stand curiosity.
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Both Twingos feature the signature wide bodykit, including redesigned bumpers, custom front and rear fenders,and a much larger roof spoiler. They also adopt rally-inspired round lights which are integrated into the front bumper.
The Cross variant is distinguished by a heavier dose of plastic cladding, and unique bumper inserts looking like skid plates. Furthermore, it rides on a set of black “turbofan” alloy wheels shod in grippy tires, and benefits from a suspension lift kit. All those mods turn the beige hatchback into kinda the urban equivalent of a Porsche 911 Dakar.
Hatano C’eLavie Cross
The 1985 heads in the opposite direction. It sticks to tarmac, with larger wheels, carbon fiber trim, and orange graphics over blue paint. Dual tailpipes at the rear finish the job.
As reported by French outlet L’argus, the C’eLavie Cross is based on a humble 2018 Renault Twingo Intens with a canvas roof and a 90 hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine. On the other hand, the C’eLavie 1985 is based on the sportier Twingo GT. The latter was the flagship version of the French city car with a more potent turbo 900cc engine producing 109 hp and a sharper suspension setup.
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Hatano offers an optional power upgrade increasing the output of the tiny engine to 138 horsepower. Another option is a set of Bilstein coilovers, making the urban dweller more fun around the corners.
At one point, Hatano floated something far more ambitious. The idea involved a Nissan-sourced 3.5-liter V6, similar to the setup used in the Renault Twin’Run concept from 2013. For now, that remains just an idea.
Hatano C’eLavie 1985
Production is expected to be limited to around 20 units. So far, five orders have been placed and two cars delivered. The styling kit reportedly starts at ¥1,350,000, or about $8,500, with mechanical upgrades priced separately.
The power boost costs around €1,540 ($1,800) and the coilovers another €1,350 ($1,600). A V6 conversion, if it ever happens, would no doubt sit in a completely different price range.
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The third-gen Renault Twingo was a sibling to the discontinued Smart ForFour, sharing the same underpinnings, rear-mounted three-cylinder engine and RWD layout distinguishing it from its FWD predecessors.
The new Twingo E-Tech switches to the R5 platform and goes fully electric, now driving the front wheels. It is a very different approach, though it could still open the door for future widebody builds. Small hatchbacks with a bit of attitude have always had their place, as cars like the R5 Turbo and Clio V6 proved years ago.
Renault’s latest take on that idea comes in the form of the ultra-expensive R5 Turbo 3E. It pairs a bespoke exterior with an aluminum chassis and a dual-motor electric setup, and it will be limited to 1,980 units.
