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1,581 views Mar 4, 2009

The first Gordini badged car is expected to be a hotted-up Twingo due in 2010

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Following news that Renault has scrapped plans to bring back its legendary Alpine name for a new standalone sports car, hope has been reignited with comments from one of the carmaker’s senior executives that the Gordini name will be revived instead. For those unfamiliar with the French performance marque, Gordini was an independent sports car manufacturer established by Amedee Gordini which tuned engines for several Renault models during the 1950s and ‘60s.

Speaking with CAR at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, Renault's global marketing director, Stephen Norman, revealed that there will be some sporty new models coming from next year onwards with the introduction of a Gordini-branded in-house tuner. The new brand will have a similar relationship with Renault as AMG shares with Mercedes Benz and Abarth shares with Fiat.

The Gordini brand will focus on fast, small cars, and according to Norman it will be placed above the current RenaultSport (RS) lineup. The first Renault model getting the Gordini treatment is slated to be the Twingo hatchback in 2010. Following this, other Renault models will be added to the Gordini lineup including the Clio and Megane Coupe models.

The Gordini cars will be easily recognized by bright blue paint schemes with a trademark white racing stripe located on their bonnets. Some of the models are also expected to be developed for track use, with the possibility of a new competition being launched exclusively for the cars.