The Gordini badge is...

The Gordini badge is back! These are the first official pictures of the Twingo Gordini Renaultsport, a very special edition that draws on Renault"s rich motorsport heritage. In a tribute to the highly successful Gordini racing cars from the fifties and sixties, the hot-hatch is finished in Malta Blue with two off-centre white racing stripes running from the bonnet to the boot lid.

The front and rear bumpers include gloss black sections, while the fog lamp surrounds, wing mirrors and rear tailgate spoiler are also marked out in alpine white. Badges reading "Gordini Series" adorn the left and right flanks of the car and the flamboyant exterior is finished off with polished 17-inch alloys, with the inner rim painted in a choice of blue or black.

And the colour scheme continues on the inside too with scuplted sports seats covered in quilted leather and embossed with the Gordini logo in blue and black. The leather steering wheel receives two white stripes to indicate the centre point, while a blue rev-counter and Gordini badged gearlever complete the luxurious cabin.

Beneath the cosmetic changes, the mechanicals are identical to the Twingo Renaultsport 133. That means it uses the same rev-hungry 133bhp 1.6-litre engine and the softer "Sport" chassis comes as standard, although the stiffer "Cup" suspension can be ordered as an option.

To create a buzz before it goes on sale the car is currently on display, until 10 January, at Renault"s most prestigious showroom on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. UK prices will be announced closer to the car"s on sale date in March next year.