Renault Twizy EV Priced in Europe From $9,979

Just the Facts:

• French automaker Renault has begun taking reservations for its tiny Twizy electric vehicle.
• The first customer deliveries are slated for late this year.
• The entry-level Twizy 45 model features a 5-horsepower motor, with top speed capped at 28 mph so it can be driven without a license in some European countries.

BARCELONA, Spain — Renault said its tiny Twizy electric vehicle will be priced in Europe from $9,979, with the first customer deliveries slated for late this year.

Unveiled as a concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Twizy seats driver and passenger in tandem, much like a scooter, but features four wheels, a steering wheel, pedals and enclosed bodywork to protect occupants from the elements.

Renault is offering an entry-level Twizy 45, so called because it features a 5-horsepower electric motor with top speed limited to 45 km/h — about 28 miles per hour — so that it can be driven without a license in some European countries.

The standard Twizy will get a 17-hp electric motor, with a top speed of 50 mph, and is being offered in two trim levels — the Twizy Urban, starting at $10,979, and the Twizy Technic, priced from $12,119.

Owners will purchase the vehicle, but will lease the battery at a monthly rate of $64-$70.

Part of Renault's ZE (for "zero emissions") portfolio of electric vehicles, the Twizy isn't much larger than a scooter, at 91 inches long and weighing just under 1,000 pounds. Built at Renault's Valladolid plant in Spain, the production version of the Twizy was introduced last fall at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

Reservations in Europe can be placed online, with a $29 deposit.

Inside Line says: Don't think this one would fly in North America.