British company DM Performance has radically modernized the electric Renault Twizy by installing a powerful motor from the Stark Varg electric motorcycle. This unique conversion has endowed the microcar with incredible characteristics:
A New Heart for the Microcar
The Renault Twizy, production of which has already been discontinued, always stood out for its futuristic design and unusual layout, but never for its power. The specialists at DM Performance changed that by transforming the heavy four-wheeled microcar into a drift machine. They completely disassembled the Twizy, removing the standard 17-horsepower (13 kW) motor. In its place, they installed the powertrain from the Stark Varg electric motorcycle, whose power is equivalent to a 450cc gasoline engine. As a result, the tiny electric vehicle now develops 80 hp (60 kW), which means a 396% increase in power.
The real sensation was the torque. The Stark Varg motor delivers an incredible 938 Nm (692 lb-ft). For comparison, the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine of the 2027 Ram TRX pickup has 921 Nm (680 lb-ft) of torque. Imagine this force in a vehicle that weighs ten times less than a powerful pickup.
Technical Modifications and Updates
To install the new motor and the special chain drive, which replaced the standard transmission, the craftsmen had to cut out the original rear section of the frame. To withstand the colossal torque, the original differential was modified: a stainless steel housing was installed and a high-temperature grease material was used to mimic the characteristics of a limited-slip differential. The car also received a new suspension based on Maxpeedingrods shock absorbers, reducing the risk of rollover.
The French electric vehicle received another important replacement. The battery from the Stark Varg weighs only 32 kg (70 pounds), which is significantly lighter than the 100 kg (220 pound) battery of the original Twizy. At the same time, the new battery has a slightly larger capacity and is capable of delivering huge amounts of energy for high-performance motors.
Power and Handling Tests
The unique “Stark Twizy” proved its capability by defeating the more powerful Audi S1 Quattro hatchback in a drag race to 100 mph (161 km/h). The builders also tested it in a drift session and even performed donuts around a Lamborghini Aventador, demonstrating its impressive agility and control.
Creators of Unique Projects
This is not the first time DM Performance has transformed a tiny electric vehicle from the heavy quadricycle segment into a monster. Previously, they created a wild Citroen Ami using similar components from the Stark Varg, although they noted that the Twizy’s rear-wheel-drive layout made it a much better platform for aggressive driving.
If electric power is not to your liking, the workshop is also responsible for creating a three-wheeled tuk-tuk with a turbocharged engine from a Hayabusa motorcycle. This construction weighs 460 kg (1014 pounds) and delivers a terrifying 305 hp (227 kW) on the dyno.
Such projects demonstrate how electric drive technologies are expanding the boundaries of tuning, allowing the creation of unique, high-performance machines based on completely non-sporting platforms. This also shows the growing interest in the secondary use of powerful components from electric motorcycles in the automotive sector, opening up new opportunities for enthusiasts and small-scale manufacturers. The success of builds like the Stark Twizy could be an impetus for the further development of the niche market for radical electric tuning.