Think that the idea of an 'art car' is unique to BMW? Far from it, but as is so often the case, Renault is taking a slightly different approach with its artistic efforts. Whereas others take the body of the car and treat it as a canvas, Renault has made its new art car look as if it's lying on that canvas.
Hang on, we got a C in Leaving Cert Art. You've lost us...
Don't worry, it's easy to get confused at this point. Start by taking a look at the pictures of the new Renault Twingo on this page. And then, slowly, bit by bit, realise that this isn't a pencil sketch. This is a real, actual, Twingo which has been carefully painted so that it looks like a sketch.
Who has done this?
Renault has a bit of a tradition of working with artists to help it publicise new models, and the launch of the Twingo has put the French car maker together with American artist Joshua Vides.
A contemporary artist and designer, Vides is recognised for his monochrome aesthetic, inspired by drawings, comic strips and cartoons. Through his visual language with its clearly defined contours, he takes real-world objects and turns them into sketch-like illusions that appear to have stepped out of a 2D world to enter our three-dimensional reality.
Through painting, sculptures, installations or cars, his work explores the boundaries between art and objects, between reality and idea, in a style that is instantly recognisable.
So Vides has painted this Twingo?
Yes, just not in the way you're used to. Over three days, at Renault's big display centre on the Champs Elysee in Paris, Vides took the standard Twingo and painted it so that it looks like a sketch, only a life-size sketch which is somehow not on paper, but standing in front of you.
Can I see it?
Sure - if you're in Paris between now and June 9, the Vides Twingo will be on display at Renault's Pop Art Car exhibition. After that it will join the Renault Fund art car collection, set up several years ago to explore the dialogue between the car contemporary art and design.
"We gave the public access to a rare experience: watching Joshua Vides turn Twingo E-Tech electric into an immersive artwork live, right before their eyes. It was an exceptional performance. In the shift from reality to sketch, Twingo becomes a canvas for free artistic expression. This 'art car' is on display at the Renault Carwalk on the Champs-Élysées where it can be seen by the greatest number” said Arnaud Belloni, Renault's chief marketing officer.