Renault to release electric AWD off-road variant of the Renault 4

Renault will reveal an off-road show car based on the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric on the sidelines of the French Open. Compared to the production model, the small off-roader features a second engine on the rear axle and more ground clearance.

The electric 4 Series is not yet on the road, but Renault has already announced a show car offshoot of the small car for the French Open in Paris (19 May to 8 June). The one-off model will feature typical off-road attributes: The ground clearance of the concept is 15 millimetres higher than the series model. In addition, there are special tyres and rims as well as a 10 millimetre wider track at the front and rear on both sides. Above all, however, the Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept has a second electric motor on the rear axle and is therefore equipped with permanent all-wheel drive. However, the French are not going into any more detail at this point. It is more important to them to demonstrate ‘the potential of the AmpR Small platform for a fully electric B-segment model with all-wheel drive’.

In keeping with Renault’s retro approach, the Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept revives a model name steeped in tradition: the name Savane was already used at Renault in the 1950s as a synonym for voyages of discovery, and adorned an off-road version of the Renault 4 in 1986, for example. Now the model name is returning.

According to Renault, the Jade Green is a new colour which, together with the shiny black bumpers and wheel arches, is intended to contribute to the model’s stylish appearance. The vehicle’s fabric roof, on the other hand, is printed with pixel variations to suggest a camouflage effect. The conventional bump stops on the front and rear bumpers have also been replaced in the study by new 3D-printed parts with shock-absorbing properties.

For its first public appearance, the show car will be accompanied at the French Open by the new Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a fully electric mini sports car reminiscent of the iconic rally car from the 80s. However, anyone who wants to own the strictly limited retro car will have to pay a hefty price: Renault is asking €160,000. Nevertheless, according to the manufacturer, more than 700 customers and 200 dealers have already reserved one of the 1,980 available examples.

renault.com