The Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept boasts an exclusive Jade Green body colour, with glossy black bumpers and wheel arches and finishes designed to highlight the car’s off-road capabilities.
Built from 1961 to 1992, the Renault “4” was one of the small cars that shaped the history of popular motoring, along with the Citroën “2CV” and “Dyane. The Fiat “500” and “600,” and other models—all vehicles characterized by low purchase costs and low fuel consumption. These latter performance features contributed significantly to the production of over eight million 135,000 Renault “4” vehicles, cars that traveled, and in many cases still travel today, on roads all over the world. A global success, therefore, the same one that Renault aims to capture with the relaunch of its “4” in a fully electric, battery-powered version.
Dubbed the “4 E-Tech” and built on the same “AmpR Small” platform and mechanicals that gave rise to the “5” model, it is 22 centimeters longer than the latter and also features an eight-centimeter longer wheelbase. The French engineers have obviously exploited the larger dimensions to enhance habitability and trunk capacity, creating a Class B SUV suited to serving as a multipurpose family vehicle.
A role the car would perform perfectly were it not for the fact that, like all electric cars, it is limited in its range, from 300 to 400 kilometers depending on whether it is equipped with a 40 or 52 kilowatt-hour battery pack, and in its refueling times, from 30 minutes or more depending on whether the car is connected to the mains at high-power charging stations.
A special car
In fact, the car has no problem coping with purely urban or suburban use, but it struggles and causes problems on long-distance journeys, a problem common to all electric vehicles, combined with a purchase price that cannot be described as affordable.
The “Renault 4 E-Tech” price ranges from just under €30,000 to just under €37,000 for the most powerful, 150-horsepower version, complete with accessories.
It’s easy to imagine that, without specific support, the new “4 E-Tech” will be unlikely to replicate the success of its predecessor. This problem, however, doesn’t seem to be a problem for Renault, so much so that at the “Roland Garros” international tennis tournament in Paris, it has already showcased a 4×4 prototype version of the car, built with the addition of a second electric motor to power the rear axle.
Dubbed the “4 Savane 4×4 Concept,” the car boasts 15 centimeters more ground clearance than the base model, and features a 10-centimeter wider track. The 18-inch wheel diameter remains unchanged, but the tires are specific, Goodyear “UltraGrip Performance.” The manufacturer has not yet released any statements regarding the overall installed power, which is certainly higher than the 120-150 horsepower of the 4×2 version, or whether the concept will find a production release in the future.
Off-roading with style
The Renault “4 Savane 4×4 Concept” boasts an exclusive Jade Green body color, with gloss black bumpers and wheel arches and trim designed to emphasize the car’s off-road capabilities. The sunroof is also openable and made of canvas, an option on the standard versions, while the interior features seats in “textile refined” fabric, the same fabric that also covers the dashboard. A compact yet classy off-roader, designed for confident cruising on flat surfaces made difficult by water, snow, mud, or grass, but also capable of tackling minor bumps. Not a “hard-core” off-roader, then, but a car capable of navigating safely where traditional sedans would otherwise have to stop.
