Renault is building up to the launch of something very interesting - a four-wheel-drive version of its just-launched, all-electric Renault 4 E-tech.
Why is that interesting?
Well, a couple of reasons. First, the original Renault 4, in spite of being front-wheel drive only, gained a reputation as quite the ersatz off-roader thanks to its long-travel suspension and good traction. This new version sounds like a bit of a tribute to that. It's also interesting because, so far, not many car makers have offered four-wheel drive in a compact electric car.
Tell us more...
This isn't the production version of the all-wheel-drive R4 E-Tech of course, but instead a 'concept' car called the Renault 4 Savane 4x4 Concept. We say 'concept' because, c'mon, it's a pretty thinly disguised production car.
Interestingly, Renault won't be showing this concept off at a big motor show, but at the French Open Tennis tournament, held at Roland Garros in Paris, for which Renault is the official vehicle supplier. It'll be shown on a stand with the bonkers 5 Turbo 3E and the Renault 5 E-Tech electric Roland-Garros special series.
How does the Savane differ from the regular R4?
Renault says that the concept is 'designed for the gentleman explorer' and it takes its name from a version of the original Renault 4 sold in 1986, having also been used way back in the 1950s on the chunky Renault Colorale.
The Renault 4 Savane 4x4 Concept gets a 15mm suspension lift and special Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 225/55 tyres which sit on unique 18-inch wheels. There's also a 10mm wider track than the standard R4.
There's also a second electric motor - mounted under the boot floor and driving the rear wheels - although Renault hasn't yet told us how much power the combined 4x4 system makes, nor what impact it has on the R4's 400km range.
It doesn't look wildly different...
No, it doesn't. There is unique - for the moment - Jade Green paint (which looks awesome) and some slightly chunkier details, including a Jeep-style jerrycan motif in the front bumpers, which are 3D printed, and which Renault claims have shock-absorbing properties.
There's also a special '4x4' badge, and a '4Savane' logo. The concept gets the production R4's optional full-length canvas sunroof, too.
What about the interior?
If you've got a green exterior, you have to have a brown interior. It's just the rules. The seats get a 'Deep Brown refined textile (TEP) fabric' with that material repeated on the dashboard. There's also some contrast topstitching, and a backlit 4Savane logo.
“True to the spirit of exploration of the Renault 4 Savane from the 1960s, the Renault 4 Savane 4x4 Concept show car pushes the adventurous side of the Renault 4 E-Tech electric to the maximum. Its increased ground clearance and widened tracks are combined with a permanently active all-wheel drive system to allow it to tackle the most rugged terrains. With its unique Jade Green colour combined with Glossy Black elements and the Deep Brown interior, it adds a chic spirit worthy of 'gentlemen explorers' eager for limitless journeys” said Sandeep Bhambra, Chief Designer Advanced, Ampere & Renault, who designed the chunky R4 Trophy concept car that previewed the look of the R4 E-Tech.
When can I have one?
There's no official arrival date yet, but early next year seems like a pretty safe bet for an all-wheel-drive version of the electric R4.
While this concept, and the carbon-bodied R5 Turbo 3E, will grab the headlines and the Instagrams during the Roland Garros tournament, Renault is probably more proud that its fleet of Scenic E-Tech electric and Rafale full-hybrid E-Techs, its Espace full hybrid E-Techs and Renault 4 and Renault 5 E-Tech electric cars - some 187 of them in total - are providing an 87 per cent electrified fleet of cars for the tennis tournament.
There will also be two fully autonomous electric 'WeRide' buses, based on the chassis of the Renault Master, shuttling tennis fans from the Roland Garros car parks to the stadium.