Is this a convertible Renault 4?
Not quite - we admit the headline was a touch click-bait-y - but the Plein Sud version of the Renault 4 is being launched as not just a model with an optional extra, but as a separate version of the 4, with its full-length retracting canvas sunroof.
Click here to read our Renault 4 reviews.
Why is it called Plein Sud?
The Plein Sud name harks back to a classic Renault 4 from the 1960s, the Plein Air, which was actually pretty close to a beach buggy, being entirely doorless and roofless. Definitely one strictly for the beaches of Saint-Tropez. The Plein Sud name kinda references that, as it translates as 'Due South.'
But I live in Ireland, and it's wet…
Indeed, so the Plein Sud is a model that very much has a roof and doors, but for those few precious days of sunshine that we get, you can roll back the 92cm long by 80cm wide sunroof, creating almost a square metre of open space above your head. It's a proper old-school 'Webasto' style roof, something that leans into the Renault 4's cool retro styling. The roof can be rolled back and forth at speeds of up to 90km/h, taking 10 seconds to fully open or close, and you can do so by pressing a button on the roof panel or by asking the digital voice assistant to do the job for you.
Does it make the 4 any less practical?
Nope, you still get the same reasonably roomy five-seat cabin and the same 420-litre boot with its very low boot floor that doubles up as a handy seat for picnics or for changing into sandals for the beach.
While we're talking practicalities, the Plein Sud also has a 750kg towing capacity (if you want to bring a boat with you for the full-on 1980s Majorette toy-car look…) and a neat 10-inch touchscreen with Google-based software.
Does the roof impact the efficiency?
Just a little. There is a 19kg weight penalty, so the Techno version of the Plein Sud has a maximum range of 392km, which is 7km less than the standard model. Worth it, we'd say…
How much is the Plein Sud, and when can I have one?
Prices for the Plein Sud Renault 4 in Techno form start at €34,495 (including grants) and rise to €36,495 for the Iconic model, the top-of-the-range version. Both models come only with the higher-spec 52kWh battery and the 150hp electric motor. You can order one now.
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