Renault 4 Transforms with Robust All-Wheel Drive Prototype
After a three-decade hiatus, Renault transformed the classic Renault 4 into a modern electric vehicle in late 2024. The Savane, a subcompact EV, serves as a crossover iteration of the revitalized Renault 5, known as Le Car in the United States. Diverging from the production model's front-wheel-drive layout, this new concept incorporates an all-wheel-drive system by adding a rear motor.
The Savane 4x4 concept boasts a dual-motor configuration, a fresh Jade Green paint job, and a pixelated fabric roof. Its raised suspension increases ground clearance by 15 millimeters, offering improved off-road performance compared to the standard model, though it doesn't qualify as a full off-roader. The vehicle rides on newly designed 18-inch wheels paired with Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tires sized at 225/55.
Renault's engineers have widened both front and rear tracks by ten millimeters. While exact power figures are not provided, the concept is expected to surpass the standard model's front-mounted motor, which delivers 148 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque. Acceleration is also anticipated to be notably quicker, potentially achieving 0-100 km/h in under eight seconds.
The battery capacity remains unspecified, but the vehicle might feature a larger 52-kWh pack instead of the standard 40-kWh, enabling a range of up to 400 kilometers under the WLTP cycle. The Savane concept is built on the AmpR Small architecture, which it shares with the Renault Twingo, Renault 5, Nissan Micra supermini, and Alpine’s A290 hot hatch.
Unlike the current lineup's exclusive front-wheel drive, the Savane concept demonstrates that an all-wheel-drive setup with a rear motor is feasible. If brought to production, it could pave the way for high-performance models like a dual-motor Alpine A290. Although Renault has not officially announced plans for the Savane's production, previous ventures like the 5 Turbo 3E suggest it's within the realm of possibility. Pricing is expected to be higher than the regular Renault 4, which is available in France starting at €31,490 ($35,300) after accounting for a €2,000 ($2,200) environmental bonus.
