Renault has revealed the R4 Savane off-road concept with all-wheel drive and two electric motors
Renault has revealed the R4 Savane concept car, an off-road interpretation of an electric crossover with two electric motors and all-wheel drive. This is the first modification based on the Renault 4 E-Tech model to get an additional motor on the rear axle.
Here's What We Know
The concept car is named in honour of one of the historic versions of the Renault 4 and differs from the regular Renault 4 E-Tech by 15 mm increased ground clearance. The wheel arches have been widened by 20 mm to accommodate 18-inch wheels with Goodyear UltraGrip tyres. The body is painted in the signature Jade Green hue and the roof is adorned with printed fabric. Instead of standard bumpers, 3D-printed elements are used - they have shock-absorbing properties. The interior is also decorated in the spirit of adventure: the seats are finished in dark brown material with chequered back and sides, and the front panel - in "mud" colours.
The production Renault 4 E-Tech is built on the AmpR Small platform, shared with the Renault 5 E-Tech and Alpine A290 models. They all default to front-wheel drive and a single electric motor with two power options:
- 120 hp (88 kW)
- 150 hp (110 kW)
Adding a second electric motor theoretically increases the total output to 304 hp (224 kW) - almost ten times that of the original 1961 Renault 4. This opens the way not only for a production version of the Savane, but also for a possible "hot" modification under the Alpine brand.
Renault emphasises that the Savane is primarily a demonstration of the potential of the AmpR Small platform to create all-wheel drive B-segment electric cars. However, Renault's practice shows that such elaborate concepts rarely remain only show cars. The question remains open as to whether the Renault 5, built on a shortened version of the same architecture, will be able to receive an additional engine in the future.
Source: Renault
