Following a 30-year hiatus, the Renault 4 was reinvented in late 2024, evolving from a gasoline econobox into a small electric vehicle. Essentially a crossover version of the reborn Renault 5 (aka Le Car in the United States), the subcompact EV revives another name: Savane. Unlike the front-wheel-drive production model, the new concept features an all-wheel-drive setup by adding a rear motor.
Beyond the dual-motor layout and a fresh Jade Green coat of paint, the Renault 4 Savane 4×4 concept also benefits from a lifted suspension, boosting ground clearance by 0.6 inches (15 millimeters). We wouldn’t go so far as to call it an off-roader, but it should be more capable off the beaten path than the standard car. It still rides on 18-inch wheels, now a newly designed set wrapped in Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tires measuring 225/55.
Photo by: Renault
Renault’s engineers also widened the front and rear tracks by 0.4 inches (10 millimeters). While power output hasn’t been disclosed, the concept certainly offers more oomph than the standard model’s front-mounted motor, which is rated at 148 hp (110 kW) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm). It should also be significantly quicker than the regular Renault 4’s 8.2-second 0-62 mph time.
The battery size remains unknown, though it could feature the larger 52-kWh pack instead of the standard 40-kWh battery. With the former, the Renault 4 is capable of 249 miles (400 kilometers) of range on the WLTP cycle. Like the production version, the Savane concept rides on the AmpR Small architecture, which is shared with the smaller Twingo and the larger Renault 5. Nissan’s new Micra supermini and Alpine’s A290 hot hatch also use this platform.
All these models are front-wheel drive only, but the new concept shows that an all-wheel-drive setup with a rear motor is technically feasible. A dual-motor Alpine A290 would be a veritable pocket rocket. Renault hasn’t confirmed whether a production version of the Savane is planned, but it’s certainly possible. After all, the French automaker greenlit the wild 5 Turbo 3E, a rear-wheel-drive electric hot hatch that now carries a provisional asking price of €160,000 (nearly $180,000).
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Source: Renault
This isn’t Renault’s first off-road-themed take on the new 4. A couple of years before the production model debuted, the 4ever Trophy concept hinted at the potential for a more adventurous version. Hopefully, the company with the diamond logo will give the project the green light and make the Renault 4 stand out from the current crop of unexciting small crossovers available in Europe.
If approved, it will cost more than the regular Renault 4 with the bigger battery, which is available at home in France from €31,490 ($35,300) after factoring in the €2,000 ($2,200) environmental bonus.