Renault Builds Rugged 4 for Gentlemen Explorers

There’s a second French revolution going on, and it’s being led by Renault. The aim is to win over the ICE establishment with a range of stylish, entertaining, and efficient EVs, and so far, the Renaulution is certainly going to plan.

First came the reborn R5, or Le Car as it used to be known Stateside, with retro-modern styling, reasonable range and keen pricing. Our own Henry Catchpole called it, “affordable and egalitarian,” concluding, “it’s definitely got a bit of élan.”

Using the same underpinnings is a more sporty Alpine edition known as the A290, and on the way is the crazy 5 Turbo 3E modelled on the firm’s original Turbo 2 Group B car, complete with rear-wheel drive and 500 hp.

Alongside the 5 is the new 4, which, just like its own forebear, puts substance over style. It’s not unattractive, but is a more utilitarian car targeted at urban families, with features such as a bigger trunk space and lifted ride height.

Now Renault has taken the 4 into more adventurous territory with a Savane 4×4 concept that delves deeper into the French firm’s history. In the 1950s, the Savane was a tough edition of the Renault Colorale wagon that proved particularly popular in North Africa, where a lack of roads was no problem for its lifted suspension.

Renault resurfaced the name briefly in 1986 for a special edition 4, and now it’s back again in an all-wheel drive version of the newly-launched EV. A second rear-mounted motor adds extra traction and, if it’s the same spec as the front motor, the Savane could offer as much as 300 hp. Renault calls it ” a show car of stylish, go-anywhere looks, designed for the modern-day ‘gentleman explorer’.”

Compared to the current production 4, the suspension is raised by just over half an inch, and there’s a wider track, with additional black body cladding and sturdy Goodyear all-terrain tires on a set of black steelies. The interior is trimmed in hard-wearing (and stain-disguising) brown fabric, but otherwise remains standard.

For now, the Savane is just a concept, but a Renault spokesperson told Autocar that the firm is “currently studying the technical feasibility and the financial equation.”

If the Renaulution does reach the United States as Henry Catchpole suggests, would you like to see this electric 4×4 as part of the charge?