Renault 4 Savane concept goes wild with all-wheel drive

The much-loved Renault 4 is back, reborn as a small electric vehicle, and now Renault is showing off a tougher version that hints at more adventurous possibilities. The modern Renault 4 already turned heads by transforming from a simple gas car into a small electric crossover. The new concept model brings back another familiar name: Savane. But unlike the regular production model, which only sends power to the front wheels, this Savane concept gets a significant upgrade: power goes to all four wheels thanks to an added motor in the back.

Beyond the dual motors, the Renault 4 Savane 4x4 concept sports a fresh coat of Jade Green paint and a cool fabric roof with a pixelated design. It also stands a little taller. The engineers gave it a lifted suspension, boosting ground clearance by 0.59 inches. While you probably won't be tackling serious off-road trails, this concept should handle bumpy paths better than the standard car. It still uses 18-inch wheels, but they are a new design wrapped in chunky Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tires that measure 225/55. To give it a more stable stance, Renault also made the front and rear tracks wider by 0.39 inches.

Renault hasn't said exactly how much power this dual-motor setup makes. However, adding a second motor clearly gives it more muscle than the standard Renault 4. The regular model has a front motor that makes 110 kilowatts (148 horsepower) and 181 lb-ft of torque. This concept should be quite a bit quicker than the standard Renault 4, which takes 8.2 seconds to go from a stop to 62 mph. The size of the battery in the concept is also a bit of a mystery. It might use the larger 52 kWh battery pack instead of the standard 40 kWh. With the 52 kWh battery, the regular Renault 4 can travel up to 249 miles on a single charge based on the WLTP test cycle.

Like the production version, the Savane concept is built on the AmpR Small platform. This is a versatile base used for several electric cars, including the Renault 5. Nissan's new small car, the Micra, and Alpine's hot hatch, the A290, also share this platform. All these other models are currently front-wheel drive, but the Savane concept proves that adding a rear motor for all-wheel drive is certainly possible on this platform.

Will Renault actually build this tougher Savane version? The company hasn't confirmed anything yet, but it's not out of the question. Renault has shown it's willing to greenlight interesting projects, like the wild electric 5 Turbo 3E hot hatch, which is expected to cost around $178,000. This isn't even the first time Renault has shown a more rugged take on the new 4; a concept called the 4ever Trophy appeared a couple of years before the production model, hinting at the potential for a more adventurous version.

If Renault gives the Savane the green light for production, it will likely cost more than the standard Renault 4 with the bigger battery. In France, the regular Renault 4 with the 52 kWh battery starts at $34,940 after including the €2,000 environmental bonus offered there. A production version of the Savane with its extra motor and features would naturally come with a higher price tag, but for buyers looking for a small electric crossover with a bit more capability and a distinctive look, it could be a compelling option.

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