Renault edges closer to launching a 4x4 r4 as the Savane prototype drives like it could hit showrooms tomorrow

Renault has taken a step closer to launching a production version of its four-wheel-drive 4 Savane concept car, with a working prototype already up and running.

Renault unveiled the 4 Savane concept car back in May. 

At the time, the marque said it ‘demonstrated the potential’ for a rugged all-wheel-drive Renault 4. 

And now, the French carmaker looks like it could be poised to realize that potential with a production version.

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There’s already a working prototype of the Renault Savane

When it was unveiled in May, Renault hailed the 4 Savane concept car as ‘rugged on the outside, refined on the inside’ and promised that ‘off-roading has never looked so good’. 

The concept vehicle benefited from an additional motor on the rear axle, making it an all-wheel drive, and boosted its ground clearance by a generous 15mm. 

The car was fitted with Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tires and was geared towards ‘the modern-day gentleman explorer’, according to Renault. 

The concept was finished in a deep Jade Green color, over a luxe brown interior with some houndstooth accents on the seats. 

And it seems as though the concept might be too good an opportunity for Renault to pass up on, as there could be a production model on the cards, with the carmaker already building a fully operational prototype. 

The prototype 4 Savane stands apart from previous 4 vehicles thanks to its body kit, and comes with the additional ground clearance as well as wider 215mm tires. 

Specs on the rear motor haven’t been revealed, but it is smaller than either the 118hp or 148hp motors that power the front axle. 

The inside of the prototype is more or less the same as the concept, and features an infotainment system and drive modes. 

The team from Autocar was given the chance to get behind the wheel of the 4 Savane and said it was a ‘very stable, confidence-inspiring car’.

The extra ground clearance also got a big thumbs up, particularly when it came to tackling bumps and ruts on the beach it was test driven on.

So, is the car headed for production?

For now, Renault is remaining tight-lipped on when, or even if, the 4 Savane will go into production. 

The marque told Autocar it was studying the market and thought it had found a niche for the all-wheel-drive, but that it would need to consider demand and production numbers. 

As for where the car will end up, the carmaker says it will probably be most popular in northern and central Europe. 

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