Today, the new Renault 4 would be unveiled, Renault said. And they are kind of right about that. But we are also wondering: what the heck is this electric Renault AIR4? Is it April 1 or something?
The Renault 4 turned 60 this year. To end the festive year, Renault and the design center TheArsenale (hip without a space, of course) have just unveiled a special study model: the Renault AIR4. Will it soon be on the market as a plug-in successor to the original 4? No, it doesn’t seem like it.
Renault AIR4 can fly up to 700 meters high
Because as you can see, the AIR4 has become a flying car. It looks like a classic Renault 4 with propellers, but in reality it is completely new, with a carbon fiber body and a minimalist interior, with an almost military feel. It is lifted by four propellers and can fly up to 700 meters high.
Electric drive and top speed of 26 m/s
There is no fuel engine on board. The AIR4 is powered by a set of lithium polymer batteries. It can reach a top speed of 26 m/s and take off at a maximum speed of 14 m/s (limited to 4 m/s in this prototype for safety reasons). The four screws together exert an upward pressure of 380 kilos.
AIR4 goes on tour, to Paris, Miami and New York
From next Monday, the Renault AIR4 will be on display in the center of Paris, in the Renault workshop on the Champs Élysées. In early 2022, the flying car will arrive on American soil, where it will visit Miami and New York, followed by a trip to Asia, to Macau. An electric Renault 4 is really coming, but we have to wait for that for a while.
Original Renault 4 sold between 1961 and 1992
More than 8 million copies of the original Renault 4 were built between 1961 and 1992. The special thing about the car is that it has a different wheelbase on the left and right side. This is because the two rear torsion axles – one for the left wheel, one for the right wheel – are positioned behind each other.