Renault introduced a new version of the 4 E-Tech with a huge folding roof
Renault has added a huge folding fabric roof to the electric 4 E-Tech crossover, costing £1,500 more. The new version is called Plein Sud, which translates from French as “straight to the south”. Its price starts from £27,445 including the UK government grant of £3,750.
Like all other versions of the 4 E-Tech, this model is equipped with a 147 hp engine, a 52 kWh battery, and a range of up to 242 miles.
Style and innovations: a roof that recalls the original
The Renault 4 E-Tech has already borrowed plenty of design cues from the classic Renault 4, and now it revives one of the coolest features of the old car. The new Plein Sud version replaces the standard roof with a huge electric folding fabric mechanism.
The fabric opening measures 800 by 920 mm (31.5 x 36.2 inches) and folds electrically in several stages, providing a true open-air feel for both front and rear passengers. Renault claims this is the only fully electric B-segment crossover to offer such a configuration.
This roof is a pretty obvious nod to the simple manual fabric roof of the original Renault 4 from the 1960s. But now it is much smarter. Not only is it fully electric, but it can also be opened by asking the voice assistant Reno if you are too lazy to press a button.
Technical specifications and price
Under the roof, there are no mechanical changes. Buyers get the familiar front motor producing 148 hp (150 PS / 110 kW) and a 52 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 242 miles (389 km) on the WLTP cycle. This is only slightly less than the fixed-roof version (up to 249 miles or 400 km), proving the folding roof hasn’t hurt efficiency too much.
The Plein Sud version is available in the mid-level Techno+ and top-level Iconic+ trims. It costs £1,500 ($2,000) more than comparable models with a fixed roof. In the UK, prices start at £27,445 ($37,412) after applying the government electric vehicle grant of £3,750 ($5,111). In France, prices start at €31,110 ($36,684) after incentives.
Pre-ordering opens immediately for owners of Renault’s R Pass — customers who previously paid for priority access. Everyone else will be able to place orders from May 14.
Safety updates
In addition to the roof, Renault has also updated the safety systems across the entire 4 E-Tech lineup to meet the latest European regulations. New systems include driver fatigue monitoring and an emergency stop function that can safely slow the vehicle down if the driver becomes unresponsive.
Thus, Renault is not just adding a roof option but consciously bringing back the spirit of the original model, adapting it to modern technology. This makes the 4 E-Tech even more attractive for those who value style and the feeling of freedom that an open top provides. It is worth noting that the slight reduction in range is a perfectly acceptable price to pay for such a unique feature, which sets this electric vehicle apart from its competitors. The safety system updates also demonstrate the company’s desire to maintain high quality standards and comply with strict European regulations, which is an important argument for the modern buyer.