Funky Renault 4 E-Tech Van Revives Memories of Fourgonnette
The fondly remembered Renault Fourgonnette is to get a modern-day revival after the French firm revealed plans to offer a small van based on its new Renault 4 E-Tech.
Launched this year, the new Renault 4 E-Tech dusts off a nameplate that was last used on a long-running economy family car that enjoyed a mammoth production run from 1961 all the way to 1994.
With the latest model bearing all the hallmarks of its descendent – albeit with a modern-retro twist – Renault has now decided to expand the range to include a van conversion, just as the original 4 did.
That model, the Fourgonnette - literally the French word for ‘van’ – become symbolic as the vehicle of choice in France for those completing deliveries in towns and villages.
Now decades later, the spirit of the Fourgonnette will live on in the new Renault 4 E-Tech Van, which is also being targeted at delivery drivers, only this time last-mile ones.
With the rear seats removed, the 4 E-Tech Van enjoys a spacious 1045-litre cargo bay, plus 55-litres of storage space under the floor. A thermoformed tray with a load-stop system and lashing hooks is also apparent, while the 1.2-metre floor can accommodate a payload of 345kg.
Two electric powertrain options will be available from launch – a 40kWh battery producing 117bhp and a 52kWh battery generating 148bhp. They are good for 191 and 254-miles of range respectively.
As it stands, Renault has only confirmed the 4 E-Tech Van for sale in its native France, but with the similarly positioned Citroen e-C3 Van having already made the trip over the Channel this year, this could well change in future.
