The Renault 4 E-Tech electric has never been shy about its heritage, but the new ‘Plein Sud’ version turns nostalgia into something you can actually feel on your skin. Orders open today in the UK for R Pass customers, with wider availability from 14th May, and this time the headline is not just electric mobility, but electric air.
Developed by Renault
, the Plein Sud brings back a playful idea from the original Renault 4: a fabric-style roof that lets the outside world in. Only now, it has been reimagined as a full-length electrically operated canvas system stretching across the cabin. At the press of a button, or even a voice command through the Reno assistant, the roof slides open to create a wide 80 by 92 centimetre aperture, turning every journey into something closer to a moving open terrace than a conventional SUV drive.
What makes it especially striking is how rare this approach is in its segment. It is currently the only electric B-SUV to offer a fully opening roof of this kind, placing it in a category of one rather than just another trim variation. The canvas folds neatly into three sections and can be opened in stages, meaning it is not an all-or-nothing experience but something adjustable to mood, weather, or impulse.
Despite the dramatic shift in ambience, practicality remains untouched. Boot space still reaches up to 1,350 litres with the rear seats folded, meaning the roof mechanism does not steal the utility that defines the Renault 4 E-Tech electric in the first place. A low 607mm loading sill and wide-opening tailgate keep everyday usability firmly in focus, while the interior packaging remains unchanged in terms of comfort and headroom.
Underneath, the specification mirrors the standard model. A 52kWh battery feeds a 150hp electric motor producing 245Nm of torque, delivering a WLTP range of up to 242 miles depending on configuration. Performance is modest but confident, with 0–62mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 93mph. Rapid DC charging at up to 100kW allows a 15 to 80 percent top-up in around 30 minutes, keeping longer trips realistically flexible.
Inside, Renault leans heavily into its connected ecosystem. The OpenR Link system pairs a 10-inch central touchscreen with a 10.3-inch driver display, with Google built-in for navigation, apps and voice control. The Reno avatar acts as a digital companion, while features like one-pedal driving and multiple regenerative braking levels make urban driving smoother and more intuitive.
Safety has also taken a step forward, with up to 28 advanced driver assistance systems depending on specification. These include driver attention monitoring using an interior camera, predictive eco-driving guidance based on mapped terrain, emergency stop assist, lane support systems and expanded collision avoidance functions. Higher trims add blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and contextual adaptive cruise control, reinforcing the car’s role a
