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What is the Renault AIR4 and how might it anticipate the cars of the future? 

January 22, 2022
Spotlight
Editorial

For decades the French car giants at Renault have been a staple of many driveways, roads, and car parks throughout the world. Though they might not be as flashy as some of their super-car competitors, Renault has always proven to be a reliable choice for new drivers, family cars, and vans, accruing $27.4 billion USD total revenue worldwide in 2021 alone.

However, in the past year Renault announced its newest innovation, which is nothing like you have ever seen before – the Renault AIR4.

Introducing the Renault AIR4

Designed in collaboration with Miami drone experts, TheArsenale, the Renault AIR4 is an innovative concept car that celebrates 60 years of success for the car manufacturer.

With a body that is similar to the original 1961 Renault 4 (albeit this time made from carbon fibre), yet instead powered by four two-blade propellers instead of wheels, this electric-powered flying drone-car aims to highlight how car giants such as Renault might develop over the next 60 years.

Flying car? But why?

According to Renault’s official press release, the car maker believes that  “the new road of the future” is not to be on the ground, but in the air. Once you come to the “realisation that traffic is compounding, lives are grinding to a halt, and the world above us is unhampered”, it only seems logical that the next step might be to design a flying car!

In this sense, the AIR4 is “designed for the roads of the future that are visualised to be in the air” – a “symbol of independence and freedom” from the confines of our current limits. Thus, the AIR4 could be the first look we might have of the cars of the future – flying cars that are independent of modern stresses.

But how does it compare to traditional cars? Let’s look at some of the specs

In the middle of the four propellers sits the lightweight chassis, of which the inside can be accessed by opening a front-hinged shell-like door. Though specifics of the interior of the AIR4 is yet to be released, what we do know is the following specs about how it ‘drives’.

  • Powered by 22,000mAh lithium-polymer batteries (90,000mAh total output)
  • Horizontal top speed of 58mph/ 26m per second
  • Take off speed of 31mph/ 14m per second (restricted to 9mph/ 4m per second for safety)
  • Landing velocity 7mph/ 3m per second
  • 45 – 70 degree incline capability
  • Top height of 700m
  • 95kg vertical thrust per propeller (380kg vertical thrust overall)

Is it for sale?

Though the Renault AIR4 is not currently for sale, real-world testing is rumoured to be coming soon. That’s right, one day you might be able to get your hands on your very own flying car, or maybe even be in with a chance of winning it in a car competition like Dream Car Giveaways.

However, for now this show car is , as you might expect, only for show. You can see the Renault AIR4 on display at the Atelier Renault museum on the Champs-Élysées in Paris for a limited time. It will then make its way around the world, being displayed in Miami, New York, and Macau in 2022.