Air4: The Renault 4L transformed into a flying car

The car manufacturer Renault and the “future mobility specialist” TheArsenale today unveiled a flying car inspired by the 4L.

Renault is developing two new electric models inspired by its classic icons, the R5 and 4L. However, this strange prototype, created in collaboration with TheArsenale, has nothing to do with Renault’s famous popular car (which remains the best-selling vehicle in the company’s history to this day).

Launched following an animated discussion between Patrice Meignan, founder of TheArsenale, and a senior Renault executive, the Air4 project celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 4L in a quite unusual way: it has no wheels but rotors capable of generating up to 400 kilograms of maximum thrust. As it weighs only 167 kilograms thanks to an entirely carbon fiber chassis, this small flying car can theoretically soar to 700 meters altitude and reach speeds of 90 km/h for more than ten minutes.

In reality, it did fly a few meters, but it will remain grounded during its exhibition at the Renault Workshop on the Champs-Élysées in Paris starting December 9th. Afterwards, it may take to the skies again on the other side of the Atlantic for some experimental tests. Don’t expect to be able to buy a flying Renault 4L at your dealership anytime soon. However, the fully electric road version should be ready by the middle of the decade at the latest.