Sleek, stylish, and nearly silent, the Renault R17 by designer Ora Ïto is an all-electric restomod that pays tribute to the original 1970s vehicle. Weighing 3,806 pounds, it’s not powered by an electric motor generating 270 hp instead of a 1.6L four-cylinder engine.
Photo credit: Alexandre Ferra
Industrial designer Alexandre Ferra from Paris realized that Santa may be in for a nice sleigh upgrade and what better company to get one from than France-based Renault? It’s officially called Santa Sleigh R.S. (Renault Sport) and looks like a supercar on snow runners. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much space out back for all the presents, so either a second sleigh would be necessary, or there would have to be a companion trailer.
Based on the classic Renault 4 and 4L “Plein Air” open-top, the Renault e-Plein Air is a fully electric re-creation of these vehicles. Not exactly something you’d want to drive around everywhere, but think of it more as a city car, good for grocery runs or driving short distances, as a full charge provides around 62 miles of range, while being able to hit a top speed of 60 mph, thanks to a 6.1kWh battery.