One Of The Coolest Retro EVs Gets A New Feature That Makes It Even Cooler

• The funky, retro-looking Renault 4 electric crossover is getting a new feature that harks back to the original.
• The addition is part of a minor technical upgrade that comes just one year after the car went on sale in Europe.
• New stuff includes a water-to-water heat exchanger that can significantly reduce charging times in freezing weather.

The Renault 4 is one of the happiest EVs out there, with its unashamedly retro looks that hark back to the original do-it-all hatchback of the 1960s. And now, the French automaker is giving the Renault 4 EV a new feature that makes it even cooler–literally and figuratively.

Just like its predecessor, the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric can now be specced with a retractable fabric roof that transforms the battery-powered hatchback into a cut-price convertible at the push of a button. Renault has even launched a special trim called Plein Sud, which means “due south,” that is obviously inspired by the historic Renault 4’s Plein Air variant that was offered in Europe in the late 1960s.

That said, the Plein Air didn’t have doors, a roof, or a tailgate, while the electric Plein Sud has to settle for a more toned-down approach. (Blame those pesky safety regulations, I guess.) If buying a special edition car just for a soft top isn’t your cup of tea, then you should know that Renault also offers the retractable roof on the regular versions of the R4 EV, too, except for the entry-level trim.

The roof’s opening is 36 inches (92 centimeters) long and 31 in (80 cm) wide, and it increases the headroom for the driver and front passenger. However, because the mechanism itself takes up extra space compared to the fixed-roof car, rear passengers get roughly 1.5 in (4 cm) less headroom.

Renault says the roof can be partially or completely opened, and that the load-bearing parts are made of plastic to save weight.

Besides the new soft top, every new Renault 4 sold in Europe gets a revised driver monitoring system that detects fatigue and distraction, and will brake to a standstill if needed. A new water-to-water heat exchanger is also part of the pack, which is said to significantly reduce charging times at freezing temperatures.