A Renault Scenic RX4, seen at a car market in east Beijing in 2014. The good RX4 was a bit dusty but otherwise in fine shape. The Renault Scenic RX4 was a 4×4 off-road version of the first-generation Scenic MPV.
The Scenic was made from 1996 until 2003. The Scenic RX4 was made for a much shorter time; only from 2000 until 2003. In total, Renault produced about 40.000 units.
Amazingly, the Renault Scenic RX4 was officially marketed in China between 2000 and 2004 as an import. It was priced at 248.000 yuan, which was 10.000 more than what Renault asked for the regular version of the Scenic. A few thousand RX4’s were sold in China.
Elf is a motor oil brand, owned by Elf Aquitaine. It has been a long-time ‘official partner’ of Renault, and in the 1980s and 1990s, almost every new Renault had these Renault Elf window stickers.
The RX4 was a serious off-road capable car. Ride height was 12 centimeters higher compared to the regular Megane. The rear and front wheel suspension were strengthened, and the engine undercover was thickened. The exterior was upgraded with extra large bumpers, plastic cladding around the entire car, and a spare wheel cover on the tailgate.
The interior was in good shape, with the original fabric seats. Note the van-like position of the steering wheel. It still has the factory gear knob and radio CD player.
That’s the spare wheel cover!
The RX4 was a good car to carry a baby over the mountains. The four-wheel drive system was designed by Steyr of Austria. The gearbox was an extra strong five-speed manual. Power came from an F4R 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 136 hp and 191 Nm.
The big bumpers show that the RX4 means business, with a fog light on each side. The light green color is called Dune. It has an old-school antenna just above the windscreen. The Renault RX4 was a super cool car. Too bad that Renault never launched a car with a similar concept.