For off-road use: the new Renault Master 4x4; Photo: © Renault
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April 26, 2016
The French have fitted their largest van with all-wheel drive. The Renault Master 4x4, converted by the specialists at Oberaigner, is now available.
Somewhere on the nearby racetrack, a bike's engine roars loudly as the rider accelerates. But on the track next door, things are quieter—and dirtier, as the Renault Masters chew their way through the dry clay, leaving a huge cloud of dust in their wake. Here, on the off-road terrain of Campo Castollini northwest of Barcelona, the Renault Master will demonstrate its off-road capabilities.
The Master 4x4 is now a new addition to the French van family, expanding the existing front- and rear-wheel drive options to include an all-wheel drive variant. Renault has brought on board a renowned partner for the technical implementation: the Rostock-based specialist Oberaigner Automotive, which has focused on the rear-wheel drive version of the Master. In the future, additional drive shafts at the front and an electronic differential will ensure balanced power distribution. Half of the power will be distributed between the front and rear axles. In difficult terrain, the electronics then ensure that power is only distributed to the wheels that actually have traction. The driver can adjust the setting from two-wheel drive to all-wheel drive and even the reduction gear at the touch of a button on the dashboard.
Of course, there are also the classic all-wheel-drive features, such as a downhill assist system, which ensures the vehicle continuously descends a slope at the speed at which the driver started. The technology takes over accelerating or braking, bringing the vehicle safely downhill. Driving uphill at low revs is sufficient; even then, the technology ensures steady progress as long as the driver doesn't let off the accelerator. The hill holder also helps if the driver stops and then needs to start again. It holds the vehicle in place to bridge the time between releasing the brakes and first accelerating.
Operations management
Operations management
Operations management
The panel vans and flatbeds – albeit unloaded – actually master the course with ease, proving that the Master is an attractive alternative for wind turbine engineers and all other skilled workers who need to work off-road or on inaccessible construction sites. Buyers must add around €11.000 plus VAT for the all-wheel-drive version to the base model. Furthermore, according to Renault headquarters in Paris, the Master 4x4 is available as a one-off vehicle directly from commercial vehicle dealers. They specifically target business owners under the umbrella brand "Pro+." "Pro+" has been the name for Renault dealers specializing in commercial customers for over a year.
Even without all-wheel drive, the French brand has introduced further innovations for all models of its Kangoo, Trafic, and Master commercial vehicle series, designed to ensure better performance. Extended Grip is the name given to an improved traction control system, which is now the latest standard feature in all three series. On difficult surfaces, the driver can activate traction control at the touch of a button. This works up to 50 km/h; at higher speeds, the system automatically deactivates.
If that's not enough for you, you can upgrade to the more powerful X-Track traction control system, which is available on the options list. This system, which is integrated into the gearbox, ensures grip on the correct wheel. It's designed for dirty roads or muddy surfaces. The system, integrated into the gearbox, helps when wheels spin on such surfaces. Typically, both wheels on an axle will spin if only one lacks traction. X-Track can then transfer up to a quarter of the torque from the wheel with no grip to the other, ensuring better progress – regardless of speed. The models also get increased ground clearance: the Kangoo and Trafic get an additional 30 millimeters, while the Master gets 40 millimeters. A three-millimeter-thick underbody protection protects the oil pan, while the Kangoo Rapid also has a protective plate for the brake lines and fuel tank.
Photos: © Renault
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