- The Renault Kangoo Couleur is a special edition of the minivan for Japan.
- It combines unpainted plastic bumpers and black steelies with vivid colors.
- The latest limited production run comes with a manual turbodiesel option.
The Renault Kangoo is mostly known for being used as a tireless delivery van or a sensible family hauler in Europe, but Japan views it as a lifestyle tool. Testament to that is the Kangoo Couleur special edition, combining bare-bones looks with vivid colors and an adventurous spirit.
At first glance, the Couleur looks like the base trim of the Kangoo LCV. This is due to the unpainted plastic bumpers and the black steelies, which are usually courtesy of poverty spec. However, the LED headlights and the optional roof racks suggest that this is not your typical workhorse.
More: Radical Espace Reboot Leads Renault’s 36-Car Plan To Fight China’s Threat
The highlight of the latest special edition is the striking Vert Foret (green) shade, inspired by the colors of French forests in early summer. In a similar context, the longer Grand Kangoo Couleur is available in Vert Paris (dark green) and Jaune La Poste (yellow) options.
While the Renault Kangoo is an FWD-only affair in Japan, the company tried to make it a little bit more capable off the beaten track. The black 16-inch steel wheels are shod in Michelin CrossClimate all-season tires, and the “Extended Grip” switch on the center console helps with traction on slippery surfaces.
The standard Kangoo measures 4,490 mm (176.8 in) long, and comes with a five-seater layout. The Grand Kangoo stretches to 4,910 mm (193.3 inches) long, providing enough real estate for seven seats, or a massive cargo area of up to 3,750 liters (132.4 cubic feet) when they get removed. The Japanese-spec models feature rear barn doors instead of a proper tailgate, making it easier to load and unload stuff in tight urban spaces.
More: Renault Hippie Caviar Motel Concept Turns The Kangoo Into A Mobile Base Camp
Under the hood, Japanese buyers have two options. The non-electrified turbo 1.3-liter gasoline engine is good for 129 hp (96 kW / 131 PS), mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The second is a 1.5-liter turbodiesel that makes 114 hp (85 kW / 116 PS) and is exclusively paired to a six-speed manual gearbox.
In any case, power is transmitted to the front wheels, as the second and third generations of the Kangoo never got the 4WD option of the original.
Limited Availability
The Renault Kangoo Couleur will be manufactured in 100 units, including 40 examples of the gasoline version and 60 of the manual diesel. Both are priced at ¥4,390,000 ($27,600), which is ¥200,000 ($1,300) higher than the starting price of the regular Kangoo in Japan. However, buying it is not that simple, as owners will be decided through a lottery system.
The Grand Kangoo Couleur will follow next month, again through a lottery application. Production for the long-wheelbase seven-seater version will also be limited to 100 units, equally divided between the two available colors.
A Long-Standing Tradition
The Kangoo Couleur is a long-standing tradition for Renault Japon, first introduced in 2010 as a way to inject color into what the company describes as the “often bland streets of Japan“. Over the years, the series has seen dozens of limited releases with different shades inspired from French culture and nature.
More: French Carmaker Unlocks Its Secret Design Vault And The Scale Models You Can Buy Are Wild
Special editions like these have contributed to the popularity of the minivan in Japan. The French model has created a cult following in the Land of the Rising Sun, which culminates annually at the Kangoo Jamboree, the world’s largest gathering of Kangoo owners facilitated at the base of Mount Fuji.
