By Fabrizio Panico
Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
I have a new shipment of promotional models from Norev; so it is time for an update to my listings. This time we have two new vehicles from Citroën, the C4X and the refreshed C5 Aircross, while Renault introduces the Arkana and continues to dig in its history, after the 5 Turbo it is now time for the 4 Parisienne, the 4CV and the 8 Gordini. The only negative aspect is that the “new” vehicles are in 1:64 scale, whilst their “ancestors” stuck to the old 1:54 scale.
Let’s start with the Citroën C5 Aircross 2022: it is a refresh of the medium-size crossover-SUV produced from 2017 in China for the Asian markets and from the following year in the French Rennes plant for the rest of the world. The 2022 updates are more inside than outside, where the noticeable changes are the new front lights and bumper, plus a minor redesign of the rear end. New wheels, now 18-inch two-tone diamond, named Pulsar. It is available with petrol or diesel engines, or as a hybrid plug-in. The 1:64 scale models are available in four different colours: Gris Platinium, Gris Artence with a black roof, Blanc Nacré with a black roof, and Bleu Eclipse. As usual the models are made in China. The level of detailing is very high and the interiors can be appreciated thanks to the transparent roof panels. Much less understandable is Citroën’s decision to alter the format of the reference numbers so instead of the usual ‘AMC 019 xxxx’ now we get a dull ‘CIT22_MIN_C5A’.
The next ‘model is the Citroën C4X 2022 a compact 4 door saloon-crossover, a 3-box shape derived from the third generation C4. According to Citroën a fusion of the character of a fastback, a saloon and a SUV. It is clear that a 3-box body is still preferred by professional users (taxi, rental with driver, etc) and in some emerging markets, i.e. Asia, North Africa and Turkey (the rear boot insulates passengers from dust, heat and wind) and Citroën was forced to introduce the 3-box version where the SUV wasn’t accepted too well. It is based on the same modular platform used by many vehicles of the Stellantis group, all equipped with combustion or electric engines located in the forward transverse position. The 1:64 scale models are available in four different colours: Gris Platinium, Rouge Elixir, Blanc Nacré, and Noir Perla Nera. As usual the models are made in China, with the detail level similar to the C5 Aircross and here again we get as reference a dull ‘CIT22_MIN_C4X’.
While shopping on the web I found a model of the Citroën HY van in the yellow livery ‘Citroën Service’ with the more recent ‘promotional’ box (Citroën reference AMC 019 1193 from 2018), a model already presented a few years ago (2016) together with a red one (Citroën previous reference AMC 019 644). Here is an opportunity to show it again. The H van was a real success in France, a bit less in Germany or Italy due to a strong local competition, with almost 500,000 units sold between 1948 and 1981. Nowadays it is an “icon” and it has been widely exploited in the recent past by trendy ‘street food’ vendors. The real vehicle was updated periodically and we can identify the Norev model as a post 1969 vehicle, the one-piece windscreen being from 1964, but the squared rear wheel arches only from 1969. It is interesting to note that previously Norev identified the van as a HY version (both on the chassis and on the box) while the more recent model has only H on the box and HY on the chassis. The different names refer to its payload : 1,200 kg for the H, 1,500/1,600 kg for the HY, and 850/1,000 kg for the HZ. But, apart from these subtleties, the model is really nice and worth of a place in any collection.
Renault is reviving its ‘warhorses’: the 4CV from 1946, the 4 from 1967 and the 8 Gordini from 1965. All of them are well known to any car enthusiast and already seen in the Norev collection, both as promotional and standard release models. There are no casting differences between new and old models, but improved tampo printing enhances the new liveries. All of them are made in China in 1:54 scale.
The Renault 4CV was a rear engined 4-door small saloon produced from 1947 to 1961, selling over 1,000,000 units. It was periodically updated, and we can identify the Norev model as a 1950/1954 vehicle (not 1946 as stated on the box and the chassis), the nine slot rear grille being from 1949, and the rod turn signals were suppressed from 1950, but from 1954 the front grille had only three bars. The ivory livery reminds its early nickname ‘La motte de beurre’ (the pat of butter), this was due to the combination of its shape and the fact that early deliveries used surplus paint from the German Army vehicles of the Afrika Korps, which was a sand-yellow colour. Reference number is ETE 9999676.
The Renault 8 Gordini, produced from 1964 to 1970, was the sport version of the quiet 4-door saloon heir to the Dauphine. The ‘wizard’ Gordini was able to almost double its power output, allowing the little 1100 version to battle with bigger cars. In 1966 the new 1300 version introduced the four front headlamps instead of two, our scale model then can be identified as a 1966/1970 and not as a 1965 as stated on the box and the chassis. The blue livery with white bands is classic Gordini colours and the reference number is ETE 9999677.
The Renault 4 Parisienne is a special version of the famous 4 ‘La voiture à vivre’ produced from 1961 to 1992. It was sponsored by the French Elle magazine and expressly targeted at a female audience. It was available from 1963 with a Vienna straw decoration on the sides and tailgate or with a ‘tartan’ motif based upon the pattern of the famous Scottish fabric. It was produced until 1968, but after 1965, the name Parisienne was no longer attached to the car, but became a trim option available for an additional payment of 260 FF. The scale model has a logo Parisienne on the front right wing, but no Vienna or Scottish decoration. The front grille is of the first type, modified then as a single piece together with the headlamps in 1967. The 1967 on the box is correct, but on the chassis it is incorrectly marked 1964.
Last, but not least, is the Renault Arkana 2021 a sort of ‘whitefly’ both as a real car and as a scale model. The Arkana is a compact crossover SUV with a sloping rear roofline (a sort of coupé SUV), produced from 2019 in Russia based on the old Dacia Duster platform (presumably this ended when Renault transferred its Russian assets to the Moscow state in May 2022) and from 2020 in South Korea as Renault Samsung XM3 but based on the more advanced CMF-B platform (Clio, Captur etc), this is the subject of the scale model. According to Renault its name derives from the Latin arcanum, meaning secret. Its positioning in the Renault range is difficult to evaluate; It has almost same dimensions, prices and powerplants as the new Austral, almost a ‘twin’? Anyway even the scale model has a surprise. It seems a Norev like any other, but it is actually made in Bangladesh by Solido. Yes, the box states it is made ‘by’ Solido, not ‘for’ Solido.’We have already seen Renault use different partners for some of its smaller models, like UH (Scenic), Eligor (Koleos), Z-Models (Captur), Keng-Fay (coffret R5 & A110), Mattel (R24 formula 1), Welly (R4 for 120 years). The new scale model is available in two colours only: Noir Métal and Orange (alas, the Orange model has yet to be found), under reference ETE 1385294. It is stated to be in 1:64 scale, but it appears to be smaller, about 1:68 perhaps, and compared to the Austral by Norev it is indeed quite smaller. Details level is the same as the Norev. The box is similar in style to the Austral ones, but its dimensions are slightly different, and not justified by the model size. There is ‘Renault Arkana‘ on the detailed baseplate, but no indication of the maker. The choice of a different scale is a shame, let’s hope Renault will return to a more uniform set of models in future releases.
We welcome your comments and questions. Please go to our Model Auto Review Facebook page or email the Editors at maronlineeditor at gmail.com.