Renault limits the Kangoo Couleur to 100 units, sold by lottery. The diesel variant pairs a 1.5-liter engine with a six-speed manual. Unpainted bumpers and steelies are intentional, not base-trim cuts. The Renault Kangoo has long been cast as a dependable delivery van or a no-nonsense family shuttle in Europe. In Japan, it plays a different role. It is treated as a lifestyle accessory. The Kangoo Couleur special edition leans into that idea, pairing stripped-back looks with vivid colors and an outdoorsy brief. 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 both cases, power is sent to the front wheels, as later generations of the Kangoo no longer offer the 4WD option found in the original. Limited Availability Production will be limited to 100 units, split between 40 gasoline examples and 60 manual diesels. Both versions are priced at ¥4,390,000 ($27,600), a ¥200,000 ($1,300) premium over the standard diesel in Japan. Getting one may prove trickier than paying for it, as buyers will be selected 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 has been part of Renault’s playbook for years, first arriving in 2010 as a way to brighten what the company once described as Japan’s “often bland streets.” Over time, the formula has expanded into dozens of limited runs, each defined by a distinct shade drawn from French culture or the natural landscape More: French Carmaker Unlocks Its Secret Design Vault And The Scale Models You Can Buy Are Wild Special editions like these have helped build the minivan’s popularity in Japan. The French model now enjoys a cult following, highlighted each year at the Kangoo Jamboree, the world’s largest gathering of Kangoo owners, held at the base of Mount Fuji. Renault Japon