The new Renault 4 is confirmed: retro electric crossover is coming

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Renault has confirmed plans for a new Renault 4 model to join the reinvented Renault 5 in its range of retro-themed electric cars. As revealed recently by Auto Express, the company is working on a concept based on the 4, the iconic small family car that sold more than eight million units during an extraordinary production run between 1961 and 1992.

Now, as part of an announcement focusing on electric vehicles, Renault has said it will revive another magical and iconic star currently called 4ever and indicating its intention to create a timeless classic. If the new model follows the approach of its predecessor, it should be slightly more practical than the 5, with a larger trunk, a more essential cabin and potentially space for a commercial van version.

The new Renault 4 is part of an aggressive push towards electrification; Renault is already preparing to launch its all-new all-electric Megane next year and says it will introduce a total of 10 new electric vehicles by 2025. Seven of them will be Renault; the other three will likely be Alpine while the sports car brand will switch to full electrification from 2024.

Renault believes it will have the greenest sales mix in Europe by the middle of this decade, when more than 65% of its range will be fully electric or electrified. And it says up to 90% of its models will be electric-only by 2030.

Pictures of a proposed Renault 4 project were discovered on a brand website, as well as a new version of the Renault logo with the number 4.

Our exclusive images show what the branded car could look like in the metal. Renault CEO Luca De Meo recently confirmed to Auto Express that there would be more retro-inspired models in the future line-up following the well-received launch of the Renault 5 prototype. There have been so many products that have made history , therefore it would be a shame not to link up with that long history and tradition.

We weren’t here just to look in the rearview mirror, we were here to reinvent things and I think the Renault 5 is a good example, he told us. Many people tell me, why do you do retro design? This isn’t a retro design, it’s just a reinvention of a concept. We have a lot of things in our library that we can reinvent.

Auto Express understands that the Renault 4 concept, which is expected to be unveiled later this year to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the original car launch in 1961, has not yet been completed. As a result, the car in the brand’s images is likely to be one of several options proposed by the Renault design team, led by Gilles Vidal.

The new 4, however, will follow the boxy and vertical look of the original car, which was Renault’s answer to the Citroen 2CV and a precursor to the current crop of small SUVs, such as Renault’s Captur. The newcomer will aim to follow the original 4s mantra of offering convenient and spacious transportation for families, but also with a dose of style.

As with the new Renault 5, we expect to see a number of retro design touches on the R4, such as the headlights and grille that sit within a single frame, and design features on the front bumper that mimic overriders. seen on the original steel bumper cars.

When the original R5 launched, it borrowed the mechanics from the R4, but this time around, the roles should be reversed. If the R5 uses an updated version of the Renault-Nissan Alliances CMF-B platform that underpins the Renault Zoe, or a new platform that borrows from CMF-B called the CMF-BEV, the same technology should be used for the R4 to keep costs down.

Specs for both models were being finalized, but Zoe has a 50kWh battery and a maximum range of 245 miles, with 50kW fast charging available. Renault has suggested a maximum range of 249 miles for cars using the upcoming CMF-BEV platform, designed specifically for small budget electric cars and equipped with a standardized 134hp electric motor.

Traditionally the R4 was priced slightly below the R5, but with the cost of the technology and Renault suggesting a price below 20,000 for the R5, we expect Renault to aim for similar prices for its retro twins. If the concept is well received, De Meo could give the green light to the project to be put on sale shortly after the debut of the new 5s, or the first deliveries in late 2023 or early 2024.

What do fans think of the Renault 4?

We asked forum members renault4.co.uk what they thought of Renault’s plans to revive the nameplate.

It will be interesting to see what aspects of the original Renault 4 the new car will use, said one. The original was true French thinking outside the box. It was one of the first small sedans, one of the first cars with a maintenance-free cooling system, had fold-down rear seats and a fold-down front seat in the van.

The original R4 was cheap to buy and run and was very practical, commented another. It had more trunk space than the average property, and there were some great practical touches. The car was nice and became classless.

A new Renault 4 should be practical, innovative and pretty, one user said. He will have to find a way to appeal to everyone.

If the new car showed a smooth French car, it would be brilliant, another believed. If it’s derivative in some way, it won’t have the spirit of the original, but hopefully it will still be really cool.

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