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Even before the official world premiere at this year’s Paris Motor Show, Renault is giving a foretaste of its new compact electric vehicle. The 4.14 metre long model is just as versatile and progressive as the original: The first Renault 4 revolutionised the automotive market in 1961. The brand’s first family car with a front engine had no transmission tunnel, creating a flat floor. Whether on the road in the city or in the countryside, in everyday commuter traffic or on holiday, the vehicle fitted perfectly into the times and into a society that was undergoing change. More than eight million units sold in over 100 countries are an impressive reflection of this.
Like the 3.92 metre long Renault 5, the new edition is based on the ‘AmpR Small’ architecture: The AmpR platform for electric vehicles in the B-segment ensures first-class space, maximum agility and maximum comfort. The vehicle will be built in Maubeuge, France, and the market launch is scheduled for 2025. The radiator grille stretches across the entire width of the vehicle and is surrounded by a continuous light frame, which also includes the round LED headlights. For the first time at Renault, the central brand emblem is illuminated and recalls the predecessor model from the 1960s in a technically sophisticated, modern and original way. One of the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric’s distinguishing features is the characteristic ‘4’ on the tailgate. The three-part, vertically arranged rear lights of the original were redesigned according to modern aesthetic aspects and taking into account the latest technology. The glossy black surround emphasises the unmistakable character of the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric.
The Renault 4 E-Tech Electric features the characteristic trapezoidal side windows positioned just above the rear wheels – one of the distinguishing features of the first Renault 4. They extend the side glass surfaces. The side view of the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric is reminiscent of the plastic panelling of later model generations. The three parallel lines on the doors emphasise and structure the vehicle profile. A sticker extending from the side windscreen to the wheel arches refers to the characteristic front wings of the original Renault 4. The allusion to the roof shape of the first Renault 4 is unmistakable. The roof edge spoiler gives the vehicle a dynamic touch. The angle of the tailgate, which ends in a strikingly low loading sill, is one of the hallmarks of the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric.
The chrome-plated bumpers and rubber bumpers from the 1960s have disappeared, but the vertical overriders at the front and rear serve as a reminder of the original Renault 4. As with its namesake, the occupants of the all-electric Renault 4 E-Tech can also let the wind blow around their noses in some model variants: A wide-opening fabric roof provides a view of the sky and delivers an unrivalled feeling of freedom.
R4 R Pass: For quick decision-makers
As with the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, prospective customers can get behind the wheel even faster: with the R4 R Pass, the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric can be ordered 15 days before the official order launch. Incoming orders will be prioritised. R4 R Pass holders also receive a scale model of the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric and invitations to exclusive events. Regular updates are provided by the wt4 app, which has been renamed especially for the model. The R4 R Pass, which is available in seven countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands), costs €150 and is available in Germany now at www.renault.de/r4.
