Renault 4 revived as ‘retro-futuristic’ electric crossover
The iconic Renault 4 from the 1960s has been rebooted as a “retro-futuristic” crossover for the electric era.
Delivering up to 250 miles of range, it’s the latest Renault classic to be revived and will join its smaller Renault 5 sibling from mid-2025, delivering a rival to models such as the Vauxhall Mokka Electric.
The original Renault 4 launched in 1961 as the carmaker’s first family car with a front-mounted engine.
The new R4 E-Tech, unveiled at the 2024 Paris Motor Show and previewed by the 4Ever Trophy show car at the 2022 event, references the original with a single-piece 1.45m-long illuminated grille framing the Renault logo, along with a reinvented version of the iconic three-part lights using an LED signature.
Its bold, retro-futuristic design also gives a nod to the 1960s classic with an electric canvas roof that can be opened the touch of a button or by voice control using the ‘Reno’ virtual assistant.
Based on the same AmpR Small platform as the Renault 5 and sharing 68% of components, the R4 E-Tech is bigger and roomier. Its 420 litres of boot space is made more accessible by a wide, high opening and low load sill. The boot also comes complete with bag hooks and storage compartments – including a 35-litre underfloor area for the charging cable. A flat-folding front passenger seat delivers a 2.2m load length and the R4 E-Tech also comes with a folding rear bench seat.
Two powertrains will be available. The entry-level model features a 40kWh battery, powering a 120hp front-mounted motor to offer a WLTP range of up to 186 miles. It’s coupled to an 80kW DC onboard charger.
The longer-range version ups this to a 52kWh battery and more powerful 150hp motor, delivering a WLTP range of up to 250 miles. It also gets a 100kW DC onboard charger that can recharge the battery from 15 to 80% in 30 minutes, while an 11kW AC 10-100% charge takes 4.5 hours.
Both are equipped with a heat pump to maximise their efficiency as well as bidirectional charging with V2L (vehicle-to-load) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) functionality.
The R4 E-Tech also features one-pedal driving, enabling the car to come to a standstill just by the driver releasing the accelerator.
The cabin comes complete with a central 10-inch multimedia screen as standard, able to access the OpenR Link system with Google built-in, including Google Maps. Technology also includes a 10.1-inch digital driver’s display and the Reno virtual assistant, which can perform tasks such as scheduling charging. The seat fabric of the Techno and Iconic trim levels are from recycled fibres from plastic bottles.
Advanced driving aids include rear occupant safe exit alert, active driver assist combining adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and lane centring assist, as well as blind spot monitoring and hands-free parking. The Renault 4 E-Tech will also feature the My Safety Shield feature seen in other Renault models and allowing drivers to activate their preferred settings at the touch of a button.
The R4 E-Tech will open for orders early 2025 and is due to start deliveries around the middle of next year. Expect it to start from around £30,000.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.
