Renault 4 Second Life

Renault has revealed some teaser images of its resurrected 4 ahead of an unveiling at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

The electric crossover retains many styling cues previewed on the 4Ever Trophy concept in 2022. So the lit-up oblong grille remains, as do three-part taillights. A retractable fabric roof will be an option. This is also the first Renault to feature a backlit badge up front.

Retro items that remind of its 1961 namesake include a roof-mounted spoiler, trapezoidal quarter windows, vertical overriders on the bumper and three lines sculpted along the door sills.

This reinvented model 4 follows the smaller Renault 5 rebirth.

Renault has positioned the 4 as a taller, wider alternative to the 5. It is another entrant in the popular compact crossover market. At 4.14 metres long, it retains the boxy dimensions of the concept car.

On-road, the preproduction cars seem to be entry- and top-level models. One rides on steel wheels, while the other has alloys, roof rails and body cladding along its flanks.

The 4 will share the Renault Group’s Ampr Small EV platform with the 5. The two EVs also share a 2540mm wheelbase.

While it is not yet clear, it is likely the 4 will borrow the 5’s trio of single-motor, front-wheel drive powertrains that range from 70 to 110kW, along with its 40kWh and 52kWh battery packs. The Ampr Small platform’s multilink rear axle can also take a second motor, meaning a four-paw variant of the 4 is a possibility. 

Evidently the 4 will have a different character to the 5, with a more pliant ride. It is thought that the 4’s interior will feature the same dual-screen infotainment set-up as the 5. However, the dashboard design may ape that of the original.

Production of the 4 will kick off midway through next year, following the first customer deliveries of the 5. Then Renault will look at working on the new Twingo, a cheapy EV due out in 2026.