The Renault 4 is much more than a car: it is an icon. With more than 8 million units sold in over 100 countries, it is a transgenerational car that has touched all social categories for 60 years. Humble and trendy, chic and popular, it has conquered men and women alike. After Renault 5 Prototype, the 4Ever Trophy showcar, just unveiled at the Paris Motor Show 2022, is the second electric reinterpretation of an iconic model from the French brand as part of the “Renaulution”. The 4Ever Trophy showcar – built on the CMF-BEV platform shared with the R5 and 4 metres long, 2.1 metres wide and 1.9 metres high – heralds the future 100% electric B-segment SUV in Renault’s range, to be marketed in 2025.
To bring 4Ever Trophy into the modern era, we have brought technology and refinement to its form, without anything superfluous. All these ingredients have been carefully worked out so that the design is in line with both those who already know the 4L and the younger generations who may not be familiar with the car’s glorious history at all,” said Gilles Vidal, head of design at Renault. The showcar evokes and revives memories. Beneath the muscular look, the stylistic link with the 4L is evident. The main distinguishing features of the original car have been taken up, such as the silhouette with the prominent bonnet and the famous ‘cornered rear’ to the bumper or the rounded trapezoid-shaped side window, positioned just above the rear wheel.
At the front, the sides are bare, devoid of optical and stylistic elements, while the mudguards completely cover the wheel arches, ending at the bumper. 4Ever Trophy reinterprets the horizontal grille typical of the Renault 4 in a modern key, with round headlights fitted with LEDs using matrix technology. This innovative styling process gives it a strong identity. The capsule-shaped taillights, however revised, remain perfectly recognisable and are another strong distinguishing feature derived from the historic 4L. With that buggy air, the 4Ever Trophy speaks of competition. The very hollow bonnet has a large air intake to optimise the operation of the radiator located in the central part of the bumper. The front overhang is very low to optimise off-road capabilities.
The spare wheel is located on the carbon fibre roof rack, while at the top of the tailgate there are a shovel and de-icing plates to cope with all eventualities. On the underside, the massive body protectors stand out from the wheel arches, protruding more than 20 cm. The high ground clearance highlights the width of the 753 mm wheels mounted on 19″ rims. The underbody, itself reinforced, protects the battery located in the centre of the chassis. Each wheel of the 4Ever Trophy includes an exposed compressor that allows the tyre pressure to be instantly adapted to the terrain from the cockpit.
