After thirty years, the Renault 4 is back. Called Renault 4 E-Tech Electric, it is a battery-powered crossover and has a retro-futuristic design. The grille is the feature that immediately jumps out at you. It has to be said that apart from being strongly inspired by the Renault 4 of old, it is unique in that the profile is always illuminated, just like the Renault logo in the centre. This one-piece illuminated grille (1.45 metres in length) is an absolute novelty, a challenge met thanks to the collaboration of the Design, Engineering and Industry teams of Renault and Ampere. At the rear, the headlamps, again divided into three parts, are renewed.
‘It is with a lot of passion and emotion that we decided to revive Renault 4 with a versatile 100% electric city car that is both functional and ultra-modern. It contains all the ingredients that created the alchemy of the original recipe, such as the instantly recognisable profile. At the same time, however, we discover many sophisticated and technological details that make it a contemporary city car with a clever mix of refinement and boldness,’ said Gilles Vidal, Design Director of Renault and Ampere. There are many references to the design of the original Renault 4 taken up by the new model that can be found everywhere. The lines of the bonnet descend on each side, right down to the lower part of the grille, to give the former a horizontal line and the latter a very vertical shape, like the historic model. The decorative elements of the upper part of the bonnet are reminiscent of the grille of the Renault 4 of the 1960s.
Still on the sides, the diagonal of the windscreen is prolonged by decorative elements customising the mudguards (depending on the version). The inscriptions Renault ElectriCity and Manufacture de Maubeuge are a clear reference to the vehicle’s place of production. Renault 4 E-Tech Electric is available in seven chic and elegant colours: Ice White, Road Grey, Étoilé Black, Carmine Red, Terracotta, Hauts-de-France Green and Celeste Blue. On the Evolution, the first thing you notice is the light colour of the dashboard and door panels, which stands out from the dark grey of the upholstery and the stitching in the colours of the French flag. The Techno trim, on the other hand, is born under the sign of jeans. It is, in fact, characterised by a saturated blue recycled polyester fabric, very similar to jeans worn in everyday life. On the copper rivets along the sides of the seats is an easter egg that reads ‘Allez-y vous êtes en Renault 4’ (Yay! you’re in a Renault 4).
‘We wanted to pay homage to Pierre Dreyfus and his famous ‘blue-jeans car’. Jeans is a timeless fabric that gives Renault 4 E-Tech Electric a versatile character, making it suitable for all uses,’ said Miguel-Angel Iranzo-Sanchez, Lead Designer Colours and Materials at Renault. Finally, the Iconic version immerses Renault 4 E-Tech Electric in a world that is both refined and sporty. The seats and headrests combine a fabric with a houndstooth pattern and yellow stitching with a partly recycled, organically sourced Textile Refined (TEP) fabric. Yellow also features in the watch strap motifs on the front seats, rear bench and dashboard. The latter is also enriched by the laser-engraved and backlit ‘Renault 4’ lettering.
