While the successful R5 takes us right back to the legacy of charm and charisma of the 1972 three-door of the same name, the project aimed at re-evoking its sister R4 evokes a more nuanced vision. “The idea was to reverse the historical positioning of the two models”, explains Paula Fabregat-Andreu, head of B-segment car design for Ampère’s electric vehicle division: “The R4 becomes the more chic option”. The ground clearance and vaguely off-road character that once represented “rustic” traits, therefore, now allow the car to compete as a small crossover, “often considered more contemporary and desirable than a saloon”.
Soft shades for the exteriors
The sense of volume typical of the original thus combines with a new urban, “velvety” character. Starting with the colours: “Dusty shades have been favoured, such as the Hauts-de-France green launch colour, which pays homage to the soft Île-de-France blue of the past while at the same time echoing the name of the region where the car is now produced”.
The same sophisticated approach is extended to reinterpret the most pregnant formal aspects, such as the grille or the three thin ribs on the doors The 18-inch wheels and 18 cm ground clearance complete the visual consistency.
The cure for the slope of the tailgate
The process of enhancing perceived quality has, however, run into a major criticism, paradoxically centred on one of the most significant elements of yesterday’s R4: the rear panel. “As much as the lines of the R5 could be directly replicated in an eye-catching effect, here we had to be very mindful of the slope of the tailgate, which did not provide convincing results in all cases. This is something we have worked hard on”, Fabregat-Andreu points out, acknowledging the challenges of reimagining a product with a distinctly utility flavour.
Roomy rear passenger space
Moreover, the past is faithfully revisited in the functional layout, even down to the height of the loading sill (just 61 cm off the ground). “On the outside, you are attracted by the aesthetics, on board you discover unsuspected versatility: the electric architecture has provided a generous wheelbase and roomy rear passenger space, details such as separate mobile phone pockets appear, the 420-litre boot offers hooks, elastic bands and a clever dual-access double floor, and the front right-hand seat can fold down into a table”.
Satured shades for the interiors
The dashboard, adapted from the R5, plays something of a secondary role in this pursuit of practicality, while remaining thoroughly modern with screens of up to 10.1 inches. “The upholstery fabric, however, is unique to this model: here we’ve used more saturated tones even in the entry-level Evolution version to coordinate them with the shaded body colours. On the Techno trim two rather intense shades of denim are combined, and the range-topping Iconic introduces TEP eco-leather, with yellow applications inspired by sports watch straps, for a question of washability”.
The tout-terrain evolution
The feeling of airiness also triumphs on the Fl4wer Power prototype displayed at the Paris Mondial, an unexpected variation on the theme enriched with specific upholstery and a decidedly elevated stance. “It prefigures a tout-terrain evolution that is only the first of many experiments in the pipeline. The car is OK with it and we will surprise you!” promises Paula Fabregat-Andreu. In the meantime, the production car can be ordered in 670 combinations of accessories and customisations: volume has never met style so much.
(Full article in A&D no. 270)
