Renault’s plan to launch a new wave of second-generation electric models is set to continue with the arrival of a new Renault 4. Like the Renault 5, it will be electric only and will borrow styling cues from its groundbreaking predecessor, which was first produced in the early 1960s. During its production run, more than eight million Renault 4s were built.
Although the final production version of the rebooted 4 e-Tech has yet to be officially unveiled, Renault bosses have confirmed that it is set to follow the new Renault 5 into showrooms. And, like its classic namesake, will be pitched as an affordable four-door family car.
To date, only a concept version of the new 4 has been revealed by Renault. Badged 4Ever Trophy, the show car was shown at the 2022 Paris Motor Show and gave a number of hints as to how the final production car will look like when it is officially unveiled later this year.
Like the new Renault 5, the new 4 will be built on the brand’s new AmpR Small platform – a set of universal underpinnings that comprise a floor, battery, motors and suspension. Despite its name, the 4 is expected sit above the new Renault 5 in the brand’s expanded electric line-up and will offer more space and practicality than its supermini stablemate. Although the 4 and 5 will have the same wheelbase, the former will be taller and have longer overhangs at the front and rear. Renault has also hinted that there will be enough space at the rear to mount a second motor, suggesting that an all-wheel drive version could be offered at the top end of the range.
What will the new Renault 4 look like?
Spy shots and leaked patent images (below) suggest that the final production version of the new Renault 4 will adopt the same profile as the 4Ever concept car but be more conventional in form. The brand will be seeking to capitalise on Europe’s seemingly insatiable appetite for small SUVs, and will offer a high driving position, an almost flat front end and boxy details.
Like the original, the nose will feature a distinctive oblong frame that will house the headlights. Vertical bumper overriders, a classic design feature of the original model, have also been reworked, albeit no longer serving as protection. The rear will also pay homage to its classic namesake with vertical, pill-shaped tail lights and a second pair of vertical bumper overriders.
Renault is also tipped to reintroduce another retro feature in the form of a retractable fabric roof. Having fallen out of favour with car manufacturers, the success of the Fiat 500C suggests that the roll-top fabric roof could well return to the Renault range with the new 4.
Renault 4 UK release date and prices
The new Renault 4 is expected to be officially revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October 2024, some two years after the 4Ever concept was shown. If the launch timings follow that of the 5, we’d expect order books to open in mid 2025 ahead of deliveries before the end of the year.
The new Renault 4 will be bigger and more spacious inside than the 5 and will be a more expensive offering. We’ll get a better idea of how much the new 4 will cost when Renault confirms final pricing for the 5. The supermini will eventually start from around £25,000, which would indicate that entry-level versions of the 4 will be around £30,000. That would pitch it directly against a swathe of compact SUVs including the new MINI Countryman, Volvo EX30, Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600 and smart #2.
What battery range will the new Renault 4 have?
The new Renault 4 will share its underpinnings with the 5 and is expected to feature the same battery and front-mounted motor. However, the 4’s bigger body and longer rear overhang suggests that a second motor could be installed on the back axle.
Battery sizes will be 40kWh for entry level models and a larger 52kWh pack for mid and high-spec models. The smaller battery option isn’t likely to be offered from launch and will join the range at a later date. In terms of range, the new 4 is likely to be heavier and therefore less efficient than the 5, so drivers can expect a WLTP range of around 230 miles for the 52kWh pack and around 170 miles for the smaller 40kWh battery.
What performance will the new Renault 4 have?
The Renault is expected to get the same two motors as the 5, which would mean outputs of 148bhp and 121bhp for front-wheel drive models. An all-wheel drive range topper could push the total output to more than 200bhp, which would give it similar levels of performance to that of the forthcoming Alpine A290.
We’d expect 148bhp models to offer a 0-62mph time of around nine seconds with the lower powered 121bhp variant taking closer to 11 seconds. Like the 5, the new 4 will be equipped with a multi-link rear suspension set-up that is unusually sophisticated for smaller models. Although we’ve yet to try it in the Renault 5, we’re expecting it to deliver a smooth and comfortable drive.
Will there be a sporty Alpine version?
Never say never, but it’s unlikely. Although the original Renault 4 once completed the famous Paris-Dakar Rally (and finished third!) and was entered in the 2011 Monte Carlo rally by Renault to mark its 50th birthday, it was never one Renault’s performance flag bearers. The French brand is likely to exploit the new version’s rugged, all-terrain potential and leave sporting aspirations to the nimbler, Renault 5-based Alpine A290.
