Renault 4 to be revived as an electric SUV

The Renault 4 is expected to become the latest classic nameplate to be revived by the French car-maker, set to star on an electric SUV concept teased ahead of its reveal later this month.

According to auction house Hagerty, more than eight million Renault 4s – also known as the R4 – were produced in France between 1961 and 1992, becoming the best-selling French car until the Peugeot 206 city hatchback beat its record in 2010.

About 30 years since production of the iconic hatchback ended, Renault has announced it will revive the R4 as an electric car – with the covers coming off the new model as a concept at the Paris motor show on October 17.

Teasers of the reborn Renault 4 show a high-riding SUV with a large amount of ground clearance and flared wheel arches.

The Renault 4 appears to be equipped with roof racks, a roof box and an additional storage mounted to the rear window.

An illuminated Renault badge sits front and centre on the faux grille, while the front fascia is home to LED lights. Cameras mounted to the front pillars replace traditional mirrors.

The Renault 4 also features illuminated lower sections of the front and rear doors, as well as the rear quarter window.

While the teasers show a radical off-road-ready concept car, patent images published online in May 2021 have shown what appears to be the production version of the electric Renault 4.

As reported by Automotive News Europe, the new Renault 4 is expected to enter production before 2025, underpinned by the CMF-BEV electric platform developed by Renault and Nissan.

The new Renault 4 is expected to be built alongside the rebooted Renault 5, an electric city hatchback which features the same battery-powered platform.

By 2025, Renault aims to launch at least 10 electric cars in Europe, before exclusively selling zero-emissions vehicles by the end of the decade.

In January, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance announced 35 new electric cars would be launched by the three brands before 2030. 

In February, Renault announced the new Megane E-Tech Electric small SUV is due to arrive in Australia next year, joining an expanding electric model line-up which includes the Kangoo, Trafic and Master vans.