Currently reading: Reborn Renault 4: electric 4x4 to be revealed next week

French brand’s revival of historic model will be shown at the Paris motor show before a 2025 release

The famed Renault 4 will be revived in 2025 as a retro-inspired electric 4x4, due to be revealed at the Paris motor show next week.

This car has now been revealed. Click the link to read our story: Renault 4 crossover is a retro rebirth for 1960s hatchback

The car shown in Paris will be a high-riding off-roader inspired by the 4L Trophy, a Dakar-style rally across the Moroccan desert, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

An official preview image reveals that it will wear a familiar front fascia to the original 4, albeit modernised with LED lighting.

The roofbox and large wheel travel present in the official image comprise the nod to the 4L Trophy but aren't expected to feature on the production car.

It will be likened to the 1960s classic car in name and styling only, sitting above the 2024-bound Renault 5, which has already been revealed as a £18,000-£21,000 concept. Therefore the R4 is likely to command a premium price, rather than being sold as a budget-friendly car as was its forebear.

As with the 5, it will be underpinned by the Renault–Nissan CMF-BEV small car platform, benefitting from new battery and motor technology currently in development.

The electric reimagining of the 4, along with the 5, is part of Renault’s plan to make up to 90% of its European sales fully electric by 2030. It will launch four electric cars by 2025, with a further two EVs expected to be announced over the next year.

The 4 will be joined in Paris by the new Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric, already on sale in France, as well as the Renault Austral, which replaces the Nissan Qashqai-based Renault Kadjar.

Sporting subsidiary Alpine will showcase a its new Alpine Alpenglow hydrogen-powered car concept at the Paris show, which hints at the designs of the French firm’s future EVs.

Alpine alpenglow concept render front three quarter

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This comes after Alpine confirmed that it will launch three EVs from 2024 as it pushes to become a pure-electric brand.

This transformation will begin with a hot version of the new 5, followed by a performance SUV called the GT X-Over in 2025. The push will culminate in 2026 with an EV replacement for the lauded Alpine A110 sports car.

Will Rimell

Will Rimell Autocar
Title: News editor

Will is Autocar's news editor.​ His focus is on setting Autocar's news agenda, interviewing top executives, reporting from car launches, and unearthing exclusives.

As part of his role, he also manages Autocar Business – the brand's B2B platform – and Haymarket's aftermarket publication CAT.

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xxxx 4 October 2022

How the mighty have fallen. Other than this, in a couple of years, Renault branded cars really are duller than a magnolia painted square wall.

Andrew1 14 October 2022
Let me guess, you are one of those who paints the walls in bright or dark colours, or puts paper on them, and pretends they are exciting and not at all bad taste?
xxxx 14 October 2022
Andrew1 wrote:

Let me guess, you are one of those who paints the walls in bright or dark colours, or puts paper on them, and pretends they are exciting and not at all bad taste?

Let me guess, your counsellor cancelled today's appointment and you've a spare 30 minutes.

Andrew1 14 October 2022
Judging by your "duller than a magnolia painted square wall" nonsense I bet your counsellor deemed you irreparable long time ago.
gavsmit 4 October 2022

Renault have made some truly exciting and different cars over the years, but after some awful reliability and build quality experiences of their products, I don't feel like I want to give them any more of my money.

That's a shame as this car looks to be interesting, not to mention the forthcoming 5. I kind of like the look of the new Kangoo van too. 

405line 13 September 2022

Looks good.