PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Renault 4EVER Trophy previews R4 SUV

Renault has pulled the drapes off the rugged Renault 4EVER Trophy concept car at the Paris motor show, previewing the upcoming Renault 4 electric SUV that will make its debut in 2025.

Based heavily on the 2024 Renault 5 electric hatch, the reborn Renault 4 will share the smaller hatch's all-new CMF-BEV chassis architecture, all-electric powertrains and even its production facility – the French brand's huge ElectriCity plant in northern France.

Measuring in at 4060mm long and 2570mm wide, the show car is said to share the same footprint and, from the middle of the doors upwards, the same body design as the eventual production model.

What's set to be axed for the R4 that you'll actually be able to buy is its jacked-up ride height, big 19-inch wheels (with built-in tyre compressors) and 30-inch mud tyres. Also say goodbye to the 100mm-wide plastic wheel-arch extensions, huge side sills and bulkier front and rear bumpers.

A roof rack is likely to be an option (although it won't be made out of the concept car’s carbon-fibre), but not many actual owners will carry a roof-mounted spare.

Created to mark 25 years of the 4L Trophy rally that began as a humanitarian aid run across the Moroccan desert, engineers have confirmed that the real version won't actually ever get a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain to match its rugged looks.

Instead, the R4 will be strictly front-wheel drive and likely to be available with either a 42kWh or 54kWh battery pack that will provide for around 300km and 400km of range respectively.

The small SUV’s cabin has not been revealed but despite being Renault Captur-size, the R4 should offer the interior space of a mid-size SUV thanks to the lack of a combustion engine and transmission.

There's no word on exact power figures, but the R4 should feature a front-mounted electric motor mustering around 100kW, which is likely to provide for a 0-100km/h sprint time of around nine seconds.

More powerful versions will follow, with the flagship R4 set to get the same 160kW motor as the upcoming Renault Megane E-Tech electric SUV.

All-wheel drive has been ruled out by senior Renault execs, but the small R4 crossover should be a decent drive as it will feature agility-boosting independent multi-link rear suspension.

While Renault bosses are keen for the smaller 2024 Renault 5 hatch to be priced from around €20,000 ($A31,000), it's thought the 2025 Renault 4 will be priced higher from around €25,000 ($A39,000).

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