Retro Renault 4ever concept to preview R4 return
French brand releases silhouette of concept that will herald return of R4 as a cheap, utilitarian EVRenault has officially teased its 2021 Renault 4ever concept that will go on to inspire the all-new R4 that will share its platform and powertrain with the incoming battery-powered R5.
Already leaked last May, the dark silhouette released during the French manufacturer's eWays ElectroPop press conference overnight shares striking similarities with the renderings the French brand used in the leaked patent.
Mirroring the original's boxy, practical utilitarian look, Renault confirmed it was its intention to not only "revive another magic, iconic star" but make a "timeless classic".
During the presentation, the company said the 2022 Renault R4 and Megane E-Tech it will launch next year is only just two of a total of 10 cars it plans to introduce by 2025 – although only seven are thought to be Renault-badged.
The other three are likely to be sporty Alpine models.
The big electric push comes as Renault plans to have 65 per cent of the cars it sells either electrified or pure-electric by 2025, and up to 90 per cent EVs by 2030.
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has already confirmed it plans to make one million EVs a year by 2030.
The Renault 4ever concept, meanwhile, is expected to make its debut in November this year, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the original car's 1961 launch.
Beneath the skin, the Renault 4 will sit on the same CMF-BEV platform as the new Renault R5 and share its electric powertrains to keep costs down.
Further sharing the high cost of the development of the R5 and R4 will be a third van version, which is expected to arrive with the R4.
The van concept is rumoured to feature strong visual cues that will link it with the classic Renault 4 Fourgonette panel van.
During the presentation, as well as teasing the 4ever SUV and van concepts, Renault boss Luca de Meo confirmed that the French brand would not introduce a direct replacement for the current Renault ZOE when production ends in 2024.
Until recently, the ZOE remained Europe's best-selling EV before models like the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Tesla Model 3 began to erode sales.
Instead, the R4, R5 and MeganE, as well as other models, will bridge the gap, de Meo said.
Originally created as a direct rival to the Citroen 2CV, the Renault 4 was somehow still being built at a plant in Slovenia in 1994.
Over its 33-year reign, the 4 was assembled at an incredible 17 factories around the world, including Renault’s Heidelberg factory in Victoria, where it was built from 1962-1966.
Globally, more than eight million were made, with the 4 winning a reputation for its toughness, decent ride and load-carrying abilities.
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