Renault 4 E-Tech joins the manufacturer’s line of retro-inspired electric vehicles

• The Renault 4 E-Tech debuts as the most practical alternative to the 5 E-Tech hatchback.
• It shares 68% of the hatchback’s components in a slightly larger and more practical body.
• It offers up to 250 miles of WLTP range, two-way charging, and ChatGPT integration.

Making electric vehicles attractive to buyers is becoming more challenging due to the growing number of models in the segment and increased competition among automakers. Renault wants to make its electric models, at least its smaller offerings for now, stand out by infusing them with revived classic designs from the company’s past.

After launching the Renault 5 E-Tech inspired by the 1970s city classic of the same name, it presented the prototype for an upcoming revival of the Twingo inspired by the 1990s model. Now it has revealed the Renault 4 E-Tech, an electric crossover from B segment that dates back to the classic 4L that was in production for more than 30 years, between 1961 and 1994.

More than 8 million 4Ls were built, so it was a very common sight on European, South American and African roads, and its iconic shape should be instantly recognizable to buyers, or at least that’s what Renault hopes. The manufacturer positions the 4 E-Tech as the most practical and spacious alternative to the 5 E-Tech hatchback, targeting a wider audience that includes young families.

It is 163 inches (4.13 meters) long, or about 6 inches shorter than a Chevy Bolt EUV, has 7.1 inches (18 centimeters) of ground clearance, and its trunk has a maximum cargo volume of 14.8 cubic feet (420 liters). Underneath its retro-futuristic bodywork is the same custom EV platform that underpins its hatchback cousin, the 5.

Only front-wheel drive is offered, with a 121-hp engine that produces up to 166 lb-ft of torque or a more powerful 148-hp unit with a maximum torque of 181 lb-ft. The latter can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.5 seconds and the top speed is limited to 93 mph (150 km/h) for both variants.

Two battery packs are available: 40 kilowatt-hours and 52 kWh, with WLTP ranges of 186 miles (300 km) and 250 miles (402 km). Both can fast charge DC up to 100 kW from 15% to 80% in about 30 minutes. The integrated 11 kW charger can take the battery from 10% to full charge in four and a half hours.

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Like the Renault 5 E-Tech, the 4 E-Tech has bi-directional charging capacity of up to 11 kW, allowing you to power appliances or power tools (V2L) and return energy to the grid (V2G), but it cannot power your home (V2H). Unlike Renault’s (and Nissan’s) older EVs, the revived 4 and 5 have a heat pump that helps heat the cabin more efficiently in winter, while also helping the vehicle keep the battery at the ideal temperature. operation.

The 4 E-Tech shares 68% of its components with the 5 E-Tech, including the front and rear independent suspension setup, and even with its slightly larger footprint and crossover shape, it’s still light for an EV. The small battery variant weighs just over 3,100 pounds (1,400 kg).

Its exterior design remains close to the 4ever Trophy concept, which took a lot of inspiration from the original, but is much less aggressive, abandoning the study’s protruding flanks and large fenders. Perhaps Renault is planning to launch a more off-road-oriented variant that will more closely mirror the 4ever Trophy concept – there is a niche for EVs that can handle rough terrain, and that would certainly increase the model’s cool factor and appeal. .

The interior looks nearly identical to the 5 E-Tech, featuring a 10-inch center screen and an optional nine-speaker audio system from Harman Kardon. The infotainment has ChatGPT integration and should be able to understand and respond to more complex voice commands.

The Renault 4 E-Tech has just been revealed at the Paris Motor Show and its debut has been confirmed for 2025, although the exact deadline has not been disclosed. We don’t have price information yet, but it should cost less than €30,000 in base form.