Earlier this year it was announced that the Renault 5 would be reincarnated as a retro-styled electric hatchback, and now it appears that the Renault 4 is also due for a similar reboot.
What appear to be leaked patent images of a new Renault 4 for the modern era appeared on Dutch website Autovisie this week. The pictures reportedly show a concept car that will eventually spawn a production version. Like the new Renault 5, the modern Renault 4 is expected to be an all-electric offering, but whereas its sibling remains in the mould of a compact hatchback, the 4 will take the form of a slightly larger crossover SUV. The two will reportedly share Renault’s CMF-B EV platform, however and the 4 should also form part of Renault’s vision to make electric cars more affordable.
When revealing the Renault 5 earlier this year, Renault said the new hatch would “democratise the electric car in Europe with a modern approach influenced by one of the most popular and essential cars of its era”.
According to CarAdvice, the reincarnated Renault 4 is likely to be offered with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive option, and the driving range between charges is likely to exceed 300 km.
The original Renault 4, introduced in 1961, was the French company’s first front-wheel drive product and it enjoyed an extended model cycle that saw it remain in production until the early 1990s. Over eight million Renault 4s were produced, with engine sizes ranging from 0,6 litres to 1,1 litres.