The legendary Renault R4 is making a comeback as an electric car, but fans will be in tears now

Whether it’s Horex, the Knutschkugel or the Lamborghini Countach: many big names in the world of cars and motorcycles are on the eve of a second spring. Now the Renault 4 is making a comeback.

When the original hit the market in 1961, no one believed it would have a long career. But things turned out differently: the small car was built for 31 years, a total of about eight million times.

Because the boxy R4 concept set new standards for the small segment: four doors and a large tailgate, the rear seats can be removed, engine and drive in the front – that’s cheap, practical and creates a lot of space in a small space. And it made the little R4 one of the greats in the automotive world.

Renault now wants to build on that: a new R4 should repeat the success story – with a modern style and contemporary SUV with electric drive. What it could all look like in the future, Renault will show at the Paris Motor Show with the 4Ever Trophy exhibition car.

At 4.06 metres, the new one is considerably longer than the original (3.66 metres) and almost the same size as a Renault Clio – which is only available as an internal combustion engine or hybrid model. In contrast, the new R4 will have a 136 hp electric motor powered by a 42 kWh battery. The range should be 300 to 400 kilometers.

The production version is expected to hit the market in 2025. It will be one of at least ten new electric models that Renault plans to launch by 2025 – including the small car R5, which also reinterprets the shapes of a popular classic.

The Renault 5 also returns as Stromer

Renault has been working for some time on the successor to the electric small car Zoe, which has been popular for years. The Renault 5 is expected to complement or replace the Zoe from 2024. The electric new edition of the R5 should cost between 20,000 and 30,000 francs.

In addition, Renault’s sports brand Alpine will receive three electric versions.