Renault 4 returns as an electric icon

The Renault 4 is back. More than 30 years on, the French manufacturer has chosen to bring one of its most iconic models out of the history books. This is especially significant in Portugal, where it was once a constant sight on the roads and affectionately known as the “four tins”.

In several respects, this return pays tribute to the original Renault 4L; in others, the demands of the present day make it far more than a simple homage.

It was unveiled today at the Paris Motor Show, although Razão Automóvel was able to see it in advance. Here is everything, inside and out:

A restrained revival

Renault says it has not simply taken the formula of the old Renault 4L and reproduced it. “The inspiration from the original model is clear, but we preferred a contemporary approach,” one of the designers involved in the Renault 4 project told us.

A glance at this new Renault 4 makes it easy to understand why the French brand chose to revive this concept. It remains such a familiar part of the collective imagination that it feels recognisable at first sight.

Aerodynamics was among the biggest challenges. The rounded shapes of the original Renault 4 are not particularly aerodynamically efficient, so Renault’s engineering team had to work even harder in other areas-particularly at the rear-to avoid compromising range.

The Renault 4 goes electric

The French marque has added a new suffix to the historic Renault 4 name: E-Tech. This is the designation Renault gives to all of its fully electric models. Plans for a combustion-engined version have been ruled out entirely.

The strategy is to offer two power outputs and two range options. The more powerful 110 kW (150 hp) variant will use a 52 kWh battery and deliver a WLTP range of 400 km.

The more affordable, less powerful 90 kW (122 hp) version will feature a 40 kWh battery, which should provide an overall WLTP range of around 300 km.

Familiar style, different positioning

The original Renault 4L was one of the first models to make car ownership accessible in Portugal. Its positioning earned it the title of the “poor man’s jeep” and the “four tins” nickname. For many decades, it was the choice of thousands of Portuguese families and was even built at Renault’s now-closed Setúbal factory.

It had simple but robust mechanicals, room for five passengers, a generous boot and an affordable price. It remains a model in high demand on the used-car market:

The new Renault 4 retains many of those attributes, but its positioning has changed. Society has become less rural and more urban, and, according to the brand’s executives, the Renault 4 “had to keep pace with that change”.

In price terms, it will sit above the Renault 5-whose components it shares almost entirely with-and below the Renault Megane E-Tech. Portuguese pricing has not yet been confirmed, but the entry-level Renault 5 will go on sale from €25,000.

Renault Portugal will therefore need to position the new Renault 4 between the Renault 5’s €25,000 price point and the Megane E-Tech’s €32,990. All the details are in this video: