Renault R4 Electric: a concept as early as October?

Although the production car won’t arrive until 2025, the Renault 4 electric (or R4) will test the public with a concept car at the Paris Motor Show in October.

In a few years, the ZOE and Twingo will no longer exist. Renault has confirmed their discontinuation as it prepares a new generation of small electric cars. During its “Renaulution” event in January 2021, the first was the Renault 5 electric (or R5). Then in June, CEO Luca de Meo confirmed the second, the R4 electric, which is expected to be the surprise at the 2022 Paris Motor Show (October 17-23).

An R4 Electric Renault SUV Above the R5

The brand’s CEO “confirms the project of an R4 electric above the R5” can be read in our colleagues Challenges, “with a practical, outdoor aspect”. The R4, a SUV? That’s definitely Renault’s direction, which, despite the name, will serve as a more rugged counterpart to the R5.

To see what the next Renault R4 electric will look like, we must start with the first confirmation. Last June, de Meo showed a sketch of a lifted model. Not much to go on, but a concept had leaked a few weeks earlier. Taking some design cues from the 1960s model, including the headlights, the 21st-century R4 is tall. This small 5-door SUV will be more spacious and will have a larger trunk than the R5, without overshadowing the Mégane E-Tech electric.

Its price will be quite different from the €35,200 demanded today for the compact. The Renault R4 should aim for under €25,000, slightly more expensive than the R5, which is trying to reach around €20,000. But considering the prices of lithium and other metals, this target may not be achievable. Based on the same CMF-BEV electric platform, the R4 electric will be released in 2025, a year after the R5.

The ZOE Will Have to Survive

Until 2024-2025, the Renault ZOE is working overtime. Its major facelift in 2019 rejuvenated it significantly, but the technical basis remains that of the original 2013 model. Its onboard technologies are thus less modern than those of its competitor, the Peugeot e-208, and even more so compared to the Honda e or the Fiat 500e.

At least, the ZOE claims to have the best range on the market. With 395 km via its 52 kWh battery acquired during the facelift, the small Renault shouldn’t be surpassed by the end of its career. On the other hand, the 208 electric only reaches 362 km with its recent update. Demonstrating its competitiveness, the upcoming R5 electric will have about 400 km of range.

Also read: Audi Urbansphere Concept: is luxury a large minivan?