Renault 4 E-Tech Electric – EV crossover with up to 150 PS/245 Nm, 52 kWh battery, 400 km range WLTP

The Renault 4 E-Tech Electric has made its debut, with the nameplate now reborn as an electric crossover that joins the Renault 5 EV in the brand’s line of new models reviving legacy nameplates.

Externally, the Renault 4 measures 4,140 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, 1,570 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, with front and rear overhangs of 766 mm and 753 mm respectively, while ground clearance is 181 mm. Claimed weight is from 1,410 kg, says Renault, and it has a towing capacity of 750 kg.

Underpinning the Renault 4 is the AmpR platform that also underpins the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, albeit positioned above that model which is physically smaller at 3,920 mm long, 1,770 mm wide and 1,500 mm tall with a 2,540 mm wheelbase. What the Captur is to the Clio, so the Renault 4 EV is to the Renault 5 EV, the manufacturer said.

As with the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric draws inspiration from its ancestor, the original R4, with nods to the rounded headlamps of the original with the DRL arrangement of the new car, as well as with the pill-shaped outline of its tail lamps.

At the back, the tailgate also alludes to the car’s ancestor with its opening that reaches low to ease loading and unloading of luggage, with its lower edge of the compartment opening just 61 cm above ground, says Renault. The luggage compartment holds 420 litres, of which 35 litres is underfloor storage that is accessed via a hatch that splits longitudinally to enable underfloor access when cargo occupies one side of the boot.

Powertrain for the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric comes in two variants – the Urban Range variant with a 122 PS/225 Nm motor that is powered by a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery for a range of more than 300 km, while the Comfort Range variant packs a 150 PS/245 Nm motor that is fed by a 52 kWh lithium-ion battery for a range of up to 400 km; both range figures are based on the WLTP testing standard.

In 150 PS guise, the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric does 0-100 km/h in under 8.5 seconds, 80 to 120 km/h in under seven seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h.

Both the 122 PS and 150 PS variants support up to 11 kW AC charging, which offers a 15-100% charge in four hours and 30 minutes, while DC charging is supported at up to 80 kW for for the 122 PS variant and up to 100 kW for the 150 PS variant, the latter enabling a 15-80% charge in 30 minutes.

Both powertrain versions also support bi-directional charging at up to 11 kW AC, with support for vehicle-to-load connection to power a 220-volt device, and V2G for feeding electricity back into the grid.

Inside, the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric draws heavily from the dashboard architecture of the Renault 5 EV, featuring a digital instrument display panel of up to 10.1 inches, or a seven-inch unit on entry-level variants. Located alongside is a 10-inch infotainment display running on the manufacturer’s OpenR Link system with Google built-in.

Driver assistance systems in the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric are comprised of 26 driver aids including driver attention alert, rear automatic emergency braking, front and rear detection with emergency lane keeping assist, and occupant safe exit alert, as well as a My Safety Switch the allows drivers to have their preferred settings for five ADAS functions which is accessible through the infotainment.

In terms of sustainability, the manufacturer says that the Renault 4 E-Tech Electric has an overall recyclability of 88.6%, and 24.6% of its materials used are from the circular economy, 19.2% of recycled metal and glass, and 41% of recycled polymers.

The Renault 4 E-Tech Electric will be manufactured in Maubeuge, France, and the electric crossover is scheduled for its market launch next year.

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