PARIS: Renault SA unwrapped the R4 E-Tech 100% electric, a compact electric vehicle meant to help the automaker better compete with budget offerings from Chinese manufactures led by BYD Co.
The model, expected to cost less than €35,000 (RM164,000), debuted Monday at the Paris auto show.
It’s a plug-in take on an economy car that helped the brand win over millions of drivers starting in the 1960s. The R4 will be assembled in Maubeuge, France, with its motor and battery sourced from plants nearby.
"It’s a big accomplishment, and allows us to put French flags everywhere in the car,” Bruno Vanel, head of product performance at Renault, said in an interview. Sales will start in the first half of next year.
Renault is introducing a range of affordable EVs to counter a demand slowdown sparked by subsidy cuts that pushed up the cost of owning a plug-in car.
Chief executive officer Luca de Meo has been pushing locally made EVs to better compete with Chinese manufacturers expanding in the region.
Earlier this month, the European Union voted to boost tariffs on EVs imported from China to as high as 45%.
French president Emmanuel Macron late last year rejigged rules for EV subsidies to leave out most models made in the Asian country.
The R4 E-Tech will have a driving range of 400km on a single charge and comes with tech including a bidirectional charger and a ChatGPT-powered digital assistant. It will be built on a platform shared with the smaller R5, a €25,000 (RM117,000) EV that was unveiled in February.
"We tried to keep the spirit of the old R4 but adapted it to modern times,” Vanel said, adding that the new car is spacious enough for a family.
De Meo has plans for additional affordable EVs to complement Renault’s lineup. The brand expects to add an electric Twingo in 2026, at a price of around €20,000 (RM94,000).
"It helps to be smaller and agile in today’s world,” the CEO said in an interview.
Larger than the Renault 5 (with which it shares 68% of its components), the 4 E-Tech offers impressive interior space thanks to its extended 2.62m wheelbase.
At 4.14m in length, rear seat occupants benefit from 16.4cm of knee room, while headroom of 85.3cm is particularly generous for a B-segment vehicle.
The dual horizontal screens give the cabin a contemporary look. The central 10-inch multimedia screen is standard, and can feature the award-winning OpenR Link system with Google built-in.
It provides access to a range of Google services, including Google Maps, which offers charging-optimised route planning, even activating pre-conditioning of the battery as a charging stop approaches, as well as a variety of apps from the Google Play store.
First seen on the Renault 5, Reno – the virtual travelling companion – is also present on Renault 4 E-Tech 100% electric. An avatar with real personality, Reno supports customers throughout their ownership experience, both inside and outside the car.
Reno can answer questions and perform tasks such as scheduling charging, helping to make everyday life easier.
Exceptional boot space of 420 litres is revealed by the power tailgate, a space made even more accessible by the wide, high opening and low load sill, while various ingenious touches such as the four lashing hooks, two bag hooks, rubber bands to hold objects in place, and clever storage compartments – including a 35-litre underfloor area perfect for the charging cable – make everyday life a breeze for busy families. This versatility can be extended further, with a folding rear bench seat.
Built on the same AmpR Small platform as the R5, the 4 E-Tech continues the original Renault 4’s sense of go-anywhere practicality, with its increased ground clearance (1.2cm more than Captur).
The suspension has been optimised for a smoother, more comfortable ride for all occupants, while the steering system has been revised with a shorter ratio (14:5) and a tight turning circle of just 10.8m, suited for city streets and easy driving.
Two powertrains are available, both of which are equipped with a heat pump to maximise their efficiency as well as bidirectional charging with V2L (vehicle-to-load) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) functionality that can power external devices from the battery or feed electricity back into the grid as necessary.
The 52 kWh battery uses NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) technology and a simplified architecture that means it now weighs less than 300kg. It powers a 110 kW (150 hp, 245 Nm) electric motor that accelerates the 4 E-Tech from 0-100kph in less than 8.5 seconds, with a WLTP range of up to 400km.
Equipped with a 100 kW DC charger, it can replenish the battery from 15 to 80% in just 30 minutes, or an 11 kW AC 10-100% charge in 4 hours 30 minutes.
A 40 kWh battery is also available, coupled to an 80 kW DC charger and a 90 kW (120 hp, 225 Nm) electric motor to offer a range of up to 300km.
The 4 E-Tech will feature the new One Pedal function. By optimising regenerative braking, the vehicle decelerates smoothly when the driver releases the accelerator pedal, coming to a stop without the driver having to apply the brake.
It joins an array of advanced driving aids that enhance safety and driving comfort, many of which are rarely seen in the B-segment, including rear occupant safe exit alert, active driver assist combining adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and lane centring assist, as well as blind spot monitoring and hands-free parking.
The 4 E-Tech will also feature My Safety Shield, a feature that can be found across the Renault product range, which allows drivers to activate their preferred settings at the touch of a button.
A total of 26.4% of all materials are from the circular economy; the seat fabric of Techno and Iconic trim levels is made from 100% recycled fibres; and at the end of its life, the 4 E-Tech 100% electric has an overall recyclability of 88.6%.
