From concept to comeback: how the new Renault 4 came about
New Renault 4
Bhambra is the head of Renault Advance, the design department that deals with all the French brand’s concept cars and other special creations. Together with his team, he often gets to be the first to put the lines on paper – literally. Yet he did not work directly on the production version of the new Renault 4. “That was worked out in Renault’s regular production studio,” he says. “But we did have some influence on the direction.” His team developed several concept cars that served as inspiration for the final model: the 4EVER Trophy, Savane 4×4 Concept and the Vision 4rescue.
4EVER Trophy
The 4EVER Trophy was unveiled at the 2022 Paris Motor Show. It was the first time Renault publicly hinted that the Renault 4 would return. “It was inspired by the 4L Trophy, a famous student rally in Africa,” Bhambra explained. The concept car was four-wheel-drive, with a rugged look and a silver body full of purple accents. “A nod to the adventurous spirit of the original Renault 4.”
Software lab
The official unveiling of the new Renault 4 in 2024 was followed by two other concept cars. The Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept is a fully functioning 4×4 built as a driving demo. It stands 1.5 centimeters higher on its wheels and has sturdy 18-inch wheels with off-road tires. The track width has been increased by one centimeter at the front and rear. It is painted in Jade Green, with black bumpers, wheel rims ánd has a stretched canvas over the roof.
Then came the Renault Vision 4rescue, developed with Software République – a partnership of tech companies in the field of mobility. “It’s a vehicle for fire department coordination,” Bhambra explains. “In the back is a workstation, on the roof is a drone. It’s a tool to coordinate rescue operations in hard-to-reach areas. The vehicle is fully functional.”
Is there going to be a 4×4?
Whether there will also be a production version with all-wheel drive? Nothing has been definitively decided on that yet. “We are exploring it,” says Bhambra. “That’s why we built that demo car, the Savane 4×4 Concept. It really drives. But whether there will be a market-ready 4×4 model? That depends on how well we balance engineering, cost and demand.”
A roof with a wink
A striking feature of the Renault 4 now in the showroom is the large canvas roof – an obvious reference to the original 4L. “That was intentional,” says Bhambra. “It’s about joie de vivre – the French zest for life. Like the baguette holder in the new R5, this roof is a cheerful, recognizable nod to how French people enjoy life.” It works, according to Bhambra: “Driving down a sun-drenched boulevard with the roof open feels great. We wanted to capture that feeling. Cars can also just be fun,” says Bhambra. And so it is.
Also read: Why Renault is suddenly putting a supercar into production
See also: Is Renault celebrating again? – The new R4 tested!