Like the Renault 5, the Renault 4L also has significant places in the French carmaker’s history. Though from another era, it is an icon today with over 8 million units sold in more than 100 countries. Production was discontinued 30 years ago but the 4L has never left the limelight, crossing generational and social gaps for the past 60 years.
Unpretentious It is one of the original young-timer vintage cars and the past 25 years have seen the 4L Trophy prove time and again its worth as a versatile car built to last. This explains why it is still a crowd pleaser, even with the younger generations.
Renault has plans to launch a modern successor to the 4L and to show the ideas it has for the model which will be a B-segment SUV, it is presenting the 4EVER Trophy showcar at the Paris Motorshow this week. Predictably, the vehicle will have a battery electric powertrain, showing how Renault taps its illustrious past while moving into a new era.
The 4EVER Trophy is the second iconic model to get an electric reboot, following Renault 5 Prototype. Creating new memories while bringing back old ones, under a muscular exterior are stylistic ties to its 4L predecessor. These include the silhouette with the prominent bonnet, bumper, and hallmark angled rear section and the rear, trapezoidal side windows with their rounded corners which are located just above the rear wheels.
The retro style of the 4150 mm long vehicle has generous curves and a very elaborate grille. The ‘ultra tech’ connections between the spokes and bodywork bring an added layer of precision and modernity, and the same can be said for the meticulously honed rim around the roof.
“To bring 4EVER Trophy into the modern era, we have infused its streamlined shape with technological sophistication. All these ingredients have been carefully crafted so that the design resonates with those who are familiar with the 4L and its illustrious history, and with younger generations,” said Gilles Vidal, Vice-President, Renault Brand, Design.
Unique light signature
The 4EVER Trophy puts a new twist on the 4L’s iconic wide horizontal grille featuring the round, built-in lamps, now with Matrix LED lights. The innovative lights give the vehicle a strong identity. While the recognisable pill-shaped rear lights have also been entirely redesigned, they remain readily recognisable and clearly link to the iconic predecessor.
The lower section on the 4EVER Trophy, painted Gun Metal Silver, has been designed for the outdoors. It has a certain flair to its look with the silver coat, and magenta highlights on the roof straps, suspension springs and wheel emblems.
The dune-buggy vibe gives 4EVER Trophy a competitive look. The unique hollowed-out bonnet has a huge air exhaust that vastly improves the efficacy of the radiator located in the centre of the shield. The front overhang has been shortened considerably for a greater clearance capacity. The vast body protection panels on the lower section are made with a considerable 20 cm clearance around the wheel arches.
With a spare tyre located on the carbonfibre roof, and a shovel and waffle boards on the upper section of the rear door, the car is ready to travel on any adventure over rough terrain. The high-seated body highlights the width of the 753 mm wheels mounted on 19-inch rims. The underbelly has been reinforced to provide greater protection for the battery located in the middle of the chassis.
Each wheel on 4EVER Trophy has a visible compressor that can be readily adjusted from inside the car to adapt the tyre pressure to suit the terrain.
While clearly an off-roader by nature, the 4EVER Trophy can also be enjoyed on any road, just like the original. The only difference now is that it moves around with zero emissions, unlike the 4L which was powered by combustion engines.
The showcar sits on the new CMF-BEV platform for B segment electric vehicles in the Renault Group. This will also be used for the new B-segment SUV which will be made in France. No launch date has been mentioned although it is likely to be within the next two years.
