Renault is injecting a new lease of life into its iconic 1960’s Renault 4 hatchback, being reborn as an all-electric compact SUV.

Though the 4Ever is previewed in concept guise for now, the production variant Renault 4 SUV will arrive in showrooms by 2025.

When it does go on sale, the production car is expected to inherit many of the design features from the prototype version.

The body panels finished in silver are said to be very close to the production car, though the rugged cues from the black plastic parts, supposedly made from recycled plastic, will likely be dropped. 

Black cladding around the wheel arches could still remain, but be made flatter and less prominent to preserve the concept’s off-road theme. 

The concept comes with a 42kWh battery that delivers power to a front-mounted motor producing 138bhp. Renault has remained tight-lipped on further performance statistics for the time being.

In terms of dimensions, the Trophy is 4,060mm in length and features a wheelbase that's 2,570mm, making it slightly smaller than the Renault Captur. 

The production version will also adopt the same compact CMF-BEV architecture as the 2024 Renault 5 supermini - another nostalgic take on a retro classic, and will join it along the production lines at Renault’s new ElectriCity production facility in northern France. 

The factory hub will aim to produce around 400,000 electric vehicles a year, but since the SUV segment has become as popular as ever, the new Renault 4 could make up a significant part of its overall output when it eventually goes on sale. 

The concept comes as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the 4L Trophy: a humanitarian rally which involves Renault 4s competing in testing conditions to deliver aid to the world’s disadvantaged communities. 

Over the past 60 years, Renault had sold over eight million Renault 4 hatchbacks for its versatile, multipurpose nature in more than 100 countries, making it one of the most long-lived cars in history.

Luca de Meo, Chief Executive Officer of Renault S.A said: "The 4L is a legend. And legends never die! Today, it is this universal dimension of the 4L, a car that everyone can love, that we want to find through a modern and electric reinterpretation of the Renault 4."