Teamwork –
Renault 4 E-Tech electric, or how to reinvent an iconic car
Published on
The Renault 4 is much more than just a car, it’s a collective heritage. As it is reborn in a 100% electric version, three key figures behind the project reflect on what this legend means to them and how their memories influenced their work. A story where emotion fuels creation, blending heritage and innovation.
With 8 million units sold worldwide, the Renault 4 remains a popular and universal symbol of mobility. Designed in the 1960s to be practical, affordable and durable, it left a lasting mark on the collective imagination. Today, the icon returns as a modern electric vehicle, brought to life by passionate teams. Designers, engineers and product managers all drew from their memories to revive the R4 with authenticity and modernity. A human and technical adventure, told here by those who lived it from the inside.
"It was our responsibility to do everything we could to deliver an attractive vehicle, well-equipped and of the highest quality."
« It was our responsibility to do everything we could to deliver an attractive vehicle, well-equipped and of the highest quality. We carried out this collaborative work with all the teams, notably Design, Product Planning and Manufacturing. »
Jorge Da Cruz Martins
Chief Vehicle Engineer
"What joy and emotion I felt when I told my father I would be working on the new R4!"
« My father’s first car was a Renault 4, which he shared with his brother. I think it was red. What joy and emotion I felt when I told him I would be working on the new R4! You wouldn’t believe how many people (colleagues, customers, journalists) I met throughout the project who, like my father, shared their fond memories with me. »
Laure Grégoire-Braems
Product Manager
"After a full day harvesting grapes, we’d head home in my uncle Tomás’ R4”
« I grew up in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere in Spain. My uncle Tomás had a Renault 4, and I often helped him with the grape harvest. After a full day of work, we’d head home in the R4. I truly think it was the most comfortable car you could imagine. »
Miguel Iranzo-Sanchez
Colours & Materials Lead Designer
"What did my uncle Tomás have in common with Yukihiro Takahashi? Not much, except for that car!"
« Yukihiro Takahashi, the cult figure from Japanese technopop band Yellow Magic Orchestra, one of the most stylish people in the world, also had a Renault 4. And what did he have in common with my uncle Tomás? Not much, except for that car! That’s exactly the spirit of versatility and accessibility we wanted to reinterpret with the Renault 4 E-Tech electric. »
The body color ‘Vert Hauts-de-France’, which references the original ‘Bleu Île-de-France’
« Part of my job was to recreate connections with the original car. For instance, one of the body colors is called ‘Vert Hauts-de-France’, a nod to ‘Bleu Île-de-France’, which was the official launch color of the original R4 back in 1961. »
"With the Design teams, we worked on every detail that echoes the Renault 4 of the 1960s"
« We paid special attention to modularity and practicality in collaboration with Engineering. With the Design teams, we worked on every detail that echoes the Renault 4 of the 1960s. »
Laure Grégoire-Braems
Product Manager
"An old lady who, very soon, will be sitting next to her little electric granddaughter"
« During the project, I bought an old 1971 Renault 4 that I’m currently having restored. My kids are crazy about it. It still runs, but it shows its age: she’s an old lady who, very soon, will be sitting in the garden next to her little electric granddaughter. »
Jorge Da Cruz Martins
Chief Vehicle Engineer
The Renault 4 E-Tech electric is the result of a collective effort, driven by a shared ambition: to revive an icon without betraying its spirit. Every detail was designed to bridge past and present, personal memories and modern expectations. With this vehicle, a new chapter begins, true to its heritage, yet focused on the future.
