Electric Renault 4 powered by transparent solar panels

Character. It’s something many classic cars exude in spades. It’s also something, very sadly, many new cars so utterly lack.

It makes the glut of reinvented, concept, resto-mod, tribute, evocation (or whatever) cars with classic shapes but very modern electric hearts so very fascinating and welcome.

Renault’s one of the keener brands to rummage around its Greatest Hits back catalogue, evidenced by saying it will have a retro-inspired Renault 5 electric car as one of ten new full-electric models on sale by 2025.

The equally iconic Renault 4 hatchback has now been gifted an electric heart as part of a collaboration between Renault and French designer Mathieu Lehanneur.

Result is the suitably flamboyantly-titled SUITE No.4: a concept car with transparent solar panels on the roof to help charge batteries powering a retrofitted electric motor.

Like a French HJ Sandman

The concept keeps the Renault 4L’s original and distinctive dimensions, but the rear section and hatch have been replaced with polycarbonate windows so the cosy and cushioned lounge area can be bathed in light.

It may look something like a Popemobile used for the great man’s South of France holidays, but this finely finished “moving room” looks far more welcoming than the dingy panelled rear of an HJ Holden Sandman.

Seats and dashboard are upholstered in yellow velvet (also works inside a Sandman, for reference), while “thick, ribbed chenille fabric” trims the relaxation space in the back.

Bolsters and pillows complete your soft furnishings, while a wooden bench slides out like a drawer, offering a classy place to sit and sup your champers while sheltering from the elements under the opened hatch.

Three layers of paint give the body a “mineral aspect of cement” while The Renault 4’s familiar face – round lights, lines and silhouette – remain. The front grille is a lavish addition however: polished wavy aluminium and the designer’s “ode to evasion”. What?

Production retro Renault 4 EV likely

While it’s all very arty and fabulous and a lovely way to mark the 60th anniversary of the Renault 4L, it adds more fuel to the belief Renault will use the classic 4 as retro inspiration for one of its incoming production EVs.

Back in July 2021, as part of Renault’s “eWays Electropop” event, the brand confirmed it “will also revive another magic, iconic star currently named ‘4ever’ signifying the intention to make it a timeless classic”.

If that’s not going to be Renault 4 inspired, I’ll eat my beret.

There’s also prior history in the electrified Renault 4 world. In 2019 the brand showcased a one-off 4L electric convertible concept called the e-Plein Air.

It used Renault’s Twizy Urban 80 quadricycle’s 13kW electric motor and 6.1kWh battery to propel its 580kg mass, and looked really quite wonderful.

We’re told the SUITE No.4 is 100% electric, but Renault’s not revealed any usefuls on power, range, performance or battery. Instead – and how wonderfully French – it’s more about the style, flair and lots and lots of adjectives.

The concept was unveiled at Christie’s in Paris’ Maison&Objet exposition, ahead of its arrival at the Atelier Renault collection.

Beautiful words, beautiful concept

At the reveal, Renault said SUITE N°4 is: “A car which really encapsulates everything the brand has set out to achieve through the Renaulution strategic plan: create modern and innovative cars that provoke emotions.”

As for M Lehanneur’s thoughts, the designer got even more colourful when describing his efforts. “I wanted to merge the worlds of cars and architecture to create an open-air hotel room.

“Even better than the finest palatial suite, the car is exactly where you want it to be, whether that’s by the sea, in the middle of a field or driving around the city you’ve always dreamed of.”

Stirs the emotions, eh?