Renault launched the Renault 4 in 1961 as its first front-wheel-drive family car.
The Renault 4 was developed to replace the rear-engined Renault 4CV and to compete with practical small cars such as the Citroën 2CV. Its front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout created a spacious cabin and a useful rear hatch for its compact size.
Production began in 1961, and the model became one of Renault’s most important global successes. It was sold in many countries and assembled at factories outside France, including facilities in Spain, Ireland and Colombia.
The Renault 4 is sometimes simply called the “4” or “Quatrelle.” It should not be confused with the Renault 5, which arrived later in 1972 as a more style-focused supermini. The Renault 4 remained in production for more than three decades, ending in 1992.