LED technology has revolutionised the design of vehicle headlamps. Designers and engineers now have greater freedom to create unique headlamp shapes and lighting signatures, reflecting brand identity. Unveiled at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, Renault 4 E-Tech electric will be the first Renault vehicle to feature a backlit grille with an illuminated logo. Renault Chief Designer, Design Strategy and Advanced Tech, Stefano Bolis tells us how this innovation came about.
Renault 4 E-Tech electric and Renault 5 E-Tech electric stand apart from the other vehicles in the range. They share the DNA of icons with a modern twist. In terms of their design, “they have their own purpose, a freedom of expression in design and styling innovations “ explains Stefano. "Renault 5 E-Tech electric, for example, has unique shining look. The car seems to be alive and it takes us back to the original Renault 5 and the well-known ad”. To create something unique once again with Renault 4 E-Tech electric, we had to think outside the box. “For Renault 4, we decided to focus our efforts on illuminating the characteristic features of the front end: the logo and grille” continues Stefano.
The grille of the original Renault 4 featured unique rectangular lines with rounded corners and a chrome surround. “Light is today's new chrome, so it made sense to illuminate this characteristic detail. At the same time, the vertical lines of the original were perfect for showcasing the new illuminated logo” says Stefano.
Renault 4 E-Tech electric and Renault 5 E-Tech electric stand apart from the other vehicles in the range. They share the DNA of icons with a modern twist. In terms of their design, “they have their own purpose, a freedom of expression in design and styling innovations “ explains Stefano. "Renault 5 E-Tech electric, for example, has unique shining look. The car seems to be alive and it takes us back to the original Renault 5 and the well-known ad”. To create something unique once again with Renault 4 E-Tech electric, we had to think outside the box. “For Renault 4, we decided to focus our efforts on illuminating the characteristic features of the front end: the logo and grille” continues Stefano.
The grille of the original Renault 4 featured unique rectangular lines with rounded corners and a chrome surround. “Light is today's new chrome, so it made sense to illuminate this characteristic detail. At the same time, the vertical lines of the original were perfect for showcasing the new illuminated logo” says Stefano.
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MotorTranscript
00:00The Renault 4 E-TEC 100% electric will be the first vehicle to inaugurate a logo and a light calendar.
00:12We imagined that this Renault 4 had never disappeared, and we made it evolve until today in the world of electricity.
00:21The original 4L had a chrome that surrounded the entire calendar and the headlights.
00:26We made this chrome luminous.
00:29We wanted the luminous beam that goes around to be uninterrupted,
00:33so as not to have this separation between headlight and calendar.
00:35It was a single piece, very modern.
00:37We added an index in the shape of the calendar to give a little more character,
00:42putting the round headlights a little more forward, for example.
00:45Here too, we turned off the function.
00:47The round objects that you see are the function of DRL, Day Running Light.
00:52The original 4L had separate indicators and position lights.
00:56Here, we unified them into a single piece.
00:59The logo is floating, levitating.
01:04The rear lights also interpret the past of the 4L, with three elements,
01:07but they are much more technical, three-dimensional, and also highlight LED technology.
01:15The logo must respond to the regulation of the position lights,
01:18and it had to be non-discontinuous.
01:21So having the luminous beam was also a regulatory requirement.
01:30One of the big technical challenges was to make the luminous calendar in one piece.
01:35We also wanted to respect the spirit of the Renault 4,
01:38which is a simple, easy-to-repair car, with its extensions in the bumper.
01:44We reinterpreted this to protect this large luminous piece.
01:50The entire calendar is made in one way,
01:53and there are the headlights that are attached behind.
01:56These are separate elements, and if there is a problem with one or the other,
01:59we can change them without changing the whole.
02:03This calendar put us through a lot of technical challenges,
02:06and we filed a lot of patents.
02:10I would also like to thank the engineers who did a great job
02:13to help us make our design vision a reality.