Renault 4L x Mathieu Lehanneur

Suite N°4

Mathieu Lehanneur takes inspiration from a nomadic hotel suite to reinvent the Renault 4L.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the 4L, Renault has teamed up with designer Mathieu Lehanneur to create a new concept that fuses automotive technology with architectural flair. The iconic car – famed for being the world’s first mass-produced hatchback – set a new standard when it came to market in 1961, going on to sell over 8 million units in its 30-year run. Though production ground to a halt in 1992 to make way for newer models, the car’s legacy lives on, and now it has been reinvented for today’s traveller.

“Suite N°4 is a new mobility and travel experience. I wanted to merge the worlds of cars and architecture to create an open-air hotel room,”says Lehanneur. “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.”

The vehicle maintains the same exterior dimensions and silhouette as the original, however the rear section and hatch have been replaced with polycarbonate windows that provide transparency and lighting on a par with that of architectural glazing. The same influence can be seen in the car’s bodywork, which is coated with three layers of paint that convey the mineral aspect of cement. Inside, the seats and dashboard are upholstered in an energetic yellow velvet while the boot, which transforms into a lounge space, is finished in ribbed chenille. There’s also a timber bench, which cleverly slides out when the hatch is open.

Other new interventions include transparent solar panels on the roof – providing light and helping to charge the electric battery – and a polished aluminium front grille. Renault has however maintained some traditions; much like the original 4L, all materials are made in France and supplied by Paris-based artisans.

Clearly delighted with the concept, Arnaud Belloni, Renault’s Brand Global Marketing Director, comments: “The finished product is extraordinary. It really encapsulates everything the brand has set out to achieve through the Renaulution strategic plan: create modern and innovative cars that provoke emotions.”

Suite N°4 was unveiled at an event hosted by Christie’s in October, and will go on show at the forthcoming January edition of Maison & Objet in Paris.