The Renault 4 was Renault's response to
the 1948 CitroŽn 2CV. Early versions used engines and transmissions
from the Renault 4CV. The initial transmission was a 3-speed manual,
an obsolete feature when compared to the four-speed manual of the
then thirteen-year old CitroŽn 2CV.

During its production run the R4 was regarded as a tiny estate car,
but in retrospect the car clearly popularized the hatchback body
style, and is therefore significant in the history of car design.