1975 Renault VBG Prototype by Robert Opron

The Renault VBG (Véhicule Bas de Gamme) Prototype of 1975 marked Robert Opron’s first major design project after joining Renault from Citroën. Intended as a successor to the long-serving Renault 4, the VBG was conceived as a low-cost, highly functional utility car for a broad audience, particularly in rural or developing regions. Opron's early sketches for the VBG reveal a vehicle with a strong emphasis on modularity and practicality, exploring various body forms and uses, from passenger transport to light commercial applications.

A distinctive design detail seen in both the early drawings and the second prototype is the use of semi-circular side windows, an unusual and futuristic touch that hinted at Renault's ambition to modernize the basic car without adding unnecessary cost. Though the VBG project went through several iterations, it ultimately never reached production. However, the ideas it introduced—simplicity, versatility, and ease of manufacture—would later influence Renault’s approach to affordable mobility and help set the stage for later concepts like the Renault EVE and Twingo.