Check out Renault's JP4x4 'beach adventurer'
Savane a bit extreme for a four-wheel drive Renault 4? Try the beach buggy vibe instead
You probably remember the Renault 4 Savane concept from last year, so neatly did it preview a more capable, go-anywhere retro EV. Well, seemingly not content with just that, Renault has now taken the same 4x4 underpinnings - an additional electric motor for the rear axle - to make something ever cooler again: this is the 4 JP4x4 Concept.
Those with better knowledge of the original Renault 4 than us will recall that this isn’t the first time that a beach babe has been made of one. In 1969 there was a Plein Air variant, followed in 1981 by the JP4, both removing the roof from the 4 to embrace the elements. This new JP4x4 pays homage to the name of the latter machine, though Renault also suggests that the initials could stand for ‘journée à la plage’ (a day at the beach). In case the intention of this concept was ever in doubt. Renault says that the JP is ‘every inch a chic and modern beach car in terms of both its physical features and the equipment designed for sport and leisure’. In a world of massive EV tanks, we could surely all benefit from more modern beach cars, however impractical.
While the pair of very basic doors function as usual on the JP4x4, the boot opens like a pick up and the roof isn’t much more than bracing. Perfect for a surfboard (and the boot takes skateboards, of course), though not ideal for a soggy day at Margate. Note as well the slightly more purposeful stance of the new 4, with the new wheels sat on 10mm wider tracks than a normal E-Tech. The ‘JP4’ and ‘4x4’ logos work a treat. The ride height is increased by 15mm, which will work with the 4WD for ‘enhancing its off-road capabilities on sandy, stony and unpaved terrain.’ So even the remotest AirBnB shouldn’t pose a problem.
And while something like a JP4x4 might be a tad extreme for a production reality (though you’d put nothing past Renault’s retro agenda right now), the interior could certainly hint at future customisation possibilities. The orange works brilliantly with the green paint, which is said to be a modern interpretation of old Emerald and Lettuce hues. Renault calls the bucket seats ‘reminiscent of the ‘Egyptian Mummy’ seats’ that were big in the 70s; who wouldn’t want to option those into their roadgoing 4 now? Similarly, a grab handle for the passenger looks right at home in a 4, as do the textile door cards. With Renault going big on personalisation right now, these are surely the sorts of things we could anticipate for the future. And any actual four-wheel drive 4, after this and the Savane and Vision4Rescue, has some act to follow.
Renault’s Jean-Philippe Salar, Advanced Design Director, said: “A cross between a pick-up and a beach buggy, the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept was designed as a car with no real boundary between the exterior and the interior… With its striking design, door frames with orange surrounds and characteristic rear quarter panel area tapering towards the rear, Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is a car unlike any other. The ultra-contemporary look is completed by a 3D-printed pattern on the sides, bringing to mind the world of sportswear and trainers. Designed first and foremost as a leisure vehicle, it invites us to reconnect with the freewheeling spirit of the 1960s and 1970s.”
Which sounds like a great idea, quite frankly. The JP4x4 Concept will make its public debut at Roland Garros next week, alongside the rest of the small Renault E-Tech range. If enough fuss is made about it, then who knows - if the Turbo 3E can be made, why not this?
I presume this will come with some kind of shonky sub milletts effort for weather protection
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