Renault has launched the 4 JP4x4 Concept, a reimagination of the original Renault 4 as a more capable, go-anywhere electric vehicle with a retro-inspired design. The concept combines elements of a beach buggy and a pick-up, showcasing Renault's continuing interest in retro designs. The JP4x4 Concept will make its public debut at Roland Garros next week, alongside the rest of the Renault E-Tech range.
Savane a bit extreme for a four-wheel drive Renault 4? Try the beach buggy vibe insteadconcept 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’ . 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 , 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 , 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
Renault 4 Jp4x4 Electric Vehicle Beach Buggy Pick-Up Retrofuturism Design Nostalgia Electric Powertrain Wheel Tracks Bold Statement
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Renault’s 4 E-Tech Just Borrowed Another Trick From The ’60s Original, And It’s Not Deckchair SeatsNew Plein Sud option gives Renault’s retro EV crossover a giant folding fabric roof
Read more »
Autopia: Concept cars are physical manifestations of automobile fancyThe Nebula Next hypercar, with its nearly 1,900 horsepower and self-driving capabilities, doesn’t have a production date or price. Dreame representatives were also short on other details, including pending regulatory adherence.
Read more »
From clay to crystal ball: the story of the first concept carThe desire to get away from the conservative designs of pre-war America spawned an entirely new trade
Read more »
Renault builds a beach buggy! Meet the new JP4x4 conceptNew concept car is inspired by French beachcomber from the 1980s, with open sides and a pick-up bed
Read more »