A beach car with a green soul: Renault revives the open Renault 4 spirit, but on batteries

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Renault has unveiled the JP4x4 Concept — an open electric version of the new Renault 4 E-Tech Electric. The car is built as a tribute to two old «recreational» versions of the Renault 4: the Plein Air of 1969 and the JP4 of 1981. So this is not a strict production SUV but a beach EV with a hint of light off-roading.

The main difference from the regular Renault 4 — a second electric motor on the rear axle. Thanks to it, the concept gets permanent all-wheel drive. Ground clearance is up by 15 mm, the track is wider by 10 mm on each side, and the 18-inch wheels are wrapped in Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tyres in 225/55 size. Renault is showing that its compact electric platform can support not only front-wheel-drive city cars but also a small electric 4x4.

The body is as youthful as it gets: two simple doors, an open cross-shaped roof, a fold-down tailgate, emerald green paint, an orange interior, a surfboard on the roof and a skateboard in the boot. Inside — seats with integrated headrests in the 1970s Renault style, fabric trim and a passenger grab handle.

The niche of small, simple all-wheel-drive cars for leisure and rough roads almost disappeared with the end of the petrol era. An electric counterpart with a basic body, high clearance and all-wheel drive could find a natural home at seaside resorts, holiday camps, parks, regional car-sharing schemes and rural estates.

For now, this is purely a show car. It has no price, no production timeline and no stated range. Renault is testing the public’s reaction to a new type of compact EV: not a heavy crossover with huge screens, but a light vehicle for short trips, sand, gravel and warm climates.

The JP4x4 Concept matters not because it will be on sale tomorrow. It shows that a small electric off-roader can be more than a dull urban box — it can be a car with character, almost like the old Renault 4, only without the petrol.