Renault has revealed the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept, a playful electric beach buggy designed to show how flexible the brand’s EV platform can be. With an open-air body, all-wheel drive and retro-inspired details, the concept gives the new Renault 4 E-Tech a much more adventurous personality.
The Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is based on the production Renault 4 E-Tech, but it has been transformed into a radical leisure vehicle. Renault removed the roof and doors, added an eye-catching Emerald Green exterior and paired it with a bright orange interior.
The result is not a conventional convertible. The concept still keeps structural cross beams across the roof area to help maintain body rigidity. At the rear, it also features a drop-down tailgate, giving it a more practical and playful character similar to a small pickup-style adventure vehicle.
The concept takes inspiration from two older Renault models: the 1981 JP4 and the 1969 Plein Air. Both were simple, open-air vehicles designed around fun and freedom rather than pure practicality.
Renault has reinterpreted that spirit for the electric age. Thanks to compact electric motors and floor-mounted batteries, the JP4x4 Concept can adopt a more creative body layout while still using the foundation of a modern EV.
Unlike the standard Renault 4 E-Tech, which is front-wheel drive, the JP4x4 Concept uses electric motors on both axles. That gives it all-wheel-drive capability and makes it better suited to light off-road use, beach roads and loose surfaces.
Renault also gave the concept 15 millimeters of extra ground clearance compared with the regular model. It rides on 18-inch wheels fitted with 225/55 Goodyear UltraGrip tires, while wider front and rear tracks are designed to improve stability and handling.
The cabin continues the fun, outdoor-focused theme. The bucket seats are inspired by the so-called “Egyptian Mummy” seats used in Renault models from the 1970s, adding another retro detail to the concept.
The center console includes orange-finished hooks that can be used to secure items carried on the roof. At the rear, the concept offers mounting points for skateboards and space for small picnic items, reinforcing its role as a relaxed leisure vehicle rather than a conventional city car.
Despite its radical bodywork, the JP4x4 Concept keeps key elements from the production Renault 4 E-Tech. The dashboard layout and dual-screen setup are carried over, giving the cabin a familiar modern Renault interface.
This combination of retro styling, open-air design and digital cabin technology is part of what makes the concept stand out. It shows how a familiar production EV can be reimagined into something far more emotional and lifestyle-oriented.
For now, the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is only a show car. Renault has not announced plans to put this version into production. Even if the company decided to build something similar, the open body structure would likely require major changes to meet safety regulations in different markets.
Still, the concept highlights the creative potential of electric vehicle platforms. Instead of focusing only on aerodynamic crossovers and conventional hatchbacks, Renault has shown that EVs can also be fun, colorful and full of character.
The Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept stands out because it does not follow the usual template for modern electric vehicles. It is not trying to be the most aerodynamic, the most practical or the most serious-looking EV. Instead, it focuses on emotion, lifestyle and visual personality.
That makes it a refreshing reminder that electric cars do not have to look the same. Whether or not Renault ever builds a production version, the JP4x4 Concept proves that a compact EV platform can support far more imaginative ideas than another ordinary crossover.
