The EV crossover segment has been missing personality. Specifically, the kind of unhinged French personality that produced the Méhari and the Mini Moke back when European automakers built beach cars instead of beige commuter pods. Renault, currently on a hot streak of retro-cool concepts, just decided to do something about it. Say hello to the JP4x4.
A Two-Door Love Letter to 1969
The JP4x4 takes its cues from two historical sidekicks of the original Renault 4: the 1969 Plein Air and the 1981 JP4, both of which ditched the roof for open-air French motoring. The name doubles as a tribute and a pun, with JP standing for “journée à la plage,” a day at the beach.
Renault has lopped off the production R4’s rear doors entirely, turning the five-door hatch into a two-seat buggy with a drop-down tailgate that flips down pickup-style. There are no side windows, no soft top, and no fallback plan if it rains. And as Southern California natives, we’re not mad about it.
A Color Story That’s Doing the Most
The Emerald Green paintwork riffs on the original R4’s 1970s color palette, set against an interior so aggressively orange the whole cabin feels like a citrus photoshoot. The bucket seats nod to Renault’s “Egyptian mummy” design from the ’70s.
A 3D-printed pattern runs along the body sides (Renault says it nods to sneaker design), and a teal X-shaped roof structure doubles as a surfboard rack. A pair of skateboards sit in the rear cargo bed to further reinforce the outdoor beach theme.
The Dual-Motor Hook
The JP4x4 borrows the dual-motor AWD setup from last year’s Savane 4×4 Concept, adding a second motor on the rear axle. The production R4 E-Tech is front-wheel drive only with 150 hp from a 52 kWh battery, so this is the second time Renault has shown what the platform could do with AWD without committing to build one.
Ride height is up 15mm over the standard R4, and the 18-inch JP4 wheels wear Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ rubber. It’s definitely a soft-roader’s setup, not a rock crawler, but it’s enough to make sand and gravel a non-issue.
The Catch
Renault has been refreshingly upfront: the JP4x4 is unfortunately not going into production and will be staying a one-off. If you want an open-air R4, you’re looking at the Plein Sud trim with its electric canvas roof, which opened orders earlier this month at €37,290 (~$43,800).
And if you live in the U.S., you can’t have any of it. The R4, the R5, the Turbo 3E, the Twingo, none of it crosses the Atlantic. Add JP4x4 to the list of things Europe gets while we wait for our next Jeep refresh.
Spec Sheet
Model: Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept
Status: One-off concept, no production planned
Platform: RGEV Small (shared with Renault 4 E-Tech)
Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive
Body: Two-door open-air with drop-down pickup-style tailgate
Exterior Color: Pearlescent Emerald Green
Interior: Vibrant orange textile, “Egyptian mummy” bucket seats
Wheels: 18-inch JP4-design alloys
Tires: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 225/55 R18
Ride Height: +15mm over standard R4 E-Tech
Track Width: +10mm per side, front and rear
Debut: 2026 Roland-Garros French Open, May 18
Pricing & Availability
The JP4x4 will be on display at Renault’s Roland-Garros stand alongside the production R4, R5, Twingo E-Tech, and the new Plein Sud variant. It’s not for sale, and Renault has been explicit that there are no production plans.
Recap
Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept
Renault stripped the doors and roof off its retro electric hatch, added a pickup bed and a dual-motor AWD system, and built a beach buggy throwback for the 2026 French Open. One-off, and not coming to America.
