Renault chose the chicest stage in Paris to present to the world its boldest and most relaxed vision of the Renault 4: the JP4x4 Concept, a modern beach car, open to the sky, with all-electric all-wheel drive and a pop personality that mixes 80s nostalgia with 21st-century technology. The world premiere takes place on May 18 at Renault’s space during the 2026 Roland-Garros tournament, and the car that will be displayed there is, in every sense, the freest and most colorful of the iconic reborn Renault 4 family.
The name is not accidental. The JP4x4 Concept pays direct homage to the JP4 launched in 1981, one of the most playful and adventurous versions of the original Renault 4, which at the time captivated a generation of drivers with its proposal for relaxed and versatile mobility. But it goes even further, also gathering the legacy of the 1969 Plein Air version, the brand’s first true beach car, without a roof and without conventional doors. The 2026 JP4x4 Concept combines the spirits of both historical versions and adds something that neither of them had: fully electric four-wheel drive.
The bodywork is the first thing that catches the eye, and it does so with complete absence of shyness. A slightly pearlescent Emerald Green, described by Renault as a modern reinterpretation of the classic Emerald Green and Lettuce Green that adorned the original 4L in the 70s and 80s, covers the exterior of the concept. It is a color that conveys freshness and optimism and explosively contrasts with the intense orange chosen for the interior. Two pop and vibrant colors that, together, create a youthful, lively, and unmistakably summery combination.
The structure of the bodywork has been designed to maximize openness to the outside. The two doors are minimalist and open in a traditional manner, but the roof is perforated in a cross shape, a solution that preserves the necessary structural rigidity while eliminating any sense of confinement. The rear door has no roof and lowers in the style of a pickup platform to facilitate the loading of larger items. To emphasize the leisure spirit that runs throughout the concept, a surfboard is placed under the roof and two skateboards are stored in the trunk. It is not an accessory; it is a statement of intent.
The interior deserves a separate description. The high-backed seats with integrated headrests are a direct reference to the iconic mummy seats that equipped several Renault models in the 1970s, covered in a mixed fabric of crepe and diagonal mesh that combines elegance and sporty functionality. The doors, the trunk frame, and the dashboard are upholstered in fabric, with the passenger side panel incorporating a useful grab handle for rougher terrains. An unprecedented floating central console adds robustness and refinement to a cabin that, even without a roof, feels complete and carefully designed.
Jean-Philippe Salar, Director of Advanced Design at Renault, accurately summarizes the spirit of the project: “At the crossroads between a van and a beach buggy, the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept was designed without a clear boundary between the exterior and the cabin. A dimension enhanced by the strong contrast between the Emerald Green of the body color and the bright orange of the cabin fabrics. With a pronounced graphic expression, featuring door frames with an orange stripe and a distinctive rear window area, elongated towards the back, the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept offers a unique silhouette in the landscape. It adds 3D printing elements on the sides, evocative of the world of clothing and sports footwear, which complete its ultra-contemporary personality. Developed above all for pleasure, it is an invitation to rediscover the spirit of freedom of the 1960s and 70s.”
From a technical point of view, the JP4x4 Concept is based on the same platform as the Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept revealed in 2025. The ground clearance has been increased by 15 millimeters compared to the standard version of the Renault 4 E-Tech electric. The wheels are 18 inches with exclusive JP4 specifications, fitted with Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tires in size 225/55, and the front and rear tracks have been widened by 10 millimeters on each side. The central technical innovation is the addition of a second electric motor on the rear axle, which provides permanent all-wheel drive. This solution enhances the agility of the concept and reinforces its capability to navigate easily on sandy, rocky, and unpaved terrains, including directly on the beach. It is also a concrete demonstration of the potential of the RGEV small platform to create electric vehicles in the B segment with all-wheel drive.
The JP4x4 Concept is the fourth prototype based on the Renault 4 E-Tech electric, following the FL4WER POWER, the Savane 4×4, and the Vision 4Rescue, in a series of concepts that have systematically explored the versatility of the production model’s platform for both private and professional uses. At Roland-Garros, the JP4x4 will not be alone: alongside it, the Renault 4 Roland-Garros E-Tech electric show car in the Plein Sud version will also be presented to the public for the first time, featuring its electric canvas roof that opens 92 centimeters long and 80 centimeters wide, as well as the Twingo E-Tech electric and the Renault 5 Roland-Garros E-Tech electric. The Plein Sud version of the Renault 4 is already available for order in the Techno and Iconic versions, with the special Roland-Garros series arriving at dealerships at the end of next fall.
The Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is in green and orange. But what Renault is saying with it is much broader: that the electric platform of its most popular model has the potential for much more than daily transportation. That the beach, the sand, and adventure have a place in the electric era. And that the spirit of freedom of the original 4L has not died. It has only evolved.
