The subcompact electric Renault 4 E-Tech reached the market last spring. It is based on the RGEV Small platform, formerly known as AmpR Small.
For now, the Renault 4 is available only with a single electric motor and front-wheel drive.
Still, Renault previewed a more adventurous direction a year ago with the Savane 4×4 concept, which suggested a dual-motor version with all-wheel drive and higher ground clearance.
The new Renault 4 JP4x4 concept takes that idea further. It suggests that all-wheel drive may eventually come not only to the crossover but also to a pickup-inspired version.
A Beach Version With Classic Renault Spirit
The original gasoline-powered Renault 4 once had playful, beach-focused versions called Plein Air and JP4. Today’s electric Renault 4 can currently offer only a fabric folding roof.
The Renault 4 JP4x4 concept captures the atmosphere of a beach vacation much better than a normal crossover with a piece of fabric above the passengers’ heads. In this case, the letters JP stand for “journée à la plage,” which means “a day at the beach” in French.
For the concept, the body of the standard crossover has been heavily modified and turned into a pickup with beach buggy elements. The rear doors are gone, while the front doors have been replaced by narrow, gate-like panels that look as if they are floating in the air.
There are no side windows, and the opening in the shortened roof is covered by crossed roof bars carrying a surfboard. The rear seats have also disappeared, replaced by an open cargo bed with a system for securing different kinds of sports equipment.
A Familiar Cabin With Playful Details
The dashboard and main interior controls remain mostly standard, but the center tunnel has been redesigned. It is now taller and also appears to float, with a semitransparent storage box positioned underneath.
The door handles have been replaced by textile straps. Most interior surfaces are covered in soft bright orange fabric, giving the concept a much more relaxed and playful character than the regular Renault 4 E-Tech.
That atmosphere is clearly intentional. Renault is not presenting the JP4x4 as a normal utility vehicle but as a lifestyle concept built around outdoor activity, warm weather, and recreational use.
Dual-Motor Power Is Confirmed, But Details Are Missing
The only confirmed detail about the powertrain is that the concept uses two electric motors. Renault has not released technical specifications.
Ground clearance has been increased by 0.6 inch compared with the production crossover and now stands at 7.7 inches. The track has also been widened by 0.4 inch to allow the use of special 8.9-inch-wide Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ tires.
For reference, the single electric motor in the production Renault 4 produces up to 150 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. The largest available battery has a capacity of 52 kWh and provides up to 251 miles of WLTP range.
A Production Pickup Still Seems Unlikely
A production Renault 4 E-Tech crossover with all-wheel drive is believed to be close. Its debut could be linked to a technical upgrade of the RGEV Small platform, which is rumored to receive a larger-capacity battery.
That would make sense, since the current 52 kWh battery may be too limited for an all-wheel-drive version.
A production Renault 4 JP4x4 pickup, however, seems far less likely. It is a highly specialized and probably expensive model, with a body that would not be very practical in bad weather.
Still, the idea is appealing enough that a specialized coachbuilder could eventually create something similar. As a concept, the JP4x4 shows that Renault’s revived electric 4 has room for far more personality than a simple urban crossover.
This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.