Renault is one of the major sponsors of the upcoming French Open Tennis Championships at Roland Garros in Paris, and it's using the opportunity to show off a gorgeous concept version of the electric Renault 4.
What kind of concept is this?
The playful kind. While Roland Garros is famous for its clay courts, Renault is thinking more about sand and beach tennis with this JP4x4 concept. It's designed - sadly, not for production unless the Renault board of directors gets a serious rush of blood to the head - to publicise both the now-on-sale 'Plein Sud' version of the Renault 4 E-Tech, with its full-length canvas sunroof, and the upcoming twin-motor four-wheel drive version of the retro-look electric car.
No production version? Boo! Down with that sort of thing!
I know, I know. But come on, if Renault put this JP4x4 concept into production, how many of you would actually buy one? Come on, be honest…
It's based on the original Renault 4 JP4 of 1980, a version that did without doors and roof, and which was perfect for whizzing to the tabac from your villa in Nice. As well as being named after that original JP4, the JP4x4 could, says Renault, also signify a 'journée à la plage' or a day at the beach.
What's different about this JP4x4?
Well, it has no doors for a start. The production 4's normal doors have been removed, and replaced with a blade-style strut that looks suspiciously as if it was found lying around in a Renault Twizy parts bin. The roof has been removed and replaced by a forward-leaning rollover structure, while the back of the car is completely open, which means it almost counts now as a sort of beach buggy pickup truck.
There's also a surfboard strapped to the roof, which to us seems like a direct reference to the Renault 4 JP4 toy car as sold in the 1980s by Majorette.
The wheels are 18 inchs in size but with special Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 225/55 tyres and a new specific JP3 design.
And the colours?
The dazzling metallic green shade is called Emerald Green, and it's a modern reworking of the original Emerald Green (code 927) and Lettuce Green (code 913) available on the '4L' in the 1970s and 1980s. The bright orange interior is there to provide maximum contrast, as well as being a nod in the direction of the orange-brown clay courts of Roland Garros.
There's a set of cool-looking high-backed 'Egyptian mummy' bucket seats, which feature mixed-fabric upholstery with a crepe base and diagonal mesh sections. The door panels, boot surround and dashboard also feature a textile finish, while the dashboard includes a grab handle on the passenger side, and there's a new 'floating' centre console which might actually work its way through to the production models.
Speaking of production, again…
While it's sadly true you won't be able to buy a specific production version of this JP4x4, you will be able to buy a 4x4 Renault 4 (likely badged Savane, as was another recent all-wheel drive R4 concept) with two motors, four-wheel drive, and the extra 15mm of ride height shown on this JP4x4.
"A cross between a pick-up and a beach buggy, Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept was designed as a car with no real boundary between the exterior and the interior. This aspect is highlighted by the striking contrast between the Emerald Green of the bodywork and the vibrant orange of the interior textiles. With its striking design, door frames with orange surrounds and characteristic rear quarter panel area tapering towards the rear, Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is a car unlike any other. The ultra-contemporary look is completed by a 3D-printed pattern on the sides, bringing to mind the world of sportswear and trainers. Designed first and foremost as a leisure vehicle, it invites us to reconnect with the freewheeling spirit of the 1960s and 1970s,” said Jean-Philippe Salar, Advanced Design Director at Renault.