Renault 4 hits the beach with JP4x4 Concept
Renault has revealed a new lifestyle concept car based on the Renault 4, once again hinting at an all-wheel-drive version of its compact SUV.
Revealed at the 2026 Roland-Garros tennis tournament, the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is a all-wheel-drive one-off beach-themed concept designed as a pick-up/SUV homage to “outdoorsy” versions of the original R4.
“Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept was designed as a car with no real boundary between the exterior and the interior,” explained Renault’s advanced design director Jean-Philippe Salar. “Designed first and foremost as a leisure vehicle, it invites us to reconnect with the freewheeling spirit of the 1960s and 1970s.”
The JP4x4 name is a tribute to the JP4 of 1981 and the car also draws inspiration from 1969’s Plein Air model. Both cars featured canvas roofs and no doors for a beach-focused approach.
The Renault 4 JP4x4 similarly does away with conventional doors, replacing them with thin front-hinged blades that leave much of the cabin exposed to the elements for an “outdoor experience”. It also does without a roof, instead using a cross-shaped framework that doubles as a surfboard rack.
Instead of rear seats, there’s a flat luggage area with skateboard storage slots, accessed via a fold-down tailgate. And the cabin features bright orange “Egyptian mummy” bucket seats that echo designs from 1970s models. While much of the interior looks familiar, there’s a unique centre console and new fabric and mesh materials for the seats, dash and door cards.
Continuing the 1970s inspiration, the JP4x4 concept is finished in a new pearlescent Emerald Green based on the original Emerald Green and Lettuce Green shades offered on the 4L.
Although Renault says the JP4x4 is a one-off concept, it is the third R4 concept to feature an all-wheel-drive powertrain. The Savane 4×4 and Vision 4Rescue both featured a two-motor setup and the French brand is understood to be examining interest in a 4×4 production version of the regular Renault 4.
