The Renault 4 is riding the wrong wave…
- Published on 12/05/2026 13:38
Renault presents the JP4x4 Concept at Roland-Garros 2026: a charming styling exercise, but lacking in substance.
Renault persists and signs off. After the enticing Savane 4×4 Concept last year, the brand unveils at Roland-Garros 2026 the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept, a new “chic beach” variant of its R4 electric vehicle. Charming on paper, this styling exercise unfortunately leaves a sense of incompleteness.
The concept builds on the Renault 4 E-Tech base, adds a second electric motor at the rear for all-wheel drive, raises the ground clearance, and adopts an open look with a perforated roof and tailgate. Surfboard on the roof and skateboards in the trunk complete the “beach adventurer” picture. Throw in some pop colors (Pearl Emerald Green / orange) and the trick is done in a “Budget concept car for dummies” style.
Bring us back the Mehari!!!
But the gimmick is too obvious and too colorful, and we are left wanting more. Where the Savane had real interest with its all-wheel drive and raised ground clearance giving it a true adventurous character, the JP4x4 feels more like a somewhat forced marketing concept than a credible proposal. We would dream of a truly marketable version: completely convertible, lightweight, designed for urban dwellers seeking freedom, without falling into the cliché of a futureless beach buggy.
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Sorry, it can’t work every time. Renault should avoid getting lost in the proliferation of colorful concepts around the Renault 4 at the expense of more relevant variants. The idea is well-known and the exercise is starting to feel stale.
ALSO READ: The Renault 4 Savane 4X4 passes the qualifications at Roland-Garros
This page is translated from the original post "La Renault 4 surfe la mauvaise vague…" in French.
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