We know very well that the Renault 4 is one of the most legendary French cars, which were extremely popular in our region as well. You can still meet them on Croatian roads, especially those on our islands. In the past, the Renault 4 had numerous derivatives, so the Plein Air and JP4 models were popular in the summer. It was about the French versions of beach buggies. Of course, they were not mass-produced cars, so their production was very short.
The new generation of Renault 4 has been on sale for some time, which provides a template for the preparation of some new visions. Last year, the Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept was presented, while in a few days, the JP4x4 Concept will have its premiere at Roland Garros. Its playful and optimistic design revives the spirit of the 1969 Plein Air and 1981 JP4, while the all-wheel drive system brings a touch of modern adventure.
It is an elegant and modern car for the beach, both because of its design and because of the equipment adapted to sports and free time. This is another indicator of the versatility of the serial model and its potential for adaptation to different customer needs. Namely, in addition to the Savana 4×4, Renault also prepared the FL4WER POWER and Vision 4Rescue models. The new model is decorated with green tones. It is a slightly pearlescent Emerald green color that radiates cheerfulness and optimism, i.e. a modern version of Emerald green and Lettuce green that adorned the original ‘fours’ during the seventies and eighties of the last century. The interior brings a sharp contrast with orange tones, creating a bright and energetic environment.
The new model is a real adventurer. In addition to two minimalist doors with a classic opening method, it is also decorated with an open roof structure in the shape of a cross that ensures maximum strength. There is also a rear door without a cover that lowers like the side of a pick-up truck, which makes loading much easier. As a tribute to the style of the original Plein Air and JP4 models, there is a surfboard on the roof and skateboards in the trunk.
The interior is adorned with bucket seats with integrated headrests reminiscent of the iconic ‘Egyptian mummy’ design. There is a combination of different fabrics and a base made of crepe material and diagonal mesh inserts. The fabric also adorns the door linings, the edges of the trunk and the dashboard, on which there is also a handle on the passenger’s side for holding on uneven terrain. The floating center console is an original detail that gives the fresh and airy interior a refined yet strong character. The JP4 logo stands out on the center outer support, while the 4×4 badging can be found on the front fender and tailgate.
On the technical side, the concept is based on the platform of the Renault 4 Savane 4×4 Concept model. Ground clearance is 15 mm higher than the standard electric Four. The 18-inch wheels are retained, but now they come with special Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 225/55 tires and specific JP4 rims, while the wheel track is wider by 10 mm on each side. The most important innovation is the additional electric motor on the rear axle, which enables permanent drive to all wheels. Thanks to it, the vehicle is more agile on sand, stones and macadam.
The Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept is not the only novelty that the brand will exhibit at the Roland Garros tournament. He will be accompanied by the Renault 4 Roland-Garros E-Tech electric, which is also making its first public appearance, in the Plein Sud version with an electrically operated canvas roof. That sunroof, 92 cm long and 80 cm wide, symbolizes outdoor travel and fills the entire interior with light. The Plein Sud version can already be ordered in the Techno or Iconic equipment packages, while the Roland-Garros special series will arrive in showrooms at the end of autumn.
