This Radical Beach Cruiser Is A Refreshing Cure For Boring EV Designs
- Renault is showcasing the versatility of its electric vehicle platform with a new open-air concept.
- Called the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept, it takes cues from old and new Renault models.
- It’s a beach buggy with all-wheel drive and no windows.
Renault just pulled the wraps off its latest concept, and it looks like it came right out of “Baywatch.” Except there’s no shirtless Dwayne Johnson running around. (I’m not sure he’d fit in this little EV anyway.)
It’s called the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept, and it looks like a vacation car that you could drive to the beach on a sunny day or even take it on mild off-road trails. It’s a refreshing design that doesn’t obsess over aerodynamics, which often makes EVs bulbous and ugly.
The concept is a blend of the original 1981 JP4 and the 1969 Plein Air models. But unlike those cars, this one is electric, flaunting the packaging advantages of compact electric motors and floor-mounted batteries.
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Source: Renault
The French automaker has basically taken the production Renault 4 E-Tech, ripped out its roof and doors, and thrown in an eye-catching Emerald Green paint and a bright orange interior. It’s not a convertible, and still has structural cross beams on the roof to maintain body rigidity. Plus it sports a drop-down tailgate like a pickup truck.
Unlike the production Renault 4 E-Tech, which is front-wheel drive, the concept here has electric motors on both axles for all-wheel drive capability. Extra 15 millimeters of ground clearance compared to the standard car, and Goodyear UltraGrip tires for 225/55 tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels should also help with improved traction on loose surfaces. Plus, it also has wider front and rear tracks for better stability and handling.
Photo by: Renault
The attention to detail on the inside is impeccable, too. It has bucket seats that hark back to the “Egyptian Mummy” seats on Renaults of the 1970s. The center console appears to have hooks finished in orange, which you could use to tie down items mounted on the roof. At the rear, mounting points for skateboards and room for small picnic items means this is really geared for outdoorsy customers. And it retains the dual screens and the dashboard layout from the production model.
Photo by: Renault
The catch, of course, is that this is a show car. Renault said there are no plans for a production version just yet. Even if it did, it’s unlikely that this design would pass safety regulations on any continent without significant tweaks.
Still, concepts like this one show how creative you can really get with EV platforms. And among all things, it’s yet another reminder that the majority of cool new EV concepts are now either in Europe or China, while U.S. automakers continue investing in new V8 engines and pickup trucks.
Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
