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.
View Price on AmazonThe 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 0.6 inches 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.
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.
Source: insideevs.com
