Renault could build bold Espace MPV – but SUVs come first
Renault boss Fabrice Cambolive has insisted that a production version of the E-Space concept MPV “is not a concrete project as of now” and that the immediate focus is on new SUVs.
Inspired by the 1984 original, the E-Space concept was one of the stars of the French brand’s Paris motor show stands, largely conceived as a project to show the design direction of new brand design chief Alexandre Malval.
Asked by Autocar at the show about the production potential for a new Espace, Cambolive said “we are not capable of embracing everything at the same time.”
He noted that Renault’s focus for the next year is the launch of the Trafic E-Tech electric van, the brand’s first software-defined vehicle.
“The next step after that will be the renewal of Scenic and Rafale, and after that we will have to decide what will be the next Espace,” said Cambolive.
“But as you know, we like MPVs, we like [EVs with] flat floors, we like immersivity, we like panoramic roofs, we like versatility in the seats. All the ingredients, all the brand markers from Renault are in [the E-Space concept]. Let’s try to demonstrate it would be a real and serious project.”
Renault had already said it would “explore possible futures” for the E-Space but had yet to comment on whether it was intended for production.
The firm is currently developing a new RGEV Medium 2.0 architecture for future vehicles, which any production Espace would probably be based on. The flexible ‘skateboard’ can accomodate both electric and range-extender powertrains, with an 800V electrical system allowing for ultra-rapid charging. Renault claims that EVs on the platform could offer up to 466 miles of range, with REx models reaching 870 miles.
Cambolive suggested that while a traditional MPV remains possible, the next Scenic will follow the current car in taking on a SUV shape.
While the Scenic was originally a mini-MPV, Cambolive said it will remain in SUV territory, “because the work we’ve done in terms of design is good, so the next-generation Scenic should really be loyal to this design”.
However, he hinted that the Mk6 Scenic will focus on offering more of an “MPV kind of interior” focused on maximising interior space and comfort.
The original Espace was a key player in popularising the people carrier. It stuck with that format until 2023, when it became a stretched version of the Austral SUV. But amid a wave of retro revivals spearheaded by the 5 supermini, Renault is considering a return to tradition.
“We have captured the iconic character of Espace,” said design chief Malval. “At the same time we have taken it into the future with cutting-edge technology and style.”
Chief among the throwback design cues is the heavily raked windscreen reminiscent of France’s TGV trains. Meanwhile, the rear spoiler recalls the roof bars that were prominent on the Mk3 and Mk4 Espaces.
Renault said the E-Space was designed from the inside out and the size of its glasshouse has been maximised to ensure the cabin feels light and airy. It took inspiration from Bauhaus designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, a monolithic building clad almost entirely in windows.
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