The Espace Concept from Renault
The Renault Espace Concept, unveiled at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show this week, is claimed to be a new evolution in monospace architecture for even greater travelling comfort, definitively establishing driving pleasure, safety and quality as top-range features. Furthermore, true to its design philosophy, Renault has conceived its latest show car as a ‘work of art with a strong personality’, sporting the taut lines and distinctive Renault stamp it embarked upon with the Vel Satis.
As many will remember, Renault revolutionized travelling comfort with the monospace architecture in 1984 by combining the traditional features of a saloon with versatility, spaciousness and user-friendliness. With a flat floorpan and between five and seven seats mounted on rails, the cabin can be customized to increase the number of possible seat positions to almost infinity.
An integral part of the Espace design is the “shared” dashboard, while the split air conditioning system for driver and front passenger frees a large amount of the central area.
Renault wanted to go even further with the Espace Concept, setting out to demonstrate its concern for the comfort and well-being of passengers. The main goal of this latest step forward is that every occupant be the focus of specific attention, wherever they are sitting in the car. It is a search for the best-possible bespoke solutions, tailored to individual needs, within the same shared, convivial space.
As the flat floorpan design with integral rails replacing the conventional anchorage points has proved its worth, the Espace Concept uses the same architecture to offer versatility and a practically limitless number of seating layouts. Stowage is also customized and individual stowage space is now provided for all the vehicle’s occupants, including those in the third row of seats.
The “shared” dashboard can be seen by all the rear passengers and blends seamlessly into the cabin with its pure, minimalist lines. The car’s high-tech features keep a low profile. Instruments appear as luminous blue against a black background, ensuring a clear display that can be read more easily.
The cabin recalls the world of contemporary furniture. Streamlined – but warm and welcoming – it embodies a lifestyle that puts the emphasis on individual well-being. The Espace Concept makes ample use of transparency and illumination, with the biggest glass sunroof on the market covering 2.16 square metres, a panoramic windscreen that extends above the roof line and a vast glazed expanse. The sunroof, which lets maximum light into the vehicle when required, can also be screened off with a blind.
The Espace Concept makes no secret that it is a direct descendant of Espace styling with its one-box shape. The vehicle does, however, also have a family link in terms of design with the Avantime and Vel Satis and reflects Renault’s new visual identity while hinting at performance and modernity.
With its flush wheels and 19-inch tyres, the Espace Concept gives an impression of balance, stability and speed. The headlamp clusters underscore its streamlined silhouette, featuring chrome surrounds with sculpted triangular motifs, echoing the lines of the side of the car. The xenon headlamps that operate on both full and dipped beam supply a high-tech touch to the entire front of the vehicle. At the rear, the vertically-stacked lamp clusters follow the contour of the screen to offer improved visibility.
More than the ultimate monospace, the Espace Concept is inspired by the attributes of luxury saloons. This development can be seen in the saloon-style driving position combined with a higher seat than in a conventional saloon – the distinctive feature that sets MPVs apart.
Renault also set out to boost the driving pleasure of its MPV. With a 6-cylinder 132 kW/180 bhp 3.0-litre turbodiesel driving through to a 5-speed automatic Proactive transmission with flick shift, the Espace Concept shows that it can qualify as a fully-fledged member of the luxury saloon class.
