Renault Weighs New Espace MPV but SUVs Take Priority
Renault has revived the Espace as an electric concept at the Paris motor show, but the brand's boss says a production version is not a concrete project as the company focuses on launching new SUVs and an electric van.
Renault has signalled that a production version of its retro-styled E-Space concept is not currently planned, with the French carmaker instead prioritising a wave of new SUVs and an electric van. Fabrice Cambolive, the brand's chief executive, said the concept was intended to demonstrate design direction rather than preview a confirmed model.
Speaking at the Paris motor show, Cambolive described the E-Space as «not a concrete project as of now» and said Renault «is not capable of embracing everything at the same time». He confirmed that the immediate focus for the next year is the launch of the Trafic E-Tech electric van, which will be the brand's first software-defined vehicle. After that, Renault will renew the Scenic and Rafale models, and only then will it decide what the next Espace should be.
The E-Space concept, inspired by the original 1984 Espace, was one of the stars of Renault's stand in Paris. It was largely conceived to showcase the design direction of Alexandre Malval, the brand's new design chief. Malval said the team had «captured the iconic character of Espace» while taking it into the future with cutting-edge technology and style.
Despite the lack of a production green light, Cambolive made clear that Renault retains an appetite for the MPV format. He said the company likes MPVs, electric vehicles with flat floors, immersivity, panoramic roofs and versatile seating. «All the ingredients, all the brand markers from Renault are in the E-Space concept,» he said. «Let's try to demonstrate it would be a real and serious project.»
Renault has already said it would «explore possible futures» for the E-Space but had not commented on whether it was intended for production. Any future Espace would probably be based on the company's new RGEV Medium 2.0 architecture, a flexible skateboard platform that can accommodate both electric and range-extender powertrains. It features an 800V electrical system for ultra-rapid charging. Renault claims EVs on the platform could offer up to 466 miles of range, while range-extender models could reach 870 miles.
The original Espace was a key player in popularising the people carrier and stuck with that format until 2023, when it became a stretched version of the Austral SUV. The new concept marks a return to tradition amid a wave of retro revivals spearheaded by the 5 supermini. Design cues include a heavily raked windscreen reminiscent of France's TGV trains and a rear spoiler that recalls the roof bars prominent on the Mk3 and Mk4 Espaces.
Renault said the E-Space was designed from the inside out, with the glasshouse maximised to make the cabin feel light and airy. It took inspiration from Bauhaus designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, a building clad almost entirely in windows. The effect is particularly pronounced at the D-pillar, where the spoiler appears to float above the glass with back-lighting for emphasis.
The concept can seat six people across three rows. Second-row passengers have folding tables mounted on the backs of the first-row seats, or they can spin around to face the third row in an arrangement similar to a train. The second-row seats can also fold flat to form a table for those in the third row.
Up front, the E-Space features a new «OpenR Panorama» screen that spans the entire width of the dashboard. Renault said this feature will enter production on the next-generation Scenic and Rafale, due around 2030. A smaller infotainment touchscreen is suspended from the dashboard to place it closer to the driver. The concept also has a yoke in place of a traditional steering wheel, using a steer-by-wire system with no mechanical link to the front wheels. The lack of a steering column frees up extra space in the footwell, and touch-sensitive controls on the yoke interact with the OpenR screen.
While a traditional MPV remains possible, Cambolive suggested the next Scenic will follow the current car in adopting an SUV shape. The Scenic was originally a mini-MPV, but he said it will remain in SUV territory «because the work we've done in terms of design is good». He hinted, however, that the Mk6 Scenic will focus on offering more of an «MPV kind of interior» aimed at maximising space and comfort.
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