The Renault Espace is a series of cars made since 1984. For its first five generations it was a multi-purpose vehicle, and for the sixth, which appeared in 2023, it became a seven-seat crossover SUV based on the Austral.
Renault Espace at a glance
| Maker | Matra for the first three generations, then Renault |
|---|---|
| Production | since 1984 |
| First generation code | J11 |
| Type | MPV, then crossover SUV from 2023 |
| Long version | Grand Espace |
| Original idea | Fergus Pollock at Chrysler UK, 1970s |
| Developed by | Matra and Antonis Volanis for Simca/Talbot |
| British sales | ended February 2012 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Espace.
History of the Renault Espace
An idea from Chrysler UK
The Espace concept was conceived in the 1970s by the British designer Fergus Pollock, then working for Chrysler UK at its Whitley design centre in Coventry. Matra, led by Greek designer Antonis Volanis, developed the design for Simca, Chrysler’s French subsidiary, intending to market it as a Talbot and to replace the Matra Rancho leisure vehicle on Matra’s lines. Early prototypes used Simca parts, so their grilles resembled the Simca 1307, sold in Britain as the Chrysler Alpine.
Five generations of MPV
The Espace went on sale in 1984, and its first three generations were built for Renault by Matra; the fourth, also an MPV, was made by Renault itself. The Grand Espace is a long-wheelbase version with more rear leg room and a larger boot. The fifth generation arrived with crossover styling while keeping the MPV body and classification; Renault called it a crossover-style MPV combining elements of saloon, SUV and MPV while keeping the space and practicality of the last. The name means ‘space’ in French. In February 2012 the Espace was withdrawn from the United Kingdom as part of a cost-cutting plan.
The sixth generation
The sixth Espace debuted in 2023 as a seven-seater SUV based on the Renault Austral, ending nearly forty years of the one-box MPV shape.
Design and features
- One-box MPV: among the first modern European MPVs, with seven seats.
- Matra construction: the first three generations were assembled by Matra.
- Grand Espace: a long-wheelbase version with more rear space.
- Shape change: the 2023 car became a seven-seat SUV on the Austral platform.
Renault Espace versions
- Espace I (J11, 1984): the original Matra-built MPV.
- Grand Espace: long-wheelbase version from later generations.
- Espace V: crossover-styled MPV.
- Espace VI (2023): seven-seat SUV based on the Austral.
The Espace platform later carried the Renault Avantime, and its role as the family flagship passed to the Renault Scénic and the SUVs. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Espace 5 interior
Video by YOUCAR on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Espace, English Wikipedia: origins, generations, Matra production, sixth generation
.jpg){kind=link}