Renault has uncovered its new E-Space Concept at the Paris Motor Show, reviving its iconic 1984 nameplate as a futuristic, all-electric MPV designed to challenge the dominance of
Renault has uncovered its new E-Space Concept at the Paris Motor Show, reviving its iconic 1984 nameplate as a futuristic, all-electric MPV designed to challenge the dominance of mainstream SUVs.
The modern-day successor reboots the founding principles of the MPV as Renault outlines its vision for the car of the future. While a showroom version could follow the public debut, immediate production has not been confirmed. Although a future model is under consideration, Renault has said commercial rollout is not a concrete project yet, as development priority remains firmly fixed on mainstream vehicles and upcoming electric vans.
The six-seater MPV features “clean lines with an MPV-body style and open layout, bathed in natural light”.
Renault says it’s “designed first and foremost as a living space”, delivering a “people-centred” alternative to conventional SUVs and saloons, with a spacious, modular interior and extensive glazing.
The vehicle features a commanding footprint, measuring 4.70m long, 2.02m wide and 1.67m tall. While its overall height and length-to-width ratio reflect the dimensions of the pioneering 1984 model, the concept introduces a modern stance via ultra-short overhangs that push 23-inch wheels right out to the four corners of the chassis.
The interior is accessed by double rear-hinged doors without a central pillar, while the glass-walled cabin draws heavily from Bauhaus architecture, paying particular homage to the work of pioneering German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
The sweeping windscreen and ultra-low waistline also reference the classic 1984 model, flooding the interior with natural light and allowing drivers to ride with their elbows on the door.
Inside, the cabin features six individual seats set on a completely flat floor. The second-row seats can rotate 180 degrees to face the rear, allowing the space to be easily adapted for travelling, relaxing or family time. In the standard forward-facing setup, second-row passengers can access folding tray tables equipped with 12.3-inch screens mounted on the front seats. Alternatively, in a spacious four-seat configuration, the second-row seats fold down completely to form a large central table for the third-row passengers, who still get a clear view of the primary screens in row one.
Breaking from automotive tradition, the slim, floating seats ditch typical automotive buckets for lacquered shells influenced by furniture designer Pierre Paulin.
The high-tech dashboard features a full-width OpenR Panorama screen that spans 1,130mm across the entire cabin. This curved display replaces the conventional dashboard and is designed to improve visibility, ergonomics and interior space. Renault says the technology will also feature in future executive models, beginning with the next-generation Rafale and Scenic.
The compact steering yoke provides an unobstructed view of the panoramic screen and uses steer-by-wire technology, which means it has no mechanical links and frees up interior space.
The cabin also focuses heavily on sustainability, exploring a range of bio-based materials, including dyed straw trim, a 100% wool carpet, paint containing bio-based resin and steering-wheel materials incorporating castor oil and organic cotton. Its Michelin tyres also contain an average of 19% natural rubber sourced from managed plantations.
Nodding to its famous 1970s ‘pop’ interiors, Renault is bringing vibrant styling back to the forefront with an interior drenched in shades of red, including scarlet, purple and garnet. A standout feature is the 3cm tufted carpet, which features a distinctive gradient effect.
Fabrice Cambolive, Renault brand CEO and Renault Group chief growth officer, said: “When Renault created Espace in 1984, it invented a new way of designing cars by putting people and their lives at the centre. With E-Space Concept, we revisit that pioneering spirit for the electric era. This design exploration pushes the ‘voiture à vivre’ philosophy to new heights, imagining a versatile, generous and fully electric vehicle designed around the needs, aspirations and lifestyles of tomorrow.”
