Renault Espace

Renault Espace
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Production	1984–present
Body and chassis
Class	Large MPV (M) (1984-2014) Mid-size crossover (2015-present)
Body style	5-door MPV (1984-2014) 5-door SUV (2015-present)

Espace I
Overview
Production	1984–1991
Assembly	Romorantin, France (Matra)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) / Front-engine
Powertrain
Engine	petrol 2.0 8 valve I4 2.9 12 valve V6 diesel 2.1 TD 8 valve I4

Espace II
Overview
Also called	Renault Univers (China)
Production	1991–1997 (F) 1994–1999 (PRC)
Assembly	Romorantin, France (Matra) Xiaogan, China (SRAC)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	petrol 2.0 8v I4 2.2 8v I4 2.9 24v V6 3.5 40v V10 diesel 2.1 TD 8v I4

Espace III
Overview
Production	1996–2002
Assembly	Romorantin, France (Matra) Xiaogan, China (SRAC)
Body and chassis
Related	Renault Avantime
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 8v I4 2.0 16v I4 3.0 PRV 3.0 24v PSA 1.9 dTi 12v I4 2.2 dTi 12v I4 2.2 dCi 16v I4
Dimensions
Length	4,517 mm (177.8 in) 4,787 mm (188.5 in) (Grand Espace)
Width	1,810 mm (71.3 in) 2,070 mm (81.5 in) (Grand Espace)
Height	1,690 mm (66.5 in) 1,700 mm (66.9 in) (Grand Espace)

Espace IV
Overview
Production	2002–2014
Assembly	Sandouville, France (Sandouville Factory)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L 16-valve I4 (petrol) 2.0 L 16-valve Turbo I4 (petrol) 3.5 L 24-valve V6 (petrol) 1.9 L dCi I4 (diesel) 2.0 L 16-valve dCi I4 diesel) 2.2 L 16-valve dCi I4 (diesel) 3.0 L 24-valve dCi V6 (diesel)
Transmission	6-speed manual 5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,803 mm (110.4 in) (Espace) 2,868 mm (112.9 in) (Grand Espace)
Length	4,661 mm (183.5 in) (Espace) 4,859 mm (191.3 in) (Grand Espace)
Width	1,859 mm (73.2 in)
Height	1,730 mm (68.1 in) (Espace) 1,750 mm (68.9 in) (Grand Espace)

Espace V
Overview
Production	2015–present
Assembly	Douai, France (Douai Renault Factory)
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Renault CMF platform (CMF-CD)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,884 mm (113.5 in)

Renault Initiale Paris
The Renault Initiale Paris concept
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Production	2013 (Concept car)
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size luxury crossover
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,884 mm (113.5 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Renault Egeus Renault Ondelios

The Renault Espace is a mid-size luxury crossover (minivan in its first four generations) from Renault. Generations 1–3 were sold under the Renault brand but manufactured by Matra. The Renault Grand Espace is a long-wheelbase (LWB) version with increased rear leg room and boot size. The name "Espace" means "space" in French. The car is often considered to be the first MPV, but previous vehicles had similar designs.

In February 2012, the Espace was retired in the United Kingdom, as part of a cost–cutting plan.

The Espace's design was originally conceived in the 1970s by the British designer Fergus Pollock, who was working for Chrysler UK, at its design centre at Whitley in Coventry. Later, Matra, which was affiliated with Simca, the then French subsidiary of Chrysler, was involved in partnership in the design, spearheaded by Greek designer Antonis Volanis.

The Espace was originally intended to be sold as a Talbot, and to be a replacement for the Matra Rancho leisure activity vehicle. Early prototypes used Simca parts, and hence featured a grille reminiscent of the Simca 1307 (Chrysler Alpine). In 1978, six years before the Espace went into production, Chrysler UK and Simca were sold to the French company PSA Peugeot Citroën, which phased out Simca within a decade because of falling sales. PSA decided the Espace was too expensive and too risky a design to put into production, so it was given to Matra, which took the idea to Renault.