The side skirts help the visual bulk of the E-Space concept, and have been designed to resemble the sidepods on a Formula One car, we’re told. But there are some functional aero tricks dotted around as well, such as the subtle roof spoiler at the back, plus having no visible door handles and cameras for side mirrors. The front splitter can also be lowered closer to the road to optimise aerodynamics at high speeds.
Cars that put people first
Other than showing what could be the next Espace, Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive explained the thinking behind the E-Space project: “When Renault created Espace in 1984, it invented a new way of designing cars by putting people and their lives at the centre. With the 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.” ‘Voitures à vivre’ means ‘cars for living’, which has been part of the brand’s heritage stretching all the way back to the Renault 16, and evidently it’s an ethos that lives on today.
In terms of the technical workings, we presume the next Espace will sit on Renault’s all-new RGEV Medium 2.0 platform, which was conceived to be electric-first, but can accommodate petrol-aided Range-Extender (REx) drivetrains to suit customers’ needs.
The new architecture should deliver enormous MPV-worthy space in a smaller footprint than today’s Espace, thanks to that long wheelbase harbouring a big battery that could deliver the magical 500-mile range figure. Meanwhile, a next-generation e-motor drives the rear wheels, which would be a first for the Espace, which traditionally has been front-wheel drive.
For customers not yet ready to go full EV, a range-extender set-up uses a small petrol engine to generate energy for the battery and motor, so the car drives like an EV, but can travel much further before needing to stop.
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