1985 RENAULT Espace 2.0L 5MT (110 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The 1984 Renault Espace was the car that started the MPV revolution in Europe. It was conceived as a vehicle fit for families, for a taxi, for shuttle services, and leisure.

A series of events made the Espace to be launched as a Renault, even if it wasn’t designed to be made under that name. It was designed by a British designer for Chrysler and developed by the French coachbuilder Matra for Simca. Simca was a member of Chrysler Group along with Talbot. The financial problems led Chrysler to sell Simca to Peugeot, who didn’t want to produce the car. Matra, after it invested in the project, sold the concept to Renault who, in the end, launched the car in July 1984 and it was a huge success.

The design was unique on the market. Its single-box design with a sloped front and big windows all-around were unusual. The car was higher than the regular cars and that gave the occupants a better view and an increased safety feeling.

The biggest advantage of the vehicle was the interior, which featured up to seven seats. Apart from the driver’s seat, all the others could have been removed. The front seats could have been swiveled with 180 degrees so it could form a meeting room. Or, if the car was fitted with the option for a table, a dining room. Not to mention that the second and last row of seats could have been reclined and form a king-size bed.

The platform was built for longitudinal engines. Renault installed a 2.0-liter and 2.2-liter gasoline units in the beginning. A 2.1-liter turbo diesel was added later. It was mated to a standard 5-speed manual.