Renault Espace to return to its people mover roots

If the upcoming E-Space concept is any guide, the next-generation Renault Espace will be an electrified people mover with styling heavily influenced by the original 1984 model.

Overnight Renault unveiled the E-Space concept that will make its world debut at the 2026 Paris motor show, which kicks off next week. 

Renault has only issued one frontal image of the new car, set under the watchful eye of the Milky Way, and roaming around on sand. So right now we have no idea what the rear-end or the interior look like.

The only concrete facts confirmed by the French automaker are that the concept will be 4.7m long, and the paint colour is known as Black Rubé.

Although it carries some of the original Espace's design features, including its wedge-like bonnet and characteristic side window treatment, the E-Space dwarfs the first-generation people mover, which was only 4.25m long.

The original Espace can also be seen in the styling of the alloy wheels. Like all generations of the Espace, the E-Space features standard front-hinged rear doors instead of the sliding doors commonly used by people movers.

We expect the production version of the seventh-generation Espace to feature framed windows and proper wing mirrors. 

No word yet on what type of drivetrain powers the concept and subsequent Espace, with Renault only saying the E-Space name "refers directly to E-Tech", the sub-brand used to denote its hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full-electric models.

It's possible the new Espace will ride on the RGEV Medium platform that's designed to be EV-first, but which also supports a range-extender setup where a petrol engine lives under the bonnet to recharge the battery whenever it begins running low.

Launched in 1984, in a world dominated by coupes, sedans, hatchbacks and wagons, the first-generation Espace found success with families wanting more space and versatility without a larger-than-normal footprint, and competitors slowly began adding people movers to their ranges.

The Espace stuck to the central tenets of people mover design, including a low floor and tall roof for maximum interior space, through its next three generations.

By 2015, though, SUVs had come to rule the roost and most European brands were in the process of axing their people movers. Renault read the room, and decided to give the fifth-generation model a more SUV-like design, while also keeping the Espace's signature steeply raked windscreen, front quarter light, and an A-pillar base over the front wheels.

With the sixth-generation model launched in 2023 the Espace is alive in name only, dropping all pretence of being a people mover to become a stretched version of the Austral SUV.

The E-Space will be one of three concepts on display on Renault's stand at the 2026 Paris show, alongside the 8 Gordini and the 4 JP4x4.

MORE: Explore the Renault showroom | A short history of the people mover