Renault unveiled the E-Space Concept, an all-electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), at the Paris Motor Show on October 12, 2026. The vehicle serves as a design study that rejects the mainstream SUV trend in favor of a spacious, people-centric layout inspired by the original 1984 Espace.
The E-Space Concept marks a deliberate pivot for the French automaker. While current market trends favor crossovers, Renault is using this prototype to explore a contemporary retake on travel and family mobility in the electric age
, according to Electrek. The vehicle is designed around the voiture à vivre
(cars for living) philosophy, prioritizing the human factor by designing the interior living space before the exterior bodywork.
This philosophy, which dates back to the Renault 16, is being pushed to new heights with this design exploration. Alexandre Malval, Renault Brand Design Director, stated: Following the success of our iconic models, we designed this concept car as a tribute to the 1984 Espace – the very first MPV – which continues to fully embody the values of Renault as a brand designing voitures à vivre.
TGV Profile Inspires Exterior Design and Dimensions
The vehicle’s exterior is a direct homage to the 1984 original, specifically mimicking the TGV train profile with a windscreen that flows directly from the bonnet. It measures 4.70 meters long, 2.02 meters wide, and 1.67 meters tall, with 23-inch wheels pushed to the corners to create a planted stance. Completecar notes the paint is a deep red called Black Rubé.
Functional aerodynamics include a mobile front splitter that lowers at high speeds to optimize airflow. At the rear, the vehicle features a spoiler that recalls features from the Espace 2 and 3. Additional aerodynamic features include the absence of visible door handles and the use of cameras instead of traditional wing mirrors.
Glass Bubble Cabin Features Six Individual Seats
Designed with inspiration from Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe—specifically the monolithic, window-clad Farnsworth House—the cabin is described as a glass bubble. Romain Gauvin, Renault Brand Head of Advanced Design & Concept Cars, noted that the low waistline allows passengers to drive with your elbows on the door
and enables observers to see into the cabin from the outside.
The interior is configured with six individual seats on a flat floor. These seats break from traditional bucket designs, utilizing lacquered shells reminiscent of Pierre Paulin’s style. The second-row seats can swivel 180 degrees to create a TGV train square
with the third row, as reported by Electrek. Passengers in the second row are provided with 12.3-inch screens mounted on headrests and standard folding tray tables. In a four-seat configuration, where the second row is folded, a large table with a remote-control console can be created.
Technology is centered on the OpenR Panorama, a curved pillar-to-pillar display measuring 1,130 x 110 mm. While it looks like a touchscreen, the interface is not touch-sensitive; instead, it is operated via separate controllers pivoting around the steering wheel. Renault has confirmed this technology will appear in upcoming executive line-up models, with the next-generation Rafale and Scenic identified as the first expected recipients.
Step inside the cabin to immerse yourself in colour! With the dashboard and textile-trimmed panels in shades of red, and the thick coral-coloured carpet with its gradient effect, the brightly coloured cabin offers a generously lit ambience that structures the interior and brings it to life.
Stéphane Maiore, Renault Brand Head of Interior Design
The ambient lighting is further enhanced by softer lights, reading lights on a longitudinal rail in the glass roof, and night lights integrated into the speakers.
Bio-Based Materials and Sustainability
Renault has integrated several renewable materials into the construction of the E-Space Concept to move away from traditional leather and wood. The interior features a 100 percent wool, long-pile tufted carpet and bio-based resin paint containing 18 percent bio-content. The steering wheel is trimmed with a material containing 25 percent organic cotton and 26 percent castor oil.
- Tires: Michelin tires featuring an average of 19 percent natural rubber from managed plantations.
- Trim: Seatback tables and trim utilizing marquetry made from straw.
Renault Prioritizes Other Models Before E-Space Production
Despite the showcase, Renault executives have tempered expectations regarding a production date.
Cambolive outlined a sequence of priorities: the Trafic E-Tech first, followed by the renewal of the Rafale and Scenic, after which the company will decide on the next Espace.
If the E-Space moves toward production, it would likely utilize the new RGEV Medium 2.0 architecture. This 800V flexible platform supports both full electric and range-extender (REx) powertrains, the latter using a small petrol engine to generate energy. A next-generation e-motor would drive the rear wheels, a departure from the traditionally front-wheel-drive Espace.