Renault E-Space Concept previews a new vision of the electric MPV, combining the spirit of the original 1984 Espace with futuristic design, a six-seat modular interior, steer-by-wire technology and a panoramic digital cockpit.

Renault is looking beyond the SUV-dominated automotive market with the E-Space Concept, an all-electric design study that reimagines the traditional multi-purpose vehicle for a new generation. Inspired by the original Renault Espace launched in 1984, the concept combines a spacious, light-filled cabin with advanced digital technology, unconventional seating arrangements and an aerodynamic exterior designed around passenger comfort.

Rather than simply transforming an existing SUV into an electric vehicle, Renault has approached the E-Space Concept from a different direction. The design team began with the passenger compartment, prioritising space, natural light and flexibility before developing the exterior around it. The result is a futuristic interpretation of the company’s long-standing voiture à vivre philosophy, which places everyday usability, comfort and human needs at the centre of vehicle design.

Although Renault has not presented the E-Space Concept as a production-ready model, it offers an important preview of the brand’s future design direction and the technologies that could appear in its upcoming executive vehicles.

Renault E-Space Concept Revives the Spirit of the Original 1984 Espace

When Renault introduced the first Espace in 1984, it helped establish the modern European MPV as an alternative to conventional passenger cars. Its emphasis on interior volume, adaptable seating and family-friendly practicality challenged the traditional idea that a vehicle should be designed primarily around its exterior shape.

More than four decades later, the E-Space Concept revisits that philosophy in an automotive market increasingly dominated by SUVs.

According to Fabrice Cambolive, Renault Brand CEO and Renault Group Chief Growth Officer, the concept draws directly on the pioneering spirit of the original Espace while adapting it to the electric era. The objective is to create a vehicle that reflects changing lifestyles and offers meaningful technology without sacrificing comfort or versatility.

Renault Brand Design Director Alexandre Malval describes the concept as a tribute to the original Espace, retaining its recognisable character while introducing cleaner surfaces, contemporary lighting and a more sophisticated digital environment.

The design also represents a deliberate departure from the bulky proportions often associated with modern SUVs. Instead of a tall body and high beltline, the E-Space Concept uses a relatively low stance, short overhangs and expansive glazing to create a more open, architectural appearance.

Exterior Design: Clean Lines, 23-Inch Wheels and an Aerodynamic Profile

The Renault E-Space Concept measures 4.70 metres in length, 2.02 metres in width and 1.67 metres in height. These generous dimensions provide the foundation for a spacious passenger compartment, while carefully controlled proportions give the vehicle a more dynamic appearance than a conventional MPV.

Its 23-inch wheels sit close to the corners of the body, reducing the visual impact of the overhangs and emphasising the vehicle’s wide stance.

One of the most distinctive features is the windscreen, which flows into the bonnet to create a continuous visual line. This design element recalls the distinctive train-inspired silhouette of the original Espace, sometimes compared with France’s high-speed TGV trains.

The concept’s relatively low waistline is another defining characteristic. By lowering the side window line, Renault allows more natural light into the cabin while improving the sense of visibility and openness for passengers.

At the front, a new lighting signature incorporates a large U-shaped illuminated element surrounding the grille. An illuminated Renault emblem appears to float within the design, creating a high-tech appearance through carefully arranged light elements.

The rear follows the same minimalist approach, with vertical surfaces that emphasise interior volume and modularity. A roof-mounted spoiler provides a subtle reference to the second- and third-generation Espace models.

Renault has also incorporated a movable front bumper splitter that can lower closer to the road at higher speeds to improve aerodynamic efficiency. This feature underlines the concept’s focus on reducing air resistance, an important consideration for electric vehicles because aerodynamic improvements can help extend driving range.

A contrasting black lower section visually separates the body from the technical platform beneath it. Inspired partly by Formula 1 sidepods, this element suggests the location of the battery and other technical components while incorporating additional aerodynamic solutions.

The overall result is a vehicle that seeks to combine the practicality of an MPV with the visual precision of a futuristic electric flagship.

A Glass-Filled Cabin Inspired by Modern Architecture

The interior is arguably the most important part of the Renault E-Space Concept. Rather than designing a conventional passenger compartment and adding glass panels afterwards, Renault’s designers began with the idea of a fully glazed cabin.

The approach draws inspiration from Bauhaus architecture, particularly the work of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his celebrated Farnsworth House, completed in 1951 in Plano, Illinois.

The glass roof and extensive side windows extend unusually far down the sides of the vehicle, creating the impression that the body panels are attached to a transparent passenger cell.

From outside, the glazing appears to continue behind the metal bodywork. The rear pillar also seems to float independently, reinforcing the visual separation between the cabin and the vehicle’s exterior structure.

This approach has both aesthetic and practical objectives. The expansive windows increase the amount of natural light entering the cabin, while the low window line helps passengers feel connected to their surroundings.

Renault’s advanced design team also wanted to create an interior where occupants could rest their elbows directly on the window ledge, recalling the relaxed, lounge-like character that helped define the original Espace.

The concept therefore treats the cabin less like a traditional automotive interior and more like a contemporary living space.

Six Individual Seats and a Highly Flexible Interior

The Renault E-Space Concept features six individual seats arranged across three rows, with a completely flat floor that makes the cabin feel larger and more adaptable.

Instead of conventional bucket seats, Renault has taken inspiration from furniture design. The seats feature slim profiles and sculptural shells reminiscent of the work of French designer Pierre Paulin.

Their appearance is deliberately lightweight, avoiding the bulky forms commonly found in modern SUVs. The result is a cabin in which the seats appear to float within the glazed passenger compartment.

Each seat can rotate slightly to make entering and leaving the vehicle easier. More importantly, the second-row seats can swivel through 180 degrees, allowing passengers to face those in the third row.

This configuration creates a face-to-face seating arrangement similar to a railway compartment, encouraging conversation and making the vehicle more suitable for family journeys or shared travel.

The modularity extends beyond seat rotation. The second-row seats can fold down to form a large table for third-row passengers, transforming the rear of the cabin into a flexible social or working area.

When the seats face forward, passengers in the second row can use folding tray tables equipped with 12.3-inch screens mounted on the backs of the front seats.

A sliding central console adds another layer of versatility. Depending on the configuration, it can incorporate an air purifier, a compact refrigerator, video game controllers and even a traditional Connect 4 game.

These features illustrate Renault’s ambition to make the E-Space Concept more than a means of transportation. The cabin is designed to adapt to different activities, from family entertainment and relaxation to working while travelling.

However, as with the rest of the concept, the presence of these features does not confirm that they will all appear in a future production vehicle.

OpenR Panorama: A New Generation of Digital Cockpit Technology

The Renault E-Space Concept introduces OpenR Panorama, a curved display stretching across the full width of the cabin.

Measuring approximately 1,130 millimetres wide and 110 millimetres high, the screen replaces much of the conventional dashboard layout and presents vehicle information in a wide, continuous digital format.

Its position close to the road is intended to improve driving ergonomics by keeping essential information within the driver’s natural field of vision.

Interestingly, the panoramic display itself is not designed to be touch-sensitive. Instead, Renault has developed a separate control arrangement built around two flexible screens that swivel around a tubular structure supporting the steering wheel.

This configuration allows the driver to adjust the amount of information displayed while preserving a clean dashboard and leaving more space in front of the passenger.

The lower dashboard area also departs from traditional automotive design. A curved storage unit spans the width of the cabin, integrating the sliding console and concealing the pedal mechanism.

Renault has indicated that OpenR Panorama will not remain limited to this concept. The technology is planned for upcoming models in the brand’s executive range, with the next-generation Renault Rafale and Scenic identified as the first models expected to receive the feature.

That makes the E-Space Concept relevant beyond its futuristic styling. It also serves as a showcase for the digital interface Renault intends to develop for future vehicles.

Steer-by-Wire Technology Removes Traditional Steering Constraints

Another important innovation is the concept’s steer-by-wire steering system.

Unlike conventional steering systems, which use a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels, steer-by-wire transmits steering inputs electronically.

Removing the traditional mechanical link gives designers greater freedom to rethink the steering wheel’s shape, size and position. Renault has used that freedom to create a compact steering wheel with a fixed central hub and touch-sensitive controls.

The smaller steering wheel provides an unobstructed view of the OpenR Panorama display, reinforcing the minimalist character of the cockpit.

Steer-by-wire technology can also allow steering responses to be adapted electronically to driving conditions. In a production vehicle, its implementation would require carefully engineered redundancy, fault management and compliance with applicable safety regulations.

The E-Space Concept demonstrates how this technology could contribute to a more flexible cockpit, although Renault has not confirmed a complete production specification for the system.

A Bold Return to Colour and Premium Interior Materials

Renault’s designers have also used the E-Space Concept to revisit the brand’s colourful interior heritage.

The company became known during the 1970s for expressive colours and unconventional cabin treatments. The concept reinterprets that tradition with an interior dominated by shades of red, ranging from scarlet and purple to garnet.

The floor is covered in an approximately three-centimetre-thick carpet with a coral centre that gradually darkens towards the edges. This gradient creates a striking visual effect while helping define the atmosphere of the passenger compartment.

Red textile finishes extend across the dashboard and door panels, creating a contrast with the metallic finishes used for many controls and interior details.

The materials strategy combines contemporary technology with traditional craftsmanship. Some decorative elements use straw marquetry rather than conventional wood veneer, including details incorporated into the folding tray tables.

Fabric-covered door handles and soft textile surfaces add warmth to the otherwise futuristic environment.

Ambient lighting reinforces the design theme, with illuminated elements along the lower cabin, discreet lighting integrated into the speakers and reading lights mounted on a central rail beneath the glass roof.

The intention is to balance advanced digital technology with tactile materials and a welcoming atmosphere.

Rather than allowing screens and electronic systems to dominate the interior, Renault has attempted to create a space that feels comfortable, expressive and recognisably human.

Renault E-Space Concept and the Future of Electric MPVs

The E-Space Concept arrives at a time when electric SUVs dominate much of the industry’s product development. Its alternative approach suggests that Renault sees an opportunity to revisit the MPV category through electrification, digitalisation and more flexible interior architecture.

Electric platforms are particularly well suited to this type of vehicle because their packaging can support a flat floor and a spacious passenger compartment. However, Renault has not disclosed the E-Space Concept’s battery capacity, motor output, driving range, charging performance or acceleration figures.

Consequently, no definitive conclusions can yet be drawn about its performance or long-distance capability.

What the concept does demonstrate is a clear set of priorities: maximising usable interior space, improving the passenger experience, introducing more flexible seating and reducing the visual complexity of the dashboard.

Its aerodynamic features also reflect the importance of efficiency in electric vehicle development. The movable front splitter, carefully managed body surfaces and low-slung proportions indicate that aerodynamics have been considered alongside styling.

The six-seat arrangement and lounge-inspired cabin further suggest that Renault is exploring how future vehicles might serve multiple purposes beyond everyday commuting.

Whether all these ideas reach production remains uncertain, but the concept provides a clear indication of the company’s thinking about the next stage of its voiture à vivre philosophy.

Can the Renault E-Space Concept Influence Future Production Models?

The most significant aspect of the Renault E-Space Concept may not be its dramatic exterior or unusual interior. Instead, its importance lies in the technologies and design principles it could introduce across Renault’s future range.

The planned introduction of OpenR Panorama in the next-generation Rafale and Scenic provides a concrete connection between the concept and upcoming production vehicles.

Other features, including the minimalist steering wheel, steer-by-wire technology, advanced seating arrangements and extensive glass cabin, demonstrate possible directions for future development rather than confirmed production equipment.

Renault’s challenge will be to translate these ideas into vehicles that remain practical, affordable to manufacture and suitable for everyday use.

Expansive glazing, complex rotating seats and unconventional steering systems can introduce engineering, safety, cost and packaging challenges. A successful production interpretation would need to preserve the concept’s spaciousness and distinctive character while meeting the demands of real-world ownership.

Nevertheless, the E-Space Concept shows that Renault is willing to challenge the conventional SUV formula instead of following it unquestioningly.

Renault E-Space Concept: A Modern Interpretation of a Family-Car Pioneer

The original Renault Espace helped redefine how European families thought about interior space and vehicle versatility. The E-Space Concept applies the same basic philosophy to an electric future, combining an architectural glass cabin, six modular seats, a panoramic digital cockpit and a minimalist exterior.

Its 4.70-metre body is designed around passenger comfort rather than simply pursuing the proportions of a conventional SUV. Inside, rotating seats, folding tables and a flexible central console transform the cabin into a multifunctional living environment.

Meanwhile, OpenR Panorama and steer-by-wire technology demonstrate Renault’s interest in rethinking the relationship between the driver, the vehicle and its digital systems.

For now, the E-Space remains a design study rather than a confirmed production model, and key electric powertrain specifications have yet to be announced. Even so, it provides a compelling look at how Renault intends to reinterpret its heritage for the next generation of electric vehicles.

In a market increasingly filled with similar-looking SUVs, the E-Space Concept makes a different argument: the future of family mobility could be defined not by greater height or more aggressive styling, but by intelligent packaging, natural light, adaptable seating and technology designed around the people inside.

Source: Renault