"Sporty and sculptural," the R-Space has innovative interior design "catering for everyone on board," the maker says.
Power comes from a turbo three-cylinder 80kW 900cc petrol engine driving through dual clutch transmission. This engine heads a new range of modular TCe engines, 'Energy TCe', Renault will begin launching next year.
The 900cc, three-cylinder concept-engine is a product of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Mated to an automatic EDC double clutch gearbox, it provides the performance of a 1.6 litre engine, with peak power of 80kW and 160Nm of torque. Its CO2 emissions have been kept to just 95g/km, equivalent to fuel consumption of just 3.7 litres/100km.
The designers were asked for a simple, sensuous and welcoming family vehicle to express Renault's new design philosophy in the MPV class. Sensuality combines with a monospace architecture... a compact people carrier 4.25m long, and "flowing, powerful and sporty".
"R-Space brings together qualities long considered opposed: family, functionality, sportiness and sensuality," says Axel Breun, director of design for concept and show Cars. "It answers the expectations of a large slice of our modern society."
Body design includes tapered side windows, and large windscreen and panoramic roof whose thickness gradually changes to transform the passenger compartment into "a cosy cocoon of shade".
The nose adapts the new visual identity to the proportions of an MPV. The body panels are "sculptured," meaning the eye is drawn much more to reflections and the play of the light than to the lines themselves.
Says interior designer Alexandre Gommier, referring to Renault's pioneering of the MPV: "To reinterpret this idea in a modern context, we provided a strong visual and functional contrast between the driver environment, where the focus is on driving pleasure, and a surprising and highly original rear section conceived as a play space for children."
"The scene comes to view as soon as you open the double doors which, unobstructed by any central pillar, give clear access to a spectacular interior designed to trigger strong emotions from the very first glance.
"The driver enjoys a cockpit-like environment, with a section of the seemingly floating dashboard being specifically dedicated to driving functions.
"At the rear, the world revolves around children. This is a play space, flexible and infinitely versatile, and formed from a simple and universal shape – the cube."
