New Renault Espace revealed

The Renault Espace, that is sold overseas, has morphed from an MPV into a crossover. It will break cover at the upcoming Paris motor show.

Renault justifies calling the Espace a crossover by saying its new shape combines elements of sedan, SUV and MPV, while retaining the light and space of the latter. The new model will be available as either a five-seater or seven-seater.

The production Espace's design differs very little from the Initiale Paris concept revealed at the Frankfurt motor show 2013. At the time, Renault bosses said the concept was "very close" to how the production variant would look.

While the interior of the new Espace has yet to be shown, Renault says the cabin will be "brightly-lit, comfortable and modular," and will feature a floating centre console. The highest-spec version of the production car is expected to feature a new take on aluminium and wood trim, as well as a glazed roof to deliver the sense of space. Renault is also thought to have worked hard on seating comfort and acoustics.

This production Espace is based on the new Renault-Nissan CFM1 modular platform and is expected to measure about 4.9m in length. Most versions of the car will be powered by a new, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission operated by push buttons.

The decision to shift away from the traditional shape of the Espace is a controversial one for Renault. Renault’s design boss Laurens van den Acker told sister publication, Autocar UK, that the current-generation car, which was first introduced in 2003, had lived "for too long". The change to a crossover shape was designed to make the new Espace "more elegant", he added.