Check out the tremendous Renault E-Space Concept

Renault's retro revolution continues apace, with electric rework of iconic people carrier

By Matt Bird / Tuesday, 6 October 2026 / Loading comments

It’s now more than 40 years since the Renault Espace revolutionised family cars, and many more than we’d thought since it went off sale in the UK. More recent Espaces have been sold in other markets, but as the UK went all in on SUVs - at the expense of MPVs, among other things - so the big Renault had to fall by the wayside.

Now it’s back, in concept form at least, as the E-Space Concept for next week’s Paris motor show. The inspiration is obvious: the lights might be brighter and the wheels might be bigger, but this is every inch the 80s brought into the electric era. The Espace face is familiar, so is the glasshouse, length (4.7m) and overall silhouette; a little sleeker, of course, with cameras for mirrors and hidden door handles, if immediately identifiable as the Renault reimagined.

Looks great for the moment, too, a welcome break from the EV SUV mould and probably even more useful as a result. The squared off arches alongside the black for the sills and bumpers (disguising the battery bulk, presumably) make it modern. It doesn’t look very far from showroom spec, in truth - and we know Renault loves kicking it old school right now…

We’ll find out more when the E-Space Concept is formally unveiled on Monday, part of a huge Renault expo at its home show. The brand is ‘celebrating the spirit of voitures à vivre and presenting a fully renewed line-up, reflecting a technological strategy based on two pillars: electric and hybrid.’ So as well as the Espace, there’ll be two other concepts: the brilliant 8 Gordini seen last week, and the ‘beach adventurer’ JP4x4. That’s alongside a refreshed road car range, including a new Megane E-Tech, a new Trafic E-Tech, a Twingo with a pano roof, a Rafale hypnotic and a ‘hyper-customised’ 5 Turbo 3E. Maybe a few more people need convincing to buy one…

Whatever the case, there’s certainly going to be plenty to look at and sit in from Renault next week. And potentially one or two funky new retro EVs coming soon. An Espace would surely sit nicely alongside a Twingo on the drive…