The electric Renault Espace shows that not everything has to be an SUV

The Renault E-Space Concept revives the formula of the original Espace from 1984. It is electric, has six seats, and previews technologies for future Renault vehicles.

The Renault Espace was introduced in 1984 to do what few cars could: prioritize space and passengers above almost everything else. Four decades later, the Espace has evolved into an SUV, but Renault has not forgotten the formula that made it famous.

It is this very idea that the E-Space Concept brings back, unveiled at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, which Razão Automóvel is covering live. It is a 100% electric monovolume that is currently just a prototype, but it previews some solutions intended for the brand’s future models.

Far from the tall silhouette of SUVs, it features a long body shape with a highly sloped windshield, a large glass surface, and a nearly vertical rear end. It’s hard not to recognize the proportions of the 1984 Espace.

It measures 4.70 meters in length, 2.02 meters in width, and 1.67 meters in height. The 23″ wheels are positioned at the ends of the body, while a movable element on the front bumper can be lowered to improve aerodynamics at high speeds.

Six seats and a modular interior

Inside, the space takes center stage. There is no central pillar between the front and rear doors, which open in opposite directions to facilitate access. The floor is flat, with six individual seats arranged in three rows.

The two seats in the second row can rotate 180º to face the seats in the third row. There is also a four-seater configuration: the seats in the second row fold down to form a large table. It’s impossible not to think of a train carriage, a comparison made by Renault itself.

When facing forward, passengers in the second row can use fold-down tables and 12.3″ screens mounted on the backrests of the front seats. In the middle, a sliding central console can accommodate a small refrigerator, an air purifier, and video game controls.

The emphasis on brightness is another highlight. The roof and side windows create a glass-enclosed cabin, inspired, according to the brand, by Bauhaus architecture, the first design school founded in Germany.

Discover your next Renault:

The panoramic screen coming to future Renault models

We don’t know if the Renault E-Space will lead to a production model, but there are aspects of this prototype that we expect to see in the brand’s future production models.

The main display is called OpenR Panorama and it is a curved screen that spans the entire dashboard — 1.13 meters wide — replacing conventional instruments. This screen is not touch-enabled.

Interaction with the infotainment system is done through two small flexible screens that rotate around the base where the steering wheel is mounted. According to Renault, OpenR Panorama will make its way to their production models, starting with the next generations of the Rafale and Scenic.

The E-Space Concept also features steer-by-wire technology, meaning electronic steering with no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and wheels. As for the electric powertrain, Renault has not disclosed any details such as power output, battery capacity, or range.

Will there be an electric Renault Espace?

For now, the brand has not confirmed that the E-Space will evolve into a production model. Renault presents it as a vision for the future of family mobility, rather than an indication of an upcoming new model.