Espace Europe's first MPV

In 1984, Renault presented Europe's first MPV, an exciting new vehicle developed jointly with Matra Automobiles. The Renault Espace was the first of a whole new generation of cars guided by the twin principles of practicality and leisure

This would mean a radically new user-oriented design approach, which is apparent in everything about the Renault Espace, starting with the homely exterior styling that managed to achieve good aerodynamic performance despite the height. But perhaps the greatest originality of the Espace was in the interior layout, which sought home-like convenience through features such pivoting seats and modularity, in order to offer unprecedented on-board comfort in a vehicle no longer than a classic saloon.

After overcoming initial market inertia, the Espace went on to effectively revolutionize car design, establishing the monospace as a format with a future. Other carmakers would soon catch on and follow Renault's lead - Renault.