The Espace has been a staple of the Renault range since the 1980s as a large MPV or MPV. However, it looks like the next version will undergo a body makeover – that’s if the reports are true.
In a recent sighting, a larger version of the Renault Austral was captured while the driver was having lunch in Spain. The speckled prototype, which wore a heavy concealment, had a taller body to accommodate a third row. We think it’s the next Space, and our friends from Kolesa imagine what it will look like without the camo.
If that sounds familiar, well, that’s because the renders are essentially the new Renault Austral but with widened rear ends to match the spy shots. It works, we think, much like the relationship between the Peugeot 3008 and 5008.
The end of the Espace minivan and the arrival of the large Espace SUV are not confirmed at this stage, however. Reports supporting the speculation date back a few years, particularly with Reuters citing a source within Renault. According to this report, the Space and the Talisman are both living on their deathbeds. The Talisman already ended production earlier this year to make way for SUVs, so we won’t be surprised if the Espace follows suit.
If the Espace will indeed become a large SUV based on the Austral, we expect the same configuration as the compact crossover. Of note, the Austral comes with both mild-hybrid and full-hybrid gasoline powertrains, with up to 200 horsepower and a choice between six-speed manual or X-Tronic automatic transmissions.
With the rumored Espace already sporting its production bodywork, we could see the new model at the Paris Motor Show Otherwise, an early 2023 debut should be plausible.
The Espace has been a staple of the Renault range since the 1980s as a large MPV or MPV. However, it looks like the next version will undergo a body makeover – that’s if the reports are true.
In a recent sighting, a larger version of the Renault Austral was captured while the driver was having lunch in Spain. The speckled prototype, which wore a heavy concealment, had a taller body to accommodate a third row. We think it’s the next Space, and our friends from Kolesa imagine what it will look like without the camo.
If that sounds familiar, well, that’s because the renders are essentially the new Renault Austral but with widened rear ends to match the spy shots. It works, we think, much like the relationship between the Peugeot 3008 and 5008.
The end of the Espace minivan and the arrival of the large Espace SUV are not confirmed at this stage, however. Reports supporting the speculation date back a few years, particularly with Reuters citing a source within Renault. According to this report, the Space and the Talisman are both living on their deathbeds. The Talisman already ended production earlier this year to make way for SUVs, so we won’t be surprised if the Espace follows suit.
If the Espace will indeed become a large SUV based on the Austral, we expect the same configuration as the compact crossover. Of note, the Austral comes with both mild-hybrid and full-hybrid gasoline powertrains, with up to 200 horsepower and a choice between six-speed manual or X-Tronic automatic transmissions.
With the rumored Espace already sporting its production bodywork, we could see the new model at the Paris Motor Show Otherwise, an early 2023 debut should be plausible.