Renault announced the launch of the newest edition of its Espace minivan today. The MPV is available with a wide range of gasoline and diesel powerplants, including a 3-liter V6 dCi diesel with six-speed automatic, and a 245 hp 3.5-liter V6 gas engine with a five-speed automatic.
Typical of "have it your way" European vehicles, the new Espace is offered with a total of twelve powertrain combinations - eight diesel and four gas - allowing buyers to fine-tune their vehicle to match their preferences for performance and fuel-economy.
There are a number of very nice features in the new Espace, including:
- the new six-speed, "flick-shift" automatic Proactive transmission
- the voice-controlled Carminat Navigation/Communication System, with full Bluetooth support for external devices
- very flexible interior seating/cargo configurations
- bi-Xenon cornering lights
- panoramic glass roof
- rain and light sensors
- tire pressure monitoring system
Full press release and more pics after the jump.
Press Release
New Espace… for a New Life
Softer styling, innovative cornering lights, the Carminat Navigation and
Communication System and the new 2.0 dCi engine are just some of the
features poised to ensure that the leader of the top-of-the-range MPV
segment maintains its edge.
With its seductive and aesthetic appeal, dynamic performance, excellence in perceived
quality and travelling comfort, New Espace goes further than it has ever done before.
The new particulate filter-equipped 2.0 dCi diesel engine delivers 150hp and 175hp and
ensures that New Espace benefits from exceptional performance for this level of engine size.
A new six-speed automatic transmission is available for the new 3.0 dCi V6 diesel engine
which boasts torque of 400Nm for even more flexibility and driving pleasure. Thanks to a
choice of three petrol and four diesel powerplants, which can be coupled to five- or sixspeed
manual or Proactive transmission, New Espace places the accent firmly on dynamic
performance and driving pleasure.
New Espace's exterior lines are softer yet its personality is as distinctive as ever and points
clearly to its high-end MPV standing. New Espace is also the first vehicle of its class to
feature bi-Xenon cornering lights.
Inside, the perceived quality and the sense of warmth and brightness it exudes make New
Espace an even more pleasurable experience. New Espace is also available with the latest
Carminat Navigation and Communication System which combines voice synthesis with a
three-dimensional display. The system comes with a panoramic 7-inch screen built into the
new dashboard design, Bluetooth technology for a hands-free telephone and a CD/MP3-
compatible player. Automatically-attaching sliding seats are available in the rear. The seats
can be taken out, moved and positioned with ease, thereby enhancing interior modularity.
New Espace also has an all-flat floor.
And for complete ease of mind when travelling as a family, New Espace's active and passive
safety features make it once again the benchmark in its segment.
New Espace… for New Appeal
New Espace's exterior lines are softer yet its personality is as distinctive as ever and points
clearly to its high-end MPV standing. Inside, the perceived quality and the sense of warmth
and brightness it exudes make New Espace an even more pleasurable experience. And the
only bounds to the car's modularity, which features automatically-attaching sliding seats
and a perfectly flat floor, are its owner's imagination…
The softer front styling of New Espace includes a new headlamp design that prolongs the lines of
the bonnet. The slimmer bumper and simplified grille design reassert the vehicle's top-of-the-range
status. The bi-Xenon cornering lights and their ability to pivot as a function of the position of the
steering wheel give New Espace a unique frontal expression. The foglamps come with a new
chrome trim that discreetly echoes the elegance of the new styling. Two new body colours are also
available, namely Sahara Beige and Lumière Blue.
New wheel trims underpin New Espace's dynamic design, while the design of the new 17- and 18-
inch alloy wheels adds to its refined looks.
The form of the rear lights takes its inspiration from the vehicle's overall styling cues and contributes
significantly to the harmony of the whole. Although discreet when switched off, the rear lights truly
come into their own once illuminated.
For added elegance, the new trim favours dark charcoal tones for the upper part of the interior,
while the beige or light charcoal shades favoured for the lower part of the dashboard and the door
linings contribute to ensuring a brighter, warmer feel. The trimming of the dashboard and centre
console is in perfect harmony with the interior colour scheme. With the exception of the recent
Dynamique version, all of the upholsteries are new.
The panoramic glass roof, which can be either fixed or electric, continues to stand out as the market
benchmark in terms of its dimensions and comfort. Combined with an electric sliding sunblind, it
protects passengers while at the same time giving the impression of travelling in the open air. Other
passenger-friendly features of New Espace include a perfectly flat floor which simplifies the layout
of up to five automatically-attaching sliding seats, the positioning of which is very simple. With the
seat back folded flat, each seat becomes a highly practical table.
New Espace… for New Standards of Excellence
New Espace's innovative headlamps contribute to its soothing, reassuring front-end looks.
These headlamps also benefit driving comfort and safety by following the vehicle's
trajectory when cornering. Inside, the Carminat Navigation and Communication System
combines voice synthesis with a three-dimensional display. And for complete ease of mind
when travelling as a family, New Espace's active and passive safety features place it at the
very top of its segment.
New Espace is available with optional bi-Xenon cornering lights which provide up to 90% additional
lighting when cornering. They provide twice the lighting power but consume half as much energy
compared with conventional halogen headlights. The headlamp modules – which are activated as
soon as the vehicle is started – pivot from 7kph and are programmed to improve visibility at speeds
in excess of 30kph, in both the dipped- and main-beam functions.
The new dashboard ensures enhanced display of information, while the new Carminat Navigation
and Communication System has prompted a rethink of the ergonomics of the driver's seat.
Positioned between the two front seats, a single multimedia control provides access to the
navigation, Bluetooth telephone and radio/MP3-compatible functions. The panoramic 7-inch colour
screen permit a three-dimensional display of itineraries, as well as the display of the audio settings
and telephone menus. The voice synthesis function, the hands-free Bluetooth controls and steeringwheel
mounted fingertip controls permit the system to be used in total safety. The radio can be
controlled from the dashboard, but is also combined with a remote control for additional comfort.
New Espace is equipped with rain and light sensors, "Follow Me Home" lights, front and rear
parking assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, Emergency Brake Assist with ABS and ESP with
understeer control. The Renault System for Restraint and Protection comprises eight airbags and
three-point seatbelts complete with load limiters. Front seats are equipped with double
pretensioners. New Espace offers optimum child safety. All the rear seats can be fitted with Isofix
attachments and Sleep Safe convertible child head restraints are available. New Espace's
strengthened structure ensures maximum safety and the vehicle benefits from a five-star Euro
NCAP crash test rating.
New Espace… for New Dynamic Performance
New Espace's driving pleasure is enhanced by a comprehensive range of powerplants,
including three petrol and four diesel engines, coupled with five- or six-speed manual or
Proactive transmissions.
The new particulate filter-equipped 2.0 dCi diesel engine delivers 150hp and 175hp and
ensures that New Espace benefits from exceptional performance for this level of engine size.
The 3.0 dCi V6 diesel version comes with a new six-speed automatic transmission and
boasts torque of 400Nm for added flexibility and driving pleasure.
New Espace benefits from the latest engine and transmission evolutions. The new 2.0 dCi 175hp
engine takes the vehicle from standstill to 100kph in less than 10 seconds, a best-in-class
performance with record fuel consumption figures (7.4l/100km in the combined cycle). With less
than 200g/km, CO2 emissions are remarkably low and make New Espace a leader in its vehicle
category in terms of environmental respect. Coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox, the engine's
acoustic and dynamic performance is in perfect keeping with customer expectations. New Espace
reconciles the notions of driving pleasure, comfort and range.
The driving pleasure associated with the 3.0 dCi V6 powerplant has been further enhanced by the
new six-speed, flick-shift automatic Proactive transmission, as well as by the latter's shift-down
function under heavy braking and the maintenance of the selected gear when lifting abruptly off the
throttle. Meanwhile, the flick-shift control enables the driver to change gear manually if required.
Perfectly compatible with the engine's 400Nm of torque, this transmission combines response and
low fuel consumption (9.4 litres/100km in the combined cycle).
The petrol range comprises a choice of four powertrain combinations: the 2.0 16V (140hp), the 2.0
Turbo (170hp) coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox, the 2.0 Turbo (170hp) and the 3.5 V6
(245hp) with automatic five-speed transmission.
The diesel range comprises a choice of eight powertrain combinations. In addition to the 2.0 dCi
(150 and 175hp, with particulate filter) and the 3.0 dCi (165 and 180hp) coupled with six-speed
automatic transmission, the 1.9 dCi (115hp) is coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox and the
2.2 dCi is available with either six-speed manual (150hp) or five-speed automatic (140hp)
transmission.
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