Renault will show the E-Space Concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, an electric take on its pioneering Espace that suggests the family MPV may not be finished yet.
Family SUVs pushed the Renault Espace out of the spotlight, but the people carrier may be about to return. Renault will reveal the E-Space Concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, an electric MPV that shows how the famous nameplate could come back.
For now, it remains a concept. Renault has not confirmed any production plans, so read it as a statement of intent rather than an order book.
A Full-Size Electric People Carrier
The E-Space measures about 4.7 metres long, which makes it a genuine full-size family car. Renault says it shows a “new approach” to family car design, although the company hasn’t yet explained in detail what that means.
As the name suggests, power comes from electricity. The concept arrives as Renault begins rolling out Lithium Ferrophosphate (LFP) battery technology across its range. According to Renault, these batteries will make EVs more accessible by improving range without adding cost. That is the manufacturer’s claim, but it targets the right problem. Price is still one of the biggest barriers for many family buyers thinking about going electric.
Nods to the 1984 Original
The styling includes a few subtle links to the first Espace, which launched in 1984. Wide U-shaped light strips run across the front and rear. Up front, the grille carries an illuminated “floating” Renault badge.
The original was a significant car. It was the first MPV developed in Europe, with angular fibreglass bodywork on a monocoque spaceframe chassis. Three more generations followed, but Renault stopped selling the Espace to UK customers in 2012. From 2015, left-hand-drive markets got a fifth-generation model that had become a more conventional SUV.
So why go back to the MPV shape now? Electric platforms give designers more freedom with packaging. Battery-powered people carriers such as the Volkswagen ID. Buzz have also proved popular. Together, those two factors could give the Espace idea a second life.
The Rest of Renault’s Paris Stand
The E-Space won’t be alone. Renault is bringing several updated models and concepts to Paris, including a new version of the Twingo electric supermini.
This Twingo previews the “Twingobay” panoramic glass roof, designed to bring more natural light into the cabin. There is no blind. Instead, Renault says multi-layer technology filters out 99.9 percent of UV rays, although that figure comes from the brand rather than independent testing.
Also on the stand:
- Renault 8 Gordini concept: the recently announced rally-inspired revival of a 1960s classic.
- Renault 4 JP4x4: a radical take on the reborn Renault 4.
When to See It
Press previews of the Paris Motor Show start on Monday 12 October, and the public can visit from the following day.
Renault already leans heavily on nostalgia with the 5, the 4 and now the 8 Gordini. Adding the Espace makes sense. Unlike those small cars, though, an MPV would test whether buyers will give up their SUVs for a more practical shape.
