Renault Previews Next-Generation HMI

The R-Space Lab concept could return the Espace to its MPV roots

Launched in Europe about a year after Chrysler's groundbreaking US-market minivan , the original Espace was a design and engineering pioneer. It's more recently rebooted as a three-row SUV as the MPV segment continues to decline in Europe--but Renault's new R-Space Lab concept previews what the next-generation model might look like.

Although it appears a bit less production-ready than the Bridger concept shown today, there are several items worth mentioning:
🔸 A more MPV-like one-box silhouette--and, with minivan sales rebounding in the US last year, perhaps Renault is expecting a similar renaissance in Europe
🔸 The instrument panel layout seems most similar to (surprisingly) the new Lincoln Nautilus, with a full-width display (the "openR Panorama screen") mounted at the base of the windshield, supplemented with a landscape-style touchscreen at the center of the IP. A yoke-style steering wheel with steer-by-wire technology enables an unobstructed view of the display--although rumors the China may ban this, too, might drive a more conventional 'squircle' steering wheel.
🔸 Front-seat-mounted airbags enable a multifunction glovebox

It's likely that these innovations are being considered for Renault's next generation of products, as they plan to launch 26 new products by 2030, including 12 in Europe and new entries in the C- and D-segments.