Renault Espace will be replaced with SUV-styled crossover

MONTE CARLO -- Renault will replace its Espace minivan with a SUV-styled crossover, the automaker's design chief, Laurens van den Acker, said. The Espace successor will be a cross between a minivan and a crossover to make it more relevant in the marketplace van den Acker said at a press event here. Customers in Europe are switching from minivans and hatchbacks to crossover models attracteed by the SUV looks and high driving position. Renault's first-generation Espace was the forerunner in Europe's minivan segment when it launched in 1984. Sales of the current model, introduced in 2002, are falling due to the vehicle's age. The new Espace likely will debut as a concept at the Frankfurt auto show in September. The model will have upscale features as part of Renault's push to move its larger cars upmarket. "The Espace is a respected vehicle. It is one Renault you'd likely see on a driveway alongside a Volkswagen or a Mercedes but we've let it live for too long," van den Acker said. Renault's concept car director, Axel Breun, said the next Espace will not have aggressive styling like some SUVs. "The design is not as brutal as today's cars. They becoming very military, which might be okay for the Evoque or Range Rover but it's maybe not the direction we are going," he said. The Espace will be functional, but at the same time it will be a vehicle that the occupants will "enjoy travelling in, with a good view," Breun said. Renault's thinking on the Espace's design can be seen on the Scenic XMOD, a crossover version of the Scenic medium minivan unveiled at the Geneva auto show inn March. Renault is investing 420 million euros ($542 million) to build the Espace and the next Laguna at its factory in Douai, northern France, where the Scenic is built. Both models are currently built in Sandouville, also in northern France. Production begin from next year, starting with the new Espace. Renault likely will also sell the Espace in China for the first time where it will join the Koleos SUV, Laguna, Megane, Fluence and Scenic vehicles in the automaker's line The Espace will be the first Renault built on the new CFM1 modular platform developed by the automaker and its alliance partner Nissan.