Concept We Forgot: 1994 Renault Espace F1

Name: Concept We Forgot: 1994 Renault Espace F1
Uploaded: 2016-06-08T11:20:01Z
Description: Proof that vans don’t necessarily have to be boring.

Proof that vans don’t necessarily have to be boring.

1994 Renault Espace F1 concept

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Jun 8, 2016 at 7:20am ET

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Name: Renault Espace F1

Debuted: 1994 Paris Motor Show

Specs: 3.5-liter, 40-valve V10 Formula 1 engine with 820 hp, RWD, six-speed semi-automatic, 2,866 lbs / 1,300 kg

Why We Remember It Now:

What’s not to like about an F1-powered van?

The year was 1994. Renault was celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Espace. On this occasion, the company with the diamond logo along with Matra decided to celebrate the event by creating a rather spectacular and insane concept. This is how the Espace F1 concept came to life, a van powered by an engine sourced from the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C Formula 1 car.

The mid-mounted 3.5-liter V10 was tuned from 700 horsepower to 820 hp which allowed the carbon fiber-bodied Espace run to 62 mph (100 kph) in just 2.8 seconds before maxing out at a more than respectable 194 mph (312.2 kph). Featuring carbon-ceramic brakes, the F1 car disguised as a people carrier needed less than 600 meters (1,969 ft.) to complete the 0-168-0 mph task.

1994 Renault Espace F1 concept

By making the switch to a carbon fiber body, the engineers were able to lower the Espace’s weight to just 1,300 kilograms (2,866 pounds). Even the chassis was made from carbon fiber, but some of the MPV’s original parts were carried over, including the hood, tailgate, roof panel, and glass. The rest of the body was widened to accommodate the Formula 1 engine and create the quickest soccer mom mobile ever.

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The interior hosted four individual carbon-clad bucket seats with full harnesses while the V10 engine mounted in the middle of the car provided a sublime soundtrack.

For obvious reasons, the Espace F1 remained strictly a one-off concept as there were not any plans to launch a production version. It’s now a permanent member of the Matra Museum in France and will go down in history as one of Renault’s most spectacular concepts.