PARIS, FRANCE – Renault turned to two of its most famous names at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The brand gave a world premiere to the E-Space Concept, a six-seat electric MPV that revives the spirit of the original 1984 Espace, and showed the public the Renault 8 Gordini Concept, a two-door electric coupé that reimagines a 1960s rally hero.
The two concepts headlined a 2,500 m² Renault stand featuring 22 electrified vehicles, half fully electric and half hybrid, alongside the Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept.
E-Space: the “car to live in” returns
The original Renault Espace, launched in 1984, created the European MPV and was famous for its idea of a “voiture à vivre”, a car to live in. Over the years the Espace grew into a crossover and eventually an SUV. The E-Space Concept takes it back to its roots.
The concept measures 4.70 metres long, 2.02 metres wide and 1.67 metres tall, wider and taller than today’s Espace, with proportions close to the first-generation model. It reuses the original’s silhouette, with a large glasshouse over a low beltline and a short, steeply raked bonnet that flows into the windscreen.
Six seats that swivel
Inside, the E-Space has six identical individual seats across three rows. The second-row seats can swivel 180 degrees to face the third row, creating a train-style lounge, or fold flat to form a large table in four-seat mode. The front seatbacks hold 12.3-inch “aviation-style” tablets for passengers behind, and a remote-controlled sliding console includes an air purifier, a small fridge, game controllers and even a Connect Four game.
Getting in is easy thanks to dual-hinged doors that open without a centre pillar, and the cabin is glazed from the side windows up to the roof. Up front, a curved OpenR Panorama screen about 1.13 metres wide replaces the traditional dashboard, with a compact steer-by-wire steering wheel. Renault says the OpenR Panorama screen is intended for upper-range models, starting with the future Rafale and Scénic.
Clever aero details
The exterior is packed with ideas. The front has a pixelated U-shaped lighting signature with an illuminated Renault logo that appears to float in the grille, cameras replace the door mirrors, and there are no visible door handles. A movable front lip lowers towards the road at high speed to improve aerodynamics, and the black sills carry aero elements inspired by Formula 1 sidepods. The concept rides on 23-inch wheels and is finished in a deep red called “Exquis”.
Renault 8 Gordini: a rally legend goes electric
The second star of the stand was the Renault 8 Gordini Concept. The original R8 was produced from 1962 to 1976 as a rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive saloon, and the Gordini version, with up to 74 kW from a 1.3-litre engine, became a giant-killer in rallying and a favourite of young enthusiasts.
The new concept is a two-door, two-seat electric coupé with a 201 kW electric motor. It measures 4.12 metres long, 1.88 metres wide and 1.27 metres tall, wider and lower than the original, and rides on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Classic cues remain, including six round headlights, a V-shaped bonnet crease and vent slats on the boot lid, while the tail-lights are hidden behind the bodywork and disappear when switched off.
Inside, there is no touchscreen infotainment. Instead, a retro horizontal dashboard holds six small round displays, and physical buttons, knobs and switches control the climate, transmission and windows. Corduroy seats and faux suede trim complete the 1960s-inspired atmosphere.
“It’s just a concept car… to celebrate Gordini.”
Alexandre Malval, Renault head of brand design
Renault says the 8 Gordini will not go into production, although Malval joked that fans could change his mind: “I know some people you can send emails to.” Some of its design features, such as the disappearing tail-lights, may appear on future production cars.
Could the MPV make a comeback?
For years, SUVs have pushed traditional MPVs out of showrooms. Yet families still value what MPVs do best: a flat floor, easy access, flexible seats and huge glass areas that make long journeys more pleasant. Electric platforms, with their flat battery packs and compact motors, make it easier than ever to build a spacious, efficient people carrier. The E-Space shows how Renault could combine that practicality with modern technology, and if the reaction in Paris is strong, a production model inspired by it would not be a surprise.
Renault’s retro formula
Renault has had huge success turning heritage into modern electric cars, with the Renault 5 E-Tech and Renault 4 E-Tech winning praise across Europe, and the Twingo following. The E-Space and 8 Gordini show the brand is not finished mining its history. The E-Space in particular hints at a possible return of the true family MPV, a body style many buyers still love for its practicality.
Renault has a long history in the Middle East and North Africa, where models such as the Duster and Koleos are popular, and its Gordini name still means something to classic-car fans across the region.
Renault concepts: key facts
- E-Space: Six-seat electric MPV, 4.70 m long, swivelling seats, steer-by-wire
- OpenR Panorama: 1.13 m curved screen, coming to future Rafale and Scénic
- 8 Gordini: Two-seat electric coupé, 201 kW, 4.12 m long
- Production: No plans for the 8 Gordini; E-Space ideas to inspire future models