Bojan Vrbnjak
Old wine in new bottles. Music lovers know this principle from cover versions of big hits. Or the "gods" at the mixing desk chop up a hit song and insert some of their own samples to create a new sound creation. Something similar is now also at Renault. After the premiere of the year 1984 is the Espace belatedly became a big hit. Lots of space even on the individual seats in the back, which can be placed or folded in almost any direction like a game Tetris. Conference room or warehouse, Espace (French for space) made it possible 30 let.
Then there were years 2014 appeared fifth generation, which has already strongly mutated in the direction SUV, the compromise was "Crossovers". But with a brand new one Espace year 2023 there is neither a ghost nor a hear of crossbreeds. It's nothing but a big SUV and a dot. To be more precise, it is about a longer version of the Renault Austral model. Up to the B-pillar, both are very similar. Austral measures 4,51 meters in length, future Space but it will be long 4,72 meters. And optics? A very handsome car, towards the rear it reminds a little of the BMW X7. The new Espace is shorter than its predecessor by 14 centimeters and lower by 32 millimeters, and the passenger space is z 2,48 meters up to the third row longer. And much more important is the fact that it is for 215 kilograms lighter. The sixth generation, consisting of 1.300 robots, should score points for roominess in the rear.
Passengers in other species they sit on a bench seat that can be moved longitudinally behind 22 centimeters and is divided into two independent units in relation 60:40. There is up to knee room 321 millimeters, and additional comfort is provided by the backrest, which can be tilted up to 31 degrees. In the third row of seats for two people, which is free, is still for 128 millimeters knee room. This can be extended by pushing the second row seats forward with the feature EasyAccess. In addition, the backrest can also be tilted forward. Thanks to the sliding bench seat in the second row and the folding seats in the third row, the volume of the trunk can be adjusted to individual needs. Depending on the configuration, we can get:
1.818 liters in a 5-seater with the second row seats folded
777 liters in the 5-seat version with the second row pushed all the way forward
159 liters in the 7-seat version with the third row of seats installed
The new Espace also has electric tailgate, which can be opened and closed from the seat by pressing a button on the tailgate, using the keyless entry system or contactless with a foot sensor under the rear bumper. And how is s space for people, especially those from 1,9 meters in height? It's good in the second row, although the legs don't exactly roll in luxury. V third row they just feel good Otroci, to shorten the debate about the painful crawling of a grown man into this part of the car. So if you don't have a number family, the version will be s five seats the right choice. The load capacity of the car is between 468 and 662 kilograms. Optional panoramic glass roof with measurements 1,33×0,84 meters lets more light into the interior of the Espace than ever before. The glass is coated on the inside to filter UV and infrared rays and reflect heat.
An extremely successful scalable multimedia system openR link with navigation Google Maps in Google we already know from Megane E-Tech in Australia. Over-the-air updates ensure that the operating system is always up to date. Already the basic version Techno ima openR cockpit with two screens in the shape of the horizontal letter L. In addition to the horizontal 12,3-inch of the TFT speedometer screen, here it is 12-inch vertical touch screen in the center console. It is also available as an option 9,3-inch head-up display. Passengers have access to two in each row of seats USB-C ports to charge your devices.
The drive of the new Espace already known from Australasia. E-Tech Full Hybrid 200 it's in the plug-in hybrid ID. System power is 199 BAM and is combined with the so-called Multi-mode automatic transmission. It forms the basis three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with volume 1,2 liter, which develops 131 BAM in 205 Nm of torque. It is supported by two electric motors namely with the main aggregate with 68 BAM, which mobilizes 205 Nm of torque and is powered by a lithium-ion battery 2 kWh/400 V, and secondary high voltage generator starter z 18 BAM in 50 Nm of torque to start the internal combustion engine and shift gears. And the consumption? According to Renault, from 4,7 liter super gasoline per 100 kilometers, CO2 emissions but from 105 grams per kilometer. With the help of paddles on the steering wheel, you can switch between four levels of recuperation, so that you can cover up to 80 percent of all journeys in city traffic on electricity alone.
Gearbox Multi-mode it has no clutch two gears for electric drive in four gears for an internal combustion engine. Gear changes are automatic and the driver does not have to do anything. Including idling, the system allows together 15 speed and drive combinations. Depending on the energy demand, output power, battery charge level and active driving program, the system enables operation in fully electric mode and series and parallel hybrid mode. At serial hybrid engine internal combustion drives the generator, which in turn powers the electric drive motor and charges the battery. This is the case, for example, when the charge level is low. In parallel hybrid operation, the electric motors and the internal combustion engine act simultaneously on the powertrain during strong acceleration.
And what about diesel in four-wheel drive? None of that. Depending on the equipment, four-wheel steering is available, called 4Control Advanced. As the most important innovation, Renault combines a system with a multi-link rear axle, which compensates for the vertical displacement of the wheels on bad roads. A further innovation is that at low driving speed rear wheels instead of the usual 3,5 degrees, they turn in the opposite direction of the front axis by a maximum of five degrees. At speed over 50 km / h the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels up to one degree. 4Control Advanced it works with all wheels to counteract the centrifugal force that normally pushes the rear axle outwards when cornering. With this, the driver Espacea gets more safety margins.
Will they be with the new one Espace available clean gasoline engines with turbocharger and power 140 in 158 BAM, is still open for now, as is the price. The cheapest Austral with a full hybrid it costs good 41.000 euros, so we expect that it will Space stood around 45.000 euros. Orders for the new Espace should start this spring.
