In the fall of 1996, at the Paris Motor Show, the presentation of the next, third in order, embodiment of the Renault Espace monocab was held, which, compared to its predecessor, has changed beyond recognition, not only visually, but also technically.
Well, at the beginning of 1998, a car with an increased wheelbase appeared before the public, which received the prefix "Grand" to its name.
Commercial production of the "Frenchman" was discontinued in 2002 due to the release of the next generation model.
"Espace" of the third generation is a minivan with five- or seven-seater "apartments", provided in two versions: with a regular or extended distance between the pairs of wheels. The overall length of the car is 4517-4787 mm, the height is 1690-1700 mm, the width is 1810-2070 mm, the distance between the axles is 2700-2872 mm.
The curb weight of a single-volume vehicle does not go beyond 1490-1737 kg, depending on the modification.
Specifications. The engine compartment of the "third" Renault Espace was filled with gasoline and diesel engines, which were offered in conjunction with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, as well as the main wheels of the front axle:
- Gasoline units are in-line “fours” and V-shaped “sixes” with a volume of 2.0-3.0 liters, equipped with distributed injection and generating 114-190 “horses” and 168-267 Nm of torque.
- The diesel part combines four-cylinder turbo engines with 8- or 16-valve timing and Common Rail fuel supply, the output of which varies from 98 to 130 horsepower and from 200-290 Nm of torque.
The basis for the "Espace" of the third generation is a front-wheel drive architecture with a transversely located engine and a plastic "plumage" of the body. The chassis of the car is completely independent: MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link arrangement in the rear (with transverse stabilizers "in a circle").
The steering complex of the "Frenchman" is represented by a rack and pinion configuration and a hydraulic booster. The minivan has disc brakes on both axles - ventilated at the front and conventional at the rear (by default with ABS).
The third "release" Renault Espace has: original design, roomy and thoughtful interior, efficient engines, excellent visibility, reliable design, good equipment, perfected driving characteristics and other points.
Its negative sides are: expensive spare parts, a modest gap under the "belly" and fuel "gluttony".
