Geneva 2011: Renault R-Space is near-term look at the future of MPVs

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Renault

Renault R-Space concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Renault wants to design vehicles that fit into various cycles of its consumers’ lives, and to that end, the R-Space concept is the vehicle that you will need once you start a family.

The Cash Cab-like interior is designed to make transporting children an easy task. In what is perhaps its most interesting and showcar-like features, no fewer than 27 small motors control height-adjustable hexahedron-shaped platforms in the rear of the R-Space. Those motors can be can be modulated to produce a flat space, booster seat, table or a freestyle area for children to sit and play. From our vantage point, the rear area looks like a bar graph come to life (check our galleries below to see what we mean).

When the rear area is transformed back into a section for seating, the R-Space can get underway. Power is provided by a tiny 900-cubic centimeter three-cylinder engine (that’s .9 liters), which makes use of direct-injection and a turbocharger. The unit is good for 110-horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, with that power being funneled to the wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox. The handsome MPV is also green – it also produces just 95 g/km of CO2 while achieving 64 miles per gallon.

Gallery: Renault R-Space Concept: Geneva 2011