Makes › Renault › Avantime · Rare production · 2001–2003 Limited Production
Renault
Avantime
Matra-built three-door coupé-MPV.
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 8,557 Built
- Years
- 2001–2003
- Engine
- Front-mounted V6 · 2,900 cc / 2.9 LFactory: 2.9 L
- Power
- 152 kW / 207 PSFactory: 204 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Patrick Le Quement (Renault design chief); architecture and engineering by Matra
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Avantime was a luxury four-seat coupe-minivan combining Renault design with Matra engineering, and the last car of the Renault-Matra partnership that produced the Espace. It sold poorly and was built for only about two years.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Renault Avantime (Wikimedia Commons: Renault Avantime)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Renault Avantime (Wikimedia Commons: Renault Avantime)
Photo: crash71100 · CC0 1.0
Renault Avantime (Wikimedia Commons: Renault Avantime)
Photo: crash71100 · CC0 1.0
Renault Avantime (Wikimedia Commons: Renault Avantime)
Photo: Kieran White from Manchester, England · CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionunits produced 2001–2003 | 8,5571,2 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The Avantime concept was shown at the Geneva motor show in March 1999, with Renault design chief Patrick Le Quement behind the "Coupespace" idea. Renault and Matra agreed that Matra would develop the car and Renault would sell it, replacing the Espace III on the Romorantin and Theillay lines. The production car was shown at the Frankfurt show in 2001 and to the press in June 2001, and stayed very close to the concept.
It was an expensive front-drive car on Espace parts with a lightweight aluminium upper structure. Sales were poor and production ended in April 2003.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Avantime.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Front-mounted V63 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 64 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 2,900 cc / 2.9 LFactory: 2.9 L4 Independently researchedAutomobile Magazine calls it a 3.0-liter V6 and the concept text says 3-litre; Car and Driver says 2.9. |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 152 kW / 207 PSFactory: 204 hp · converted4,3 Independently researched |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Six-speed manual or five-speed automatic3 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Front wheels4 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Espace chassis with lightweight aluminium superstructure4 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted5 Independently researchedSource says 'nearly 140 mph'; the 2002 review gives the 204 hp V6 as the only engine at launch. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 8.5 s4 Independently researchedCar and Driver estimate on the 2.9 V6. |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
The Avantime is a three-door, four-seat car with very long double-hinged doors, no B-pillar, frameless windows and a large glass roof whose forward panel retracts. It has a lightweight aluminium upper structure on an Espace chassis, front-wheel drive and a V6 petrol engine with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox. About 8,557 were built.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Historique de l'Avantime Level B Amicale Avantime (web archive copy)
- Exactement 8 557 Avantime auront été mises sur le marché
-
2
L'argus – Voitures françaises : les plus gros échecs commerciaux Level B
- 8557 units produced 2001–2003
-
3
2002 Renault Avantime Level C Automobile Magazine (web archive copy)
- 204-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6, which drives the front wheels
- 204-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6
- six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission
-
4
Renault Avantime news report Level C Ray Hutton · Car and Driver
- 204-hp, 2.9-liter V-6
- The Avantime is front-wheel drive
- lightweight aluminum superstructure to the Espace chassis
- 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds
-
5
Renault Avantime Level C Ray Hutton · Car and Driver
- the Avantime will do nearly 140 mph
Keep exploring
More from Renault
-
Renault
Espace F1
1 Built
-
Renault · 1956
Étoile Filante
2 Built
-
Renault · 1985
5 Maxi Turbo
20 Built
-
Renault · 1898
Type A Voiturette
71 Built
More from France
-
Citroën
Saxo Electrique
Production not yet verified
-
Peugeot
9X8 (2022)
Production not yet verified
-
Lumeneo
SMERA
Production not yet verified
-
Voisin
Voisin C11
Production not yet verified
70 other makes from FranceACMAAixamAlcatelAlpineAmilcarArzensAvions VoisinBACBallotBerlietBolloreBuccialiBugattiCGCharron, Girardot et VoigtChenard-WalckerCitroënClément-PanhardDAMSDarracqDBDB (Deutsch-Bonnet)De DietrichDe Dion-BoutonDe Dion, Bouton et TrépardouxDe La ChapelleDelageDelahayeDelaunay-BellevilleDerbyDSExagonFacel VegaFarmanFord FranceGentyGordiniHommellHopiumHotchkissAll makes →