Renault Avantime

The Avantime is a car which, like Renault Espace, was designed and manufactured by automobile MATRA and was launched by the manufacturer Renault in 2001.

This model, announced by a concept-because in 1998 innovated while being the first (and the last to date…) “coupéspace” i.e. a Monospace with only 2 side doors.

The design of this car is anticonformist. One will retain in particular the abundance of the surfaces glazed (including the house of roof) and the absence of amount on the doors.

Based on the platform of the Space, its manufacture was sub-contracted with the factory of Matra to Romorantin, in compensation of the withdrawal of that of Space taken again by Renault. The strong demand envisaged was to make profit the half-compartment from a more modern factory for its production.

Unfortunately, Avantime was a commercial failure. Although this car was recognized for its comfort and its many innovations of which the articulation of the doors, said " with double cinématique" , the completion was not always in connection with the high price of the car and only the engine gasoline 3 liters V6 was available to its beginnings; it thus missed a diesel for the French market. Moreover, the design even of Avantime and its technical constraints (heavy body deprived of central, kinematic amount of the doors complexes) delayed its launching; Avantime left about at the same time as another high-end Renault, Vel Satis, which involved a confusion in the spirit of the public. The public had not included/understood either why Avantime had only two doors and not four whereas it was the principle even of its concept: to be a " half-compartment monospace". Lastly, the automobile department of Matra had very put on the success of Avantime without envisaging of loophole in the event of failure; the small mark was thus victim of its stubbornness whereas, at Heuliez for example, the stop of manufacture programmed of the station-wagons Citroen (Xantia, XM) did not prevent this manufacturer from reorientating his production thanks to new associations in order to produce other types of cars (Peugeot 206 DC, Opel Tigra Twin Top for example).

Some 8.545 Avantime were produced before the complete stop of the production in May 2003.

Avantime II?

This project does not remain impossible any more after the declarations (October 2007) of Mr. Patrick Blain (Executive vice president and Business manager of Renault) on the future models of Renault, specifying that Avantime would undoubtedly be brought to reappear in the shape of a half-compartment station-wagon of hunting of future Espace VI.

External bond

AvantimePassion
the association of impassioned of Avantime
the forum of impassioned of Avantime

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