Renault Avantime
The Avantime originally appeared as a concept design in 2000. It was designed
to fulfil a perceived market need for a vehicle with many of the characteristics
of an MPV, such as high seating and good visibility, but without the need for
seven seats.
The Avantime was first
introduced in Europe in
September 2001 and was an
innovative 3-door pillarless
coupé, based on the Renault
Espace Series 3. It featured
double-hinged doors that
allowed easy access to the rear
seats by moving outwards and
forwards in one movement
without the necessity to open
the doors wide in confined
parking spaces.
The construction was based on the established Matra practice of a steel
platform clad with GRP. The aluminium upper structure was left in its natural
colour as a design feature. The engines and suspension were taken from the
Espace and all models featured high levels of specification and trim.
There were three models produced:
Dynamique, with a 2 litre 165 bhp turbo petrol engine and 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic gearboxes.
Helios, with a 2.2 litre 150 bhp common rail diesel and 5-speed manual gearbox or 2.2 litre petrol with manual or automatic gearboxes. Diesels were never produced in right hand drive though.
Privilège, with a 3 litre 24 valve V6 petrol, producing 210 bhp with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic gearboxes.
Dynamique, with a 2 litre 165 bhp turbo petrol engine and 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic gearboxes.
Helios, with a 2.2 litre 150 bhp common rail diesel and 5-speed manual gearbox or 2.2 litre petrol with manual or automatic gearboxes. Diesels were never produced in right hand drive though.
Privilège, with a 3 litre 24 valve V6 petrol, producing 210 bhp with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic gearboxes.
Attractive though the car was, sales proved poor, hindered perhaps by the lack
of a diesel option for the first year of production, and in March 2003 production
ceased. As Renault had decided to take over production of the Espace, the
Romorantin factory was closed and Matra no longer produced cars.