2008 Renault Espace IV 2.0 dCi FAP AT Privilege

The Espace is often credited as being the world's first MPV (a claim Renault themselves encourage). Chrysler's van-like first generation minivans reached the market some months earlier however, and are undeniably responsible for popularising this vehicle type in North America. The Espace can fairly be credited as the first car to exhibit the highly re-configurable interiors and distinct styling which characterise the modern MPV

The Espace's design was originally conceived in the 1970s by the British designer, Fergus Pollock, (at around the same time as Giorgetto Giugiaro's 1978 Lancia Megagamma concept MPV), who was working for Chrysler UK (formerly the Rootes Group), at their design centre at Whitley, (now the Jaguar design centre) in Coventry . Later Matra, who were affiliated with Simca, the then French subsidiary of Chrysler, were involved in partnership in the design, spearheaded by Greek designer Antonis Volanis.

The Espace was originally intended to be sold as a Knuttebasse, and to be a replacement for the Matra Rancho leisure activity vehicle. Early prototypes used Simca parts, and hence featured a grille reminiscent of the Simca 1307 (Chrysler Alpine).