1994 Renault Espace F1

X-Ray goggles used to maximum effect here.

The eminently practical category that is Minivans has lost favour with the masses, as you already know, replaced by higher-margin crossovers and oddly-hatched trucks. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers are more than happy to oblige, especially after years of gouging each other’s eyes out with hefty minivan incentives. But when I was just a boy, the minivan was not only ubiquitous, but some were very nearly cool. 


No minivan ever came closer to being Very Nearly Cool than the 1994 Renault Espace F1. Built at the height of the minivan dominance, the Espace F1 was the epitome of French thinking. Where every other minivan was front-engined front-wheel drive, this eccentric Renault was rear-wheel drive and mid-engined. This would have been suitably wacked if Renault had done this using the engine and transmission from the normal Espace minivan, but then this wouldn’t be an F1! The engine and transmission were sourced from the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C, meaning a 800 hp V10 and a 6-speed semi-automatic.


This would have been completely bonkers if Renault had done this using the standard Espace body, but then this wouldn’t be the F1! Thanks to a carbon fibre chassis (this is 1995 remember), the Espace F1 rocketed from 0-270-0 kph in 600 metres. Now brush up on your French...


As you heard there, this feat of engineering lunacy was completed with the help of Matra. Not familiar with Matra? Oh, it’s just a little French company that won the 1969 Formula 1 Championship. But that’s a story for another time.