The Renault advert, 120 years, forefront of innovation

[T4tomo]

Espace, wunnit?

yes you're right, the smaller scenic came after

 

[tyred]

Espace, wunnit?

Talbot Rancho anyone?

Actually built by the same people who built the later Espace I believe.

 

[T4tomo]

Not really. Pillarless hardtops were popular in the States in the 1950s and 60s, but the style goes right back to 1910 or so.

pedant. {wink face} the styling was quite innovative at its time, when every other major manufacturer was churning out "me too" copies of fairly standard designs.

 

[tyred]

View attachment 429930
a commercial flop. is removing B pillars innovative? it certainly looked quite different.

They were first to the people carrier with the Scenic.

as above all plagued with dodgy electrics.

I found that quite interesting. A different approach to a large luxury car rather than the usual "same again please" three box saloon that the Germans come up with.

 

[Milkfloat]

Espace was Matra who designed and built it before badging as Renault. I think you could go back even further to a Type 2 VW that was based on a Beetle, or even the Fiat 600 Multipla, I guess it is how you define people carrier.

 

[raleighnut]

Espace was Matra who designed and built it before badging as Renault. I think you could go back even further to a Type 2 VW that was based on a Beetle, or even the Fiat 600 Multipla, I guess it is how you define people carrier.

Even the 7 seat SAAB 95 (not the 9-5)

 

[Deleted member 26715]

All I know is the Renault I owned had duff electrics.

Just a shame they haven't got the electrics sorted enough for them to work though

We've had 5 Renault's all older vehicles when bought (never bought a new car) & never had an electrical issue, but then again of the 10 Fiat's we've had there was never any major mechanical problems either.

Now if we were talking about car innovation then Citroen would get my vote

 

[Deleted member 35268]

The Wikipedia holds some insight into it's innovations but does not really list anything specific.

 

[tyred]

The R16 was truly innovative compared to other family cars of time like the Cortina or Hillman Minx (same can be said of the Austin Maxi to be fair).

I've always loved the humble R4TL. Such a practical yet minimalist design, and far more practical than the Mini or 2CV which get all the plaudits.

 

[gavroche]

Louis Renault invented the hydraulic shock absorber and drum brakes too but a long time ago. I believe the differential too, but not 100% sure on that one.
The R5 was a cracking little car.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I've got a Nissan Almera which was built in conjunction with Renault, who were apparently responsible for the electrics. I have to have the interior light switched off otherwise it will come on at some point after parking up and drain the battery. Now and again when it is parked the hazard lights will come on and flash for about twenty seconds then go off again. After owning it for over a year I discovered recently that I had reversing sensors when they started working one morning and did so for almost a week before going back to sleep again. Occasionally a sidelight will stop working but before I change what seems to be a blown bulb it will spring back to life again.

Cracking car otherwise.

 

[Fnaar]

Ladies and gentlemen, the inimitable Renault 12

 

[mustang1]

What I found is their designs are nice but I'm not sure where the innovation claim comes from. Im not sure but only nowadays Renault has auto braking, lane departure warning, radar cruise, tensioning seatbelts and stuff like that, and those things were available on mercedes for at least 10 years or so.

Now the, when, lesser companies have access to that technology and they are claiming to be at the forefront of said technology. Sounds dubious to me .

 

[Fnaar]

I know next to nothing about how cars work, but I do love beautiful design (1950s American gas-guzzling monsters are a particular passion of mine). French car design is full of stunning examples, the best of which (imho) is the Citroen DS.

 

[wheresthetorch]

I learned to drive in one of these: