Test Drive Renault Espace since 2006 Minivan
Renault move: "Espas" - on E4
The new Espas invaded the most prestigious segment of the representative E-class market. Transparent roof of new space
Probably, sooner or later this should have happened. Just for the second time in its history, a small private firm specializing in a piece, manual assembly of retro-roadster for nostalgic gentlemen decided to imagine a completely modern car. The tiny street Mark Aureliya joined a wide avenue, the mouth of which is overclosed by the hute Coliseum. Having stopped at the traffic light, looking at the most famous circus in the world, trying to realize his two-year-old age no, it does not fit in his head. In the meantime, I feel the closest gaze and there is another Espas, for today, probably the third. His owner, nimalo does not hesitate, with frank curiosity looks at my car. It is understandable, because it is absolutely new Renault Espas-IV, the premiere of which still should take place in a few days at the Paris Motor Show. And how the creators of the car told me yesterday, two thirds of his future buyers exactly the owners of the espass of previous generations.
Not even looking at the emblem, it is easy to guess the kinship of a car with the most popular French minivans characteristic silhouette, recognizable elements. Preserved, for example, a pretty pseudo-anti-carbon on the roof is actually a pair of trunk sliding arcs. By the way, about the roof: it is completely transparent with a sliding front half of this is the biggest hatch in the world, an area of \u200b\u200b2.16 m2! As if setting the goal to fully reveal the name of the machine (Espas in French means both space, and space), the designers tried to literally fill the big body of their brainchild. Just imagine the total area of \u200b\u200bglazing almost seven and a half square meters!
Of course, absorbing the family features of the new models of Renault Vel-Satis, Avantime, Megan Machine has become more modern, energetic and muscular, having received the wheels with dimension of up to 18 inches. Nevertheless, not an autumn appearance of the French say that, creating a car, inspired by modern architecture and furniture mainly in the fourth in the account of Espac. It is now not just a spacious family truck. Espas-IV Minivan luxury minivan, a luxurious minibus, in terms of equipment is not inferior, and according to the characteristics of the controllability, close to large representation sedans.
Down with stereotypes! Remy Deconenk, Vice-President Renault on promising developments: We are not afraid to change the traditional ideas of people about car design, destroy the established stereotypes. Moreover, we believe that this will attract new customers to us. If the prestigious car should be high-speed, spacious, comfortable and safe, then the new generation of monotrousers Avantime, Vel-Satis, and now Espas-IV meets these requirements to the maximum extent.
In the meantime, a green arrow was lit, the navigation complex was labored once again turn the right of sorry, the old man, once I pose, you still need to draw on the motorway.
Me holling and cherished While it was chosen from the city, the evening Roman sky frowned and woke up with a small rain: xenon headlights, the Gulf of the blue asphalt Via Salaria broke out, the brushes woke up, licking the drops of rare swabs, the rear window tried to bury themselves, but immediately became the striped electrical heating. I press the button above your head, from somewhere behind the ceiling sails, burning off from the roof with an uncomfortable wet glass.
In general, for minivan there is an extraordinarily many automatic, facilitating life and, naturally, a wallet. For example, keys and keychain replaces an electronic card, and it can even be sewed in the jacket floor so as not to lose, it is not necessary to get it. The automation remotely recognizes the owner and unlock the doors, it is only to take the handle, restore the individual adjustments of the seat, mirrors, climatic and audio system for starting the motor only to press the START-STOP button. And besides, pressure sensors in wheels and parking, cruise control, numerous servo drives, automatic dimming mirrors.
Safety systems are equally advanced: ABS and Trekshn control, emergency braking and stabilization systems, three-point belts on all chairs, and in front with two pyrotechnic tensioners each and an effort limiter, eight airbags, including adaptive front and huge side curtains for three ( !) Sitting rows and even inflatable cavities in the pillows of seats, preventing the passenger squaling.
In the list of options, a whole DVD studio, including a player in a standard DIN slot and two liquid crystal displays in the front head restraints
The main climate control control panel is located on the driver's door, slightly smaller by passengers
Do not red, but golden! All this is packaged in a car body, which, remaining a full minivan, additionally acquired some features of the passenger car. A huge, spacious interior is very comfortable, all the seats of the second and third rows are absolutely the same and allow any conceivable permutations and combinations. By the way, there is almost indistinguishable externally modification of the Grand Espac, which is longer than 20 cm. Of course, blinds, armrests, folding tables, boxes-niche pockets, a total volume of 100 liters! Climate installation is a separate song: Not only is the adjustable air ducts are connected to each chair, the electric heaters with a total capacity of 2 kW are still built into it, and for the northern countries, an autonomous heater for 5 kW is installed. And with everything, with a diligent landing in low chairs, a slightly inclined steering wheel with excellent feedback, quick and accurate reactions on the road.
Another important feature of the new Espas, on which the French, completely recycled suspension be devastated with particular pride. It is no secret that large minivans of Renault differed very pronounced insufficient turning. Espas-IV is equipped with anterior pendant from the lagoon and Vel-Satis and a completely new back. Working together with the stabilization system, the electronics simultaneously slows down two wheels and reduces the engine torque it returns the machine to the trajectory in turn.
Steel, aluminum and plastic In the body of Espa Steel traditionally remains a power frame. By the way, the use in the construction of steel with an ultra-high yield strength (in the picture these parts are shown in red) increased the energy absorbing body capacity by 2.5 times. The hood and side doors are made of aluminum alloy. This material is technological plastic with large volumes of production. After all, by 2009 it is planned to sell 450,000 cars, taking about 20% of the minivan market in Europe. Plastic remained only the front wings and the fifth door.
Flying normal
Over your head flashed Grande Ramccord Anulara Roman ring. Mentally crossing that there is a strength to step on the tail of the beast that sits under the hood. I muted muffling, he tried to pull the car from under me the number on the digital speedometer instantly became three-digit and the numbers were blocked, as in the slot machine. Two ahead was high and immediately, I left in the stern of some alpha. Okay, hide the horns and open the cards.
Under the hood of my Espa, the powerful 3,5-liter gasoline six from Nissan in almost two and a half hundred horses is an absolute power record in the class of minivans. However, at least, it is impossible to call the car to a car that exchanges the first hundred for 8.1 s and detects the maximum speed of 225 km / h. What is surprisingly magnificent noise and vibration isolation make high speed irremissible. Just fast and easy flight in space. As in general, it is high-class car. There are engines in the range and more compromised: two-liter gasoline with a capacity of 140 and 165 (with superior) l. s., as well as turboodiesels 1.9 liters (120 l. p.), 2, 2 l (150 l.) and 3.0 liters (180 l.). By the way, the intervals between services now make up 20 thousand km, and for 4-cylinder engines and at all 30 thousand km or two years. The cost of the maintenance of the fourth Espas in comparison with the previous model was halved.
Night. The city froze, throwing the mushroom of the day millennial ruins left one one over time. I am coming around the deserted streets, getting ready to part with the new Espak unfortunately, 60 thousand y. e. not my weight category.
RENAULT ESPACE 3,5 V6
Total information
Curb weight, kg
1815.
Length x Width x Height, mm
4661x1860x1728.
Base, mm.
2525.
Pitch in front / rear, mm
1574/1556
Maximum speed, km / h
225.
Acceleration time 0100 km / h, with
8,1
Road clearance, mm
120.
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km city / highway
17.5 / 9.5
Engine
Design
V-shaped, 6-cylinder, with adjustable phases of gas distribution
Cylinder diameter x Piston stroke, mm
95.5 x 81,4.
Working volume, SMZ
3498.
Power, hp (kW) at rpm
245 (177) / 6000
Torque, kgcm (nm) at rpm
34.3 (330) / 36200
Yuri Nizhtov, photo Renault and author
A source: Limousine magazine [11/02]
