The 1995 Renault Espace F1 is one of those legendary cars only for true motor lovers, a minivan with the heart of a Formula 1.
There are times in the history of the car industry when manufacturers have really gone crazy. One of those episodes took place in 1995, when the diamond firm decided to combine a Formula 1 and a large minivan in a single vehicle. The result was the Renault Espace F1, one of those legendary cars only for true motor lovers.
It was the mid-1990s and Renault was satisfied with the sales performance of its largest minivan, the Renault Espace. It had been on the market for a decade and it was time to celebrate the good results by showing the world what the company was capable of with a little ingenuity and a lot of talent.
Mythical cars only for true motor lovers: Renault Espace F1
Renault Sport engineers were immersed in the Formula 1 World Championship, so they had the experience and access to the technology of the highest competition. So they thought, what if we installed the engine of a Formula 1 single-seater in the bodywork of the second generation Renault Espace, which was the model that was sold at the time?
Said and done. The engineers went to work and subjected the Espace to a significant weight loss. Many of its components were replaced by carbon fiber counterparts and the chassis was reinforced to adapt it to its new role: to carry the Formula 1 engine.
The propeller chosen was nothing more and nothing less than the 3.5-liter 40-valve V10 from the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C. This engine generated a more than respectable 700 horsepower, especially if we take into account that it was going to be installed in a single-seater. However, Renault thought that it was not enough and made a series of adjustments to raise the figure to 800 hp.
The new engine was installed in a central position, which helped to achieve a balanced weight distribution and maximum stability. Next to the block, a six-speed automatic gearbox that sent power to the rear. With this combination, the Renault Espace F1 went from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and needed only 4.1 seconds more to reach 200 km/h.
The maximum speed was estimated at 312 km/h. A reinforced suspension was also installed that could cope with the new performance and the original brakes were replaced with a carbon and ceramic kit that achieved a much more efficient result. And the weight was left at just 1,300 kilos, so it was a full-fledged supercar.
Of course, things did not stop there. Renault installed a complete body kit consisting of a bumper with large air inlets and outlets, a widened body, a new rear bumper, competition wheels with racing tires and, the jewel in the crown, a huge rear spoiler that even had with lights at each end, like an airplane.
Inside, the spacious and comfortable cabin of the Espace has been replaced with four carbon fiber bucket seats with safety harnesses and a roll cage. The Renault Espace F1 never made it past the prototype stage, but it is one of those cars that will be a legend forever.
