Renault Avantime V6

Renault Avantime V6

The Renault Avantime is one of the most remarkable automotive experiments of the 21st century, a car that defied categorization and market logic to create something genuinely unique. Based on the Renault Espace III platform but reimagined as a three-door coupe, the Avantime combined the tall, spacious body of an MPV with the pillarless doors and sporting pretensions of a luxury coupe. It was brilliant, bonkers, and a commercial catastrophe.

The Avantime was built by Matra, the French aerospace and automotive company that had also manufactured the Renault Espace. Matra's engineering department developed the complex pillarless door mechanism that was the car's party trick. The front and rear doors were frameless, and when both were opened simultaneously on one side, the resulting aperture was vast, with no B-pillar interrupting the opening. The engineering required to make this work while meeting crash safety standards was extraordinary.

The design, by Patrick le Quement's team at Renault, was unlike anything else on the road. The tall, squared-off body was surprisingly elegant in its proportions, with large glass areas, distinctive rear pillars, and a confident stance. The pillarless profile with all windows down was genuinely stunning. However, the design polarized opinion, and many potential buyers simply could not accept a coupe that was as tall as an MPV.

The V6 version used Renault's 2,946cc naturally aspirated engine producing 210 horsepower, mated to a five-speed Proactive automatic gearbox that could also be operated in sequential manual mode. Performance was adequate rather than thrilling, with the car's 1,680-kilogram weight blunting the V6's output. A 2.0-liter turbocharged version and a 2.2-liter diesel were also available.

The interior was spacious and well-appointed, with four individual seats and a panoramic glass roof. The high seating position provided excellent visibility, and the cabin ambiance was closer to a luxury SUV than a traditional coupe. Quality of materials was good, and the equipment level was generous.

Commercially, the Avantime was a disaster. Only 8,545 were produced between 2001 and 2003 before production was halted. The car's unconventional concept, Renault pricing, and the bankruptcy of Matra (which ceased automotive production entirely) combined to doom the project. The Avantime became the last car Matra ever built.

Today, the Avantime has achieved cult status. Its rarity, unique concept, and Matra heritage have made it a cherished oddity among French car enthusiasts. Values remain modest but are rising as collectors recognize that nothing like the Avantime will ever be built again.