What's the news?
Renault decided that Ford wasn't going to be the only company capable of producing a sleek and stylish large people carrier for the Frankfurt Motor Show. The French brand unveiled the Initiale Paris - a new take on the traditional MPV that also serves to preview the replacement for the Espace.
Exterior
At 4.85 metres long, the Initiale Paris is no city car, although the flowing design of the body does give the impression that the new MPV isn't quite as large as it is. Its proportions are helped with some very un-MPV-like 22-inch wheels. The Initiale Paris also sits tall due to its SUV-like ground clearance, while the roofline flows in one smooth arch back from the bonnet giving the car a very sleek appearance.
Towards the rear there are still hints of current Renaults in the styling - the rear lights look like an over-exaggerated version of those seen on the Scenic XMOD, while the broad C-pillar rises from the rear passenger door but only meets the roof at the very back of the car. In case you were beginning to wonder why the city of Paris is referenced in the concept's name, it's because the aluminium and plexiglass roof depicts a map of the French capital. Bodywork is finished in an 'Amethyst' colour, which, depending on the angle from which it is viewed, changes from a deep metallic black to a luminous plum violet shade.
Interior
No concept car would be complete without some lavishly finished interior detail, and the Initiale Paris is no different. Wood and aluminium are abundant on the inside, finished as matt walnut and satin chrome, which not only looks very 'premium' but also has a higher level of tactility to it. The centre console also gradually blends from the natural wood to a glass black finish. This combination of well-crafted wood and aluminium is carried through to the floor.
Access at the back of the car is via rear-hinged doors, which deploy a motorised running board when opened in order to help entry and exit. Passengers in the first two rows also benefit from armchair-style seating in a way that is more private jet than people carrier. These seats employ some clever engineering whereby they are mounted not to the floor, but to the central transmission tunnel, which gives them the appearance of floating. It may seem totally unnecessary but we like it.
Mechanicals
At the front of the Initiale Paris are headlights comprising of a full-LED setup that not only offer increased levels of illumination but also incorporate a mechanism that causes an eyelid-like 'blink' in the light. Naturally, door mirrors would be far too conventional for a creation like this, so rearward facing, ultra-slim cameras serve as the mirrors.
Powering the Initiale Paris concept is an enhanced version of the dCi 130 diesel engine, which produces up to 400Nm of torque while emitting 40g/km less CO2 than the conventional diesel unit. Mated to this is a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, which is set up to add to the car's fuel economy. This particular engine also makes use of steel pistons in order to further cut down on internal friction. The reason for this is that steel pistons dilate less than aluminium pistons, which improves the clearances inside the cylinder at higher temperatures, enhancing efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
Anything else?
Obviously if you're carrying a few people in something like the Initiale Paris, you're going to have to keep them entertained, so Renault has teamed up with sound experts Bose, to equip the car with a 32-speaker stereo that includes 16 personal surround sound speakers. Additional speakers incorporated into the headrests mean than no passenger will miss out on sound quality. The only downside could be depending on who's in charge of choosing the music.
Dave Humphreys - 11 Sep 2013
