Renault Ondelios

Renault has always been good at building comfortable, luxurious cars, and the Ondelios follows in that fine tradition. It drives effortlessly, makes use of its cabin space efficiently and has enough toys to keep even the most demanding passengers occupied. Although this amazing concept will eventually be a replacement for the Espace, it’s got more in common with a limo such as the Mercedes S-Class as Renault attempts to move the people carrier on from the current multi-purpose vehicle principle.

Renault might have been slammed for the conservative looks of the latest Laguna and new Mégane, but here’s moving proof that the firm hasn’t lost its adventurous spirit! This is the Ondelios, one of the stars of the recent Paris Motor Show – and we’re the first magazine in the world to drive it.

If you’re hoping the Ondelios will be coming to a showroom near you any time soon, you’ll be disappointed. The six-seater is Renault’s vision of what a people carrier will be like in 2020 – and, if that’s the case, we’ve got some adapting to do!

The French manufacturer is no stranger to producing head-turning flagship models, but the likes of the Vel Satis and Avantime proved as spectacular to look at as they were commercial failures. What makes the Ondelios so different?

Well, Renault believes that as time passes cars will become increasingly targeted to specific buyers. And anyone wanting an MPV that’s a true multi-purpose vehicle will have to look elsewhere; the Ondelios is all about carrying passengers as luxuriously as possible – and little else.

It’s certainly a visual feast, with more futuristic details than the Starship Enterprise. For instance, the electric gullwing doors glide up to reveal a cabin that resembles a trendy home cinema rather than simply a place to put passengers. The seats are arranged over three rows of two, but raised sides mean each can be made private should you wish.

If there’s no one in the back row, the middle and front passenger chairs recline. And with extending leg supports and headrest-mounted speakers and DVD screens, whistling along a motorway is akin
to crossing continents at 37,000 feet in Club Class.

Even though the Ondelios sits on monster 23-inch wheels, the ride is remarkably smooth. And if you think a 2.0-litre diesel sounds a bit small for a car that’s even longer than the current Espace, you’d be wrong. This model employs a prototype hybrid power system that is claimed to be one of the most punchy and adaptable of its type.

Two 20kW electric motors – one under the bonnet, the other beneath the back seat – kick in when either the extra grip of four-wheel drive is needed or the oil-burner requires a power boost.

It means progress is effortless and, although we didn’t put it to the test, Renault’s suggested 0-60mph figure of 7.8 seconds is wholly believable. Plus, because the Ondelios has a drag coefficient of 0.29 – better even than the 0.34 of a Ferrari F430 – wind noise is not a big issue, either.

From behind the wheel, the newcomer feels like the big car it is, with that long rear overhang making the cabin behind seem endless. And it’s not only passengers who get lots of toys; the driver is equally well catered for. Clever ‘underskin technology’ sees the dashboard turn into a giant touchscreen, with enormous buttons for the sat-nav and in-car entertainment. It’s easy to use and means you barely need to take your eyes off the road.

The Ondelios returns an impressive 62.7mpg and emits only 120g/km of CO2. This is thanks to a combination of that seamless hybrid drivetrain, the wind-cheating shape and a revolutionary new lightweight composite material that makes up the body. Family car buyers – and fans of adventurous design – have plenty to look forward to.

Rival: Citroen Hypnos
Mixing coupé looks with the practicality of an SUV, this 4x4 hybrid was yet another stunning Paris show concept. It points to a future C5-based crossover.