The body of the Renault Espace (third version) includes 21 parts in SMC (Sheet Moulding Compounds). These body panels are moulded by Matra (Route d'Orcay, F-41300 Theillay), then they are painted and bonded on to the galvanized chassis at another Matra's factory (Romorantin). In order to reduce the weight of the vehicle, Matra has developed lighter-weight SMC compounds in cooperation with Menzolit (BP 19, F-41353 Vineuil Cedex) and Mecelec Composites (BP 88, RN 86 Mauves, F-07302 Tournon sur Rhone).

"All the challenge was to reduce the thickness and the density of the panels without altering their mechanical properties and their aspect", explains Pascal Prost, general director of Matra's Theillay factory. With these new compounds, Matra succeeded to decrease the thickness of the parts from 2,5 mm to 2 mm, thus saving about 4 kg per vehicle.

By incorporating glass microspheres in the formulation, it is also possible to reduce the density of the parts from 1,9 to 1,6. So far only the rear wings of the Espace combine low density and reduced thickness. In 1998, Matra wants to extend the use of these lighter-weight compounds to the entire vehicle. When all parts will have been converted, the body of the Espace should weigh around 66,5 kg, instead of currently 74,5 kg.

The Espace is co-produced by Renault and Matra. Since the first version appeared on the market in 1984, both carmakers have recorded 580 000 registrations. The Espace third generation was launched in 1996. It's developement cost FRF 2,5bn, compared with FRF 12bn for a steel-bodied vehicle such as the Renault Safrane. In Europe, the Espace ranks at second place on the monospace market, with 17%, behind the Sharan Galaxy (38%). In France, it ranks first on the monospace market with 41%.