Renault R Space Lab Concept Changes How Cars Are Designed Inside

Renault has introduced an experimental concept known as the Renault R Space Lab, a vehicle designed to explore how future cars could evolve around the way people actually live and move. Rather than hinting at a specific production model, the project serves as a design study created within Renault’s internal innovation program called Garage Futurama. This initiative looks toward the period around 2030 and asks a simple question: what should a car feel like when daily life becomes more connected, digital, and flexible?

At first glance, the vehicle might remind some people of familiar Renault models such as the Megane or even the classic Espace family vehicle. But Renault makes it clear that the R Space Lab is not intended to preview a direct successor to either of those vehicles. Instead, it represents a modern interpretation of the brand’s long standing “cars for living” philosophy, where comfort, usability, and everyday practicality shape the design.

Inside the cabin, technology takes center stage. The dashboard is dominated by a wide curved OpenR Panorama display that stretches from one side of the cockpit to the other. This large screen merges driving data, multimedia functions, and driver assistance information into a single interface. Most vehicle functions are controlled through a central touchscreen, reducing the number of physical buttons and creating a clean, modern layout.

The steering system also moves into the future. Renault equips the concept with steer by wire technology, removing the traditional mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. The compact steering wheel design works with the digital cockpit to create a lighter and more open driving environment.

Safety and driver support are also being explored in new ways. One unusual feature under evaluation is a tactile alcohol detection device designed especially with younger drivers in mind. Renault is also experimenting with artificial intelligence systems that could act as a digital safety companion, helping drivers stay aware and automatically adjusting certain vehicle settings to match individual preferences.

Flexibility is a major theme in the R Space Lab. The concept uses a compact one box architecture measuring about 4.5 meters long and roughly 1.5 meters tall. Engineers integrated the passenger side airbags directly into the seat structure, freeing up the dashboard area and opening new possibilities for storage. In that space, Renault added a configurable glovebox that can function either as storage or as a fold out shelf for everyday items.

The passenger seat can slide far back, creating a more social cabin environment and making it easier for occupants to interact with those sitting in the rear.

In the back of the vehicle, three individual seats of equal width offer additional versatility. The seatbacks fold down while the seat cushions flip upward, allowing the cabin to transform depending on the situation. Combined with the flat floor layout, the interior can shift between passenger space and cargo capacity. For example, the rear area could easily accommodate larger objects such as a bicycle or bulky luggage.

Accessibility was also considered in the design. The rear doors open to a full 90 degrees, making it much easier for passengers to enter and exit the vehicle.

Another standout feature is the sense of openness created by the extensive use of glass. The windshield flows seamlessly into a fully glazed roof, while slim pillars and frameless doors allow more natural light to enter the cabin. The result is an airy interior that feels closer to a modern living space than a traditional automobile.

Through the R Space Lab concept, Renault is studying how interior architecture, digital technology, and everyday usability can merge to shape vehicles of the next decade. While it may never appear on the road exactly as shown, the ideas explored here could influence how Renault designs future vehicles built around the needs of real people.