1998 - Espera Pontarlier

Espider Renault Espace Spider - 1998

At first sight, transforming a peaceful minivan into an aggressive roadster sounds like a strange idea. But that's exactly what the Sbarro students from the Espera center in Pontarlier did in 1998.

The Espider when it was restarted in 2015. Note the right-hand drive.

24 heures du Mans

It all began with one man, Bruno David, General Manager of SEM, the management company of the world's most famous and prestigious race: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He wanted Sbarro to present some of its creations at the 1998 race. Not content with a simple exhibition, Sbarro came up with a crazy idea: to build a spider based on a Renault Espace, with five seats, in order to offer track christenings to the various VIPs invited by the organizers.
Matra, which builds the Espace for Renault, accepted the offer. The aim was to recall the brand's past successes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Renault agreed: the Espace spider could follow in the footsteps of the famous Formula 1-powered Espace F1. As for Sbarro, apart from a touch of nostalgia (he took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a mechanic with the Filipinetti stable), he has a tempting project to submit to his students, with the added bonus of good media coverage. In short, it's a win-win situation.
No roof, no windscreen, five seats, two-tone. The Espider at the Matra Museum in Romorantin (photo Wikipedia)

Roadster and monospace

When it came to styling, the Espera students worked closely with Renault's styling department. There was no question of doing just anything. As Renault was involved in the project, the spider had to retain the original Espace's features. The result is a four-door spider with five seats: two at the front in separate cockpits and three at the rear in a cloverleaf arrangement.
The windscreen disappears in favor of a windshield that protects the driver and passenger, but also exposes the three people sitting in the elevated position at the rear. To compensate for any deformation of the stripped body, numerous reinforcements have been installed in the body. A small detail: the car on which the project is based is of English origin, with right-hand drive, just like the competition cars of the heyday!
The Espider alongside the monstrous Espace F1. Two radical transformations, but very different in spirit.

V6 194 hp

No Formula 1 engine as in the Espace F1. The car was equipped with Renault's 194 hp V6. This was a preview at the time, as the engine would not be offered as standard equipment on the Espace until a few months later. As with the base model, the spider is front-wheel drive. By the way, the car inherits an exhaust system that emerges from the center of the rear bumper.

 In the end, Sbarro and his students created a car that was spectacular but not as extravagant as it might seem. Aesthetically, it leaves no one indifferent (even if the rear end is a little massive). And mechanically, it's still very wise with its standard engine. Its biggest flaw? It's a one-off! Now on display at the Matra Museum in Romorantin, the Espider was restored to working order in 2015 on the occasion of a TV show.
The rear is a little massive.

Extract from the press release of June 3, 1998

"For the next 24 Hours, Franco Sbarro, stylist and engineer of genius, will present a slightly extravagant car in the spirit of an offshore, based on the Renault Espace. The fruit of collaboration between students at his school, Matra engineers and Renault design, this aggressively styled, completely uncovered Espace spider will present the public at the Sarthe circuit with some very special guests at the opening of the legendary race.

 A project for enthusiasts

For many years, Franco Sbarro has applied his creativity and capacity for innovation to the creation of concept cars and original vehicles on the bangs of the traditional automotive landscape. Naturally fascinated by motor sport, in 1997 he proposed to the Société de Gestion des 24H du Mans to develop a car that would enable the public to get closer to the personalities present (famous drivers, entertainment personalities, etc.), while at the same time enlivening the few hours preceding the race. Once the idea had been launched, Matra and Renault lent their support to the 1998 graduating class of the Sbarro (Espera) design center, who would be responsible for building the car. Matra contributed the skills of its engineers to calculate structural modifications, while Renault ensured the coherence of the overall design. And Le Mans evokes vibrant times for both partners...

Muscular styling for a playful concept

The precepts that guided the design of this project were simple: dimensions that emphasize the visibility of the three "VIP" passengers in the public eye, and powerful lines that emphasize compactness and simplicity to create very sporty shapes. The designers' brief also included immediate recognition of the Espace's profile and lines.

Following in the footsteps of another thrill-seeking machine, the Spider, this Espace's distinctive feature is that it is completely open to the outside world. To enhance the view of the three passengers, the driver and co-driver are set back behind a spoiler in the extension of the hood, incorporating two bubble-shaped bosses. A prominent air-intake grille on the front bumper, generous wheel arches extended by streamlined rocker panels, and wider front and rear tracks (+14 cm) all contribute to the car's dynamic character. Ground clearance has also been reduced by 25 mm compared with a standard Espace. Resolutely sporty, this Espace is fitted with 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 255 35 ZR tires at the front and 335 30 ZR at the rear.
Two colors dominate this car: gray and blue. The bodywork, with its vigorous, edgy design, is finished in gray for the upper beltline and France blue for the lower section. Inside, the cabin features 5 Sparco bucket seats with grey harmony and blue safety harnesses. The floor covering is in ribbed aluminum, and the steering wheel is also special. All materials have been designed for outdoor use.

A reinforced structure

The very architecture of the Espace and the hot-dip galvanizing integrated into Matra's specific manufacturing process guarantee optimized rigidity from the outset. To meet the particular constraints of this car, engineers made specific modifications to the structure. A central hoop positioned behind the driver and co-driver is complemented at the front by a cross-member connecting the two spars at pedal height. At the rear, an oversized cross-member is integrated into the tailgate to act as a roll-bar for rear passengers. The "Espider" also benefits from reinforcements in the fenders. Special front and rear suspension springs enhance the car's dynamic behavior on the racetrack.
The Espace presented at Le Mans prefigures the new 194hp 24-valve V6 petrol engine that will shortly be marketed on the standard Espace. This engine is combined with a 4-speed automatic transmission with 6 shift speeds."

Sbarro, Matra and Renault developed this project with the support of :
Michelin (tires)
Sparco (seats)
Devil (exhaust)
SEM (Société de Gestion des 24H du Mans)

In brief
1- Official collaboration between the Le Mans 24-hour race organization, Matra, Renault, Sbarro and Espera
2- Roofless roadster designed for track baptisms
3- Powered for the first time by the Renault Espace V6 engine
  • Six-cylinder V engine
  • Transverse rear mid-position
  • Displacement 2946 cm3
  • 194 hp
  • Front-wheel drive
  • 4-speed 6-mode automatic transmission