Forget fine wines, paintings and jewellery – if you are investing for the future, why not invest in one of the greatest grand tourers ever made, a French minivan-coupé, the Renault Avantime, that will become collectable in the years to come?
Symbol of 21st century modernity
The Avantime was first shown in February 1999 in concept form at a press launch in the Louvre, and one month later to the public at the Geneva Auto Show — where it was referred to as a "Coupéspace" — and went into production (November 2001) two years later, after the subsequent engineering of the pillarless roof to meet highest safety standards. Renault has spent the time between trying to persuade us. Renault saw it as an opportunity for avant-garde design and has made strenuous efforts to have Avantime accepted as a symbol of 21st century modernity. Remember, this is the same country that brought you Citroën. To that end (2001), a deal was struck with the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to associate Avantime with one of the most spectacular public buildings, designed by the American architect Frank Gehry.
French madness at it's finest
The Renault Avantime is a shooting-brake marketed by the French manufacturer Renault, designed and manufactured by Matra, between 2001 and 2003. As a one-box design without B-pillars, styled by Patrick Le Quément, the premium priced Avantime combined the space of an estate with the style of a GT coupé. The nonconformist Avantime was part of a high-risk strategy to take Renault back into the high-end luxury car business. The abrupt end of the Renault Avantime was however entirely predictable. Commercial reality dictates that the more idiosyncratic, French-flavoured execs never have worked in the high end of the market that is dominated by German luxury cars from manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. Reasons of this failure?
- Premium pricing unusual for a Renault;
- Avantime concept and design too innovative for its time;
- Time between concept-car (02-1999) and launching (11-2001);
- Avantime was launched together with Vel Satis and Espace IV.
Class, luxury and aristocracy
Think France, and often visions of luxury follow. Not only stuff like the Chateau de Versailles, Louis the 14th, Paris or Champagne, but also products like high end watches, fashion, expensive wines and food, luxury hotels and the French Riviera. For a lot of things, being French gives an image of class, luxury and aristocracy. Look at Louis Vuitton, Moët Champagne, Cognac, Hermès, Michelin stars or Bugatti.
Vive la différence
Time has done little to blunt the oddness of the Avantime, which looks like a coupé people carrier. However, BBC's Top Gear positioned the Renault Avantime at 'Sub Zero' on the 'Cool Wall' stating it was cooler even than the Aston Martin Vanquish and "the coolest car money can buy". Volumes are low (8,557 examples) and it definitely has offbeat appeal. Regarding the styling, Thierry Metroz, design project manager Matra, said, "We wanted someone walking around the car to be continually astonished." Its doors are astonishingly long (and have to be double-hinged to allow entry and exit in confined spaces), and the pillarless sides, frameless windows, and huge glass sunroof give it an unusually light and airy feel.
Why do you want one?
The Renault Avantime is an extraordinary car: no doubt about that. Whatever your view, in an increasingly uniform world, you should give Renault credit for daring to be different. Nowadays the Renault Avantime is an affordable cool car and it is likely to become collectable in the years to come. Ever-larger amounts of money might begin to change hands as the value of this once-ridiculed big coupé climbs steadily higher. Surely not? Two words: 'Citroën SM'. Renault Avantime has managed to become a Classic Car from the first day of it's appearance. There's been no other modern car that has said "bollocks to convention" quite like the Avantime. They're also very exclusive due to the low production figure. Nowadays inly estimated 4,500 Avantime are in drivers's hands worldwide. I expect it'll be revered in years to come as the Citroen SM of it's generation. If you buy one, look after it, baby it and keep it for at least a few years, you are likely to make an appreciation in value. Crucially, it will be a lot of fun to own.
Vive la France
My late 2002 noir nocturne Avantime (photo) is viable as a daily driver. It provides so much personal satisfaction that the years and miles just fly by, while the enduring qualities remain picture perfect. The eccentric, commercial failed French Renault Avantime minivan-coupé is actually one of the greatest grand tourers ever made.
