Introducing the Renault-Matra Avantime
The Avantime is one of the very few concept cars that made it into production.
It was first shown as a styling exercise at the 1998 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris (Paris motor Show). It made such an impact it was given the green light to be further developed into a production model.
Very little was changed in the overall look of the car to achieve this, and the end result is a stunning vehicle with great visual impact.
Unfortunately it was perhaps a little too advanced for the market at the time. In that regard it was well named. Sales of 40,000 units a year were aspired to, but after 18 months, only 4,500 vehicles had been sold and Renault pulled the plug. The Matra factory in France, which had produced the car, was closed. A sad end to an historic company.
The Avantime has seen a recent upsurge in it's popularity thanks to a recent BBC Top Gear episode in which the team attempted to modify an Avantime enabling it to beat a Mitsubishi Evo 10 round the Top Gear test track.
For a more detailed history of this future classic click on the "The Avantime" tab above
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