The time still can't be right for the Renault Avantime – but it's cool

The Renault Avantime is one of the bravest ideas for a mainstream manufacturer’s production car. In essence, we are talking about a personal luxury coupe three-door minivan, and one from France. It cannot have come as a surprise that it didn’t exactly sell like hot cakes; production lasted from 2001 to 2003, with little more than 8500 built. But cult status is definitely deserved, and these photos show just how weird an Avantime looks with the windows down. There are so many things going on with that rear pillar. The glasshouse is enormous. The leather chairs do look supremely comfortable, and the visibility must be great even from the rear seats. The steering wheel is the most ordinary thing in the car, even if it’s two-toned. Extra visibility and natural light is introduced through the skyroof; the car opens everything if the “Grand Air” mode button is used. Delusions of grand air? Next to the MX-5:s, the Avantime looks like a toaster. But what a toaster. [Source: These images were provided by Joe W, friend of Hooniverse!]