The Renault Scénic Story
Who remembers the first Renault Scénic? Well believe it of not, the car first appeared in 1996 as the Megane Scénic at the time and became widely regarded as the first compact MPV in European automotive history. It was named to spark the desire to travel and explore the world outside. Its first four generations came with the same built-in upsides: they were all roomy, packed with useful technology and eminently safe.
In the 1990s, Renault’s reputation as a brand that made cars for life and living was at its peak. It had introduced Espace, its high-end MPV, in 1984, then its city-friendly Twingo in 1993. And Scénic was about to take it to the next level with the first compact MPV for families on the market.
The concept car was unveiled in 1991 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the road-going version reached dealerships in 1996. It was designed from the inside out for every passenger’s well being, and named Megane Scénic at the time. It was a cocoon for cross-country travel, pioneering, safe, comfortable and super easy to drive. For this era it was full of trailblazing technology and with windows that were larger than life for excellent visibility.
It was voted European Car of the Year in 1997 and Renault has sold more than 5.4 million of them in 110 countries. The following generations. Scénic II in 2003, Scénic III in 2009 then Scénic IV in 2016 all came in a choice of two lengths. It is a vehicle that has always worked for the era it was for sale in. Renault has extensively upgraded its invention over the years while keeping all the original distinctive features including comfort, safety and useful technology but now things are about to change dramatically.
Renault has chosen to name its future all-electric family vehicle as Scénic E-Tech electric, it will be all of the above, and it will be radically reinvented. Everything about it is new, except the name. In 2022, it called its pioneering concept car Scénic Vision, and with it heralded the fifth Scénic generation. It is reinventing its invitation to travel with a high-tech, connected vehicle that encapsulates the Group’s strategy for sustainable development and safety. Renault Scénic E-Tech electric will be unveiled this year at IAA Mobility in Munich. Watch this space in September for more about this new all electric family-friendly vehicle.
