Experience Renault’s Living Legacy: Iconic Cars & Art
Renault gathers its exceptional collection of historic vehicles, artworks and archives in a purpose-built exhibition centre at Flins, 40 kilometres west of Paris, set to open in 2027. Visitors will roam themed displays that illuminate 125 years of design ingenuity, technological progress, and cultural impact, making the Renault Heritage Centre a vibrant destination for enthusiasts and families alike.
“I believe that a brand draws its strength first and foremost from its roots. Our industrial and cultural heritage is rooted in 125 years of history and remains incredibly relevant today. It inspires our workforce every day in their efforts to imagine the future of mobility. And you could say that it belongs to everyone, since Renault is also part of a universal popular culture. This is why we wanted to share our heritage widely, through a dynamic and open experience accessible to everyone. The new site is a family venue, where you can stroll around the cars, and reconnect with a history that is not static but constantly evolving: a heritage that makes us proud and that we want to convey to the full,” said Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of Renault Brand.
Renault launches this project to share its industrial and cultural legacy with the broadest audience. From 2027, the public can immerse themselves in the marque’s story, rediscovering iconic models that shaped technology and society. Because car shapes cities, life, art, and culture, each Renault vehicle stands as a testament to everyday life. Immersive virtual reality will guide guests through an odyssey that entwines the brand’s history with that of France, while the Renault art collection adds creative depth.
The Flins exhibition centre stands on the historic site that has produced more than 18 million vehicles—from the Dauphine and Renault 5 to four generations of the Clio and ZOE. Renault transformed the site into the Refactory in 2021, pioneering circular-economy mobility, and now extends that vision by opening its heritage to the public.
Architect Jacob Celnikier of CGA designs a gateway linking Flins and Elisabethville with the Renault world. Six interlocking volumes climb like a monumental staircase, their vertical rhythm contrasting the plant’s horizontal sweep. Generous apertures reveal gleaming bodywork on every level, offering tantalising glimpses of the Renault collection from outside.
Inside, a 2,800-square-metre events hall soars towards a dramatic wall of cars displayed on giant racks, while surrounding zones support consultation, storage and restoration. Skilled technicians will operate an on-site workshop to keep more than half the fleet road-ready, showcasing live craftsmanship that underpins the Flins heritage centre.
“For the first time, Renault is opening the doors to its heritage, celebrating over 125 years of innovation, design and automotive passion with this unique, vibrant venue open to all. The visitor experience is simply breathtaking: thousands of objects, hundreds of artworks, and, above all, a truly unique display of iconic cars lined up on pallets, like jewels suspended in space. A spectacular showcase that is worthy of the incredible history we wish to share,” said Arnaud Belloni, Chief Branding Officer, Renault.
Beyond cars, Renault preserves 2,400 linear metres of archives—comprising posters, design drawings, miniatures, trophies, and books—that chart its journey since 1898. Hundreds of pristine vehicles, ranging from Louis Renault’s 1898 Type A and pre-war classics to Formula 1 racers, Alpines, and futuristic concept cars, illustrate the technological leaps across generations. An Artcurial auction on 6–7 December will release duplicate models, ensuring the living collection continues to evolve.
The Renault art collection also takes centre stage. The Renault Fund for Art and Culture, launched in June 2024, safeguards historic works while commissioning contemporary creators—especially street artists—to renew the dialogue between art and industry. Visitors will encounter photographs by Robert Doisneau, Arman’s 1967 Renault 4, Erró’s Renault 5 series, Victor Vasarely’s op-art, including the 1972 diamond logo, and Jean Dubuffet’s Art Brut. Modern pieces such as Dan Rawlings’ Bourgeon and Accrescent and César Malfi’s Heritage, forged at Flins in 2024, extend that tradition.
“Street art is a contemporary response to Renault's original artistic ambitions, and its support for pop art and kinetic art in the 1960s. The Street Art movement brings art to the streets, making it available to everyone. In this way, too, it echoes the purpose of a vehicle manufacturer, whose production also ‘lives’ on the street. The link between our “popular” values and street art is important,” said Catherine Artos, VP, Art, Patrimoine et mécénat.
Flins’ former paint shops now host the 3,200-square-metre Art Factory, where urban-art residencies let creators repurpose industrial materials. A converted 1937 Renault bus by Gérard Zlotykamien anchors the space, while artists such as Jean Faucheur fashion new works that will enrich future exhibitions.
Through restoration, residencies, and interactive storytelling, Renault invites everyone to experience a living legacy where historic vehicles, Artistic art, and sustainable innovation drive forward together, ensuring the Renault Heritage Centre remains a beacon of automotive culture for generations to come.
