THE KNOWLEDGE

TIMELINE

1995 Initiale concept shown

1999 Concept launched at Geneva in March; production version unveiled later in the year at the Frankfurt show

2001 Launch: 2.0 turbo petrol, 162bhp, 184lb ft; 3.0 V6, 210bhp, 207lb ft

2002 Auto option added on V6 only; 2.2 turbodiesel added in LHD only, with 148bhp and 236lb ft

2003 Avantime canned, and Matra abandons car production

FACTFILE

Sold/number built 2001-’03/8557

Construction galvanised steel platform and aluminium body frame, with unstressed glassfibre panels

Engine iron-block, alloy-head, dohc, 16v 2188cc turbodiesel ‘four’ with direct fuel injection; dohc, 16v 1998cc turbocharged petrol ‘four’, direct fuel injection; or allalloy, dohc-per-bank, 24v 2946cc V6 with sequential multi-point fuel injection

Max power 148bhp @ 4000rpm to 210bhp @ 6000rpm

Max torque 184lb ft @ 2000rpm to 236lb ft @ 1750rpm

Transmission six-speed manual or fivespeed auto, FWD with traction control Suspension independent, at front by Macpherson struts rear torsion beam, coil springs, anti-roll bar f/r; ESP stability control

Steering power-assisted rack and pinion

Brakes discs, with servo, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD)

Length 15ft 2¾in (4642mm)

Width 6ft ¼in (1834mm)

Height 5ft 4in (1627mm)

Wheelbase 8ft 10½in (2702mm)

Weight 3610-3874lb (1641-1761kg)

0-60mph 8.8-11.4 secs

Top speed 121-128mph Mpg 22-40

Price new £24,050 (2.0)/£27,050 (3.0)

CLUBS

Amicale Avantime amicale-avantime.com Avantime Owners UK avantime-owners. com/forum Matra Enthusiasts Club UK matra-club.net

SPECIALISTS

Avantime Restorations 07946 780756

Autopartspro autopartspro.co.uk

Vehiclewise renault-spares.co.uk

MIJ Exhaust mijexhaust.com

MKL Motors mklmotors.co.uk

WHATTOPAY

2.0 Turbo £1200/5000/10,000 3.0V6* £1500/6500/12,000 *V6 manuals are most collectible so tend to command a premium. LHD cars on the Continent can fetch up to twice the prices achieved for similar RHD cars in the UK