Renault launched a new 1.3 litre, direct injection turbocharged petrol engine, co-developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Daimler at the Geneva show.
It is fitted first in updated Captur and Scenic models also making their world debut at the show.
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“The new powerplant combines significantly greater driving enjoyment with higher torque at low engine speeds, plus higher, more consistent torque at higher revs and lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It also meets the highest standards of reliability and durability,” the automaker claimed.
Alliance-developed innovations include mirror bore coating, a technology used for the Nissan GT-R engine to improve energy efficiency by reducing friction and optimising heat conduction. Other technology inlcudes direct injection with fuel pressure increased to 250 bar and a special combustion chamber design to optimise the air fuel mixture and double cam phasing variable valve timing (VVT) which controls the intake and exhaust valves as a function of how the engine is being used. The result is higher torque at low revs along with more consistent torque delivery at higher engine speeds.
Scenic engines will come in 115, 130, 140 and 160hp tune; the 160hp version is up 30hp compared with its predecessor. Peak torque is 270Nm, up 65Nm on the previous unit’s 205Nm.
In the Captur, the 130hp engine – with manual transmission – will produce peak torque of 220Nm from 1,500rpm to 3,500rpm. The engine will also be available in a 150hp variant (with EDC and manual transmission) with peak torque of 250Nm from 1,600rpm to 3,250rpm.
“Our new petrol engine harnesses the expertise of the engineers that work for Renault, the alliance and Daimler. It meets the high quality standards of both the alliance and Daimler and was submitted to more than 40,000 hours of testing and simulation running. It has a global calling and will be manufactured in five plants [at the rate] of around 1m units annually in the future,” said Philippe Brunet, alliance head of powertrain and electric vehicle engineering.
