At a recent event held in Paris, the French car maker Renault introduced a variety of new technologies and powertrain components. Some of these new technologies include a newly developed, more efficient and more compact electric motor, and a new turbocharged petrol engine adapted for use with LPG, and both of which are scheduled for introduction next year.
The new, compact electric motor – designed and made entirely by Renault – delivers similar performance to those in use today but is around 10 per cent smaller. It is a synchronous unit with a wound rotor and delivers 88bhp and 220Nm of torque. The new dual-fuel petrol/LPG engine however, promises 25 per cent lower fuel bills and 10 per cent lower CO2 emissions than a comparable petrol-only power unit. It is a three-cylinder engine featuring a turbocharger, engine Stop/Start, brake energy recovery and an eco-mode, and it complies with EU6 emissions regulations.
These modern technologies realize a fuel consumption reduction of 20% compared to a previous-generation LPG engine. But the highlight of the show was the introduction of the car makers latest powerful two-stroke, two-cylinder super-charged and turbo-charged diesel engine. This engine is only half the size of Renault’s 1.5-litre dCi diesel – the same one found in the Duster – and weighs 40 kilograms less, which makes it ideally suited for small vehicle platforms. The 730cc unit is super-charged and turbo-charged and will produce between 48bhp-68bhp with 112-145Nm of torque from 1,500rpm. However this new diesel engine is still undergoing testing and they have not mentioned when it will be introduced.