Renault has just surprised everyone by showcasing a brand new engine which is very powerful as well as fuel efficient. The automaker has revealed its new 1598cc engine. This 1.6-litre diesel engine is capable of churning out a maximum power output of 160 HP and a maximum torque of 380 Nm. The oil-burner comes equipped with two turbos and this is the reason behind the large power output figures that the company is claiming. In comparison, Audi’s 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, that powers the A4, Q5, A6 produces 177 BHP of power and 380 Nm of torque. This clearly shows that even though Renault has downsized on the engine capacity, the power output is similar to a 2.0-litre unit.
The French automaker has incorporated twin turbos in this new 1.6-litre dCi engine. The first turbo is tuned to generate a high amount of low-end torque. This ensures that power delivery and acceleration is quick even from low RPMs which means drivers won’t have to struggle with an annoying turbo lag while driving at low speeds in traffic. 90% of the maximum torque will be available right from 1500 RPM. The second turbo is meant for higher RPMs and it helps provide a greater power figure when driving at high speeds. This means that the engine will not struggle for breath when red-lined. This turbo is capable of producing 100 HP of power per litre of engine capacity.
Since Renault has downsized the engine, the fuel efficiency will definitely improve and the company claims that there is a 25% saving when it comes to efficiency and CO2 emissions. We already know that Renault has great expertise in F1 and hence few of those technologies have also been incorporated in this new engine. The engine gets a transverse water flow system which allows for faster cooling of the combustion chamber. The ‘U’ section piston rings adapt to changes in the form of the cylinder walls to ensure a good compromise between efficiency and friction. Friction is also reduced with the help of the Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) finishing of the super-cam.
Renault will plonk this new engine in its D and E segment vehicles that cater to premium segments. These vehicles compete with the likes of the BMW 320d and Audi A4 and going by the specs and fuel efficiency quotes from the company, we feel the automaker will benefit greatly with this new engine and we also hope that they come out with similar engines in lower states of tune to power smaller vehicles.
