The new twin-cylinder two-stroke engine uses a turbocharger and a supercharger and is part of an exploratory study.
In the current scenario of rising fuel costs and increasing pollution levels, downsizing has certainly become the norm in the automotive world. The idea to lose out on the drawbacks without any loss in power is the way forward for most manufacturers as they struggle to keep up with stringent emission norms. While automakers like Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen and General Motors are already at the forefront with their downsized engines, it is now Renault that has unveiled its new two-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engine concept that makes big power from a small heart.
The new 730cc twin-cylinder two-stroke engine is targeted at efficiency and compactness and can produce anywhere between 47 to 68 HP of power, while torque output is a healthy 112 to 145 Nm at 1500 RPM. The unit uses the same bore/stroke as the one found on the 1.5-litre dCi 4-cylinder diesel engine and discards the need to develop new corresponding parts. What helps the puny engine produce impressive amounts of power is the addition of a mechanical supercharger and a turbocharger.
Renault also states that the new engine sounds similar to a four-cylinder, four-stroke engine, so NVH levels can be expected to be decent enough. While it does sound like a pleasing deal on paper especially for the entry-level offerings, the French automaker will not be putting this powertrain into production anytime soon as it is too weak to power any model in the company’s portfolio and is part of an exploratory study. Nonetheless, with the growth in small capacity high performance engines, the new motor is likely become a reality in the next few years.
