Renault Says New GDI Engine Improved Across Board

Renault unveils a new gasoline direct-injected turbocharged engine that will see its first service in the Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic MPVs next year.

The 1.3L 4-cyl. engine, developed jointly between the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Daimler, claims better torque at low rpm and greater performance at high rpm, while reducing fuel consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions.

Dubbed the Energy TCe, in 160-hp form it offers a maximum torque of 192 lb.-ft. (260 Nm) in the manual transmission and 199 lb.-ft. (270 Nm) with the automatic. The Energy TCe 140 claims a CO2 output of 122 g/km and achieves 43.5 mpg (5.4 L/100 km). Meanwhile, the Energy TCe 115 – available only with manual transmission – has 162 lb.-ft. (220 Nm) of torque at 1,500 rpm and matches the TCe 140’s CO2 and mpg figures.

This new engine block incorporates several innovations, including cylinder bore spray coating as used on the Nissan GT-R engine to improve efficiency by reducing friction and optimizing heat transfer. Other technologies include higher-pressure direct fuel injection, a new combustion chamber design and dual variable valve timing camshaft.

“Our new engine embodies all the expertise of Groupe Renault’s engineers, the Alliance and our partner Daimler,” says Philippe Brunet, Alliance Global vice president-powertrain and electric vehicles. “It meets the quality standards of both the Alliance and Daimler, with more than 40,000 hours of testing.

“Compared with the Energy TCe 130, the new Energy TCe 140 delivers 26 lb.-ft. (35 Nm) additional peak torque which is available across a broader rev band, from 1,500 rpm to 3,500 rpm.”

The new engine will be produced at the Renault factory in Valladolid, Spain. Orders in France and Europe are open, and deliveries to customers are scheduled for mid-January 2018.