04-04-2005
Renault has launched a new powertrain for Modus. The 1.5 dCi diesel engine now develops 106hp (78kW) and is teamed with an all-new six-speed manual gearbox. The third Alliance powertrain, the gearbox was jointly developed by Renault and Nissan engineers. It features all the latest technological innovations: piezo-electric injectors, multi-injection, special piston geometry and a twin-mass damping flywheel. Boasting excellent driveability, the engine meets Euro 4 emission standards. The new powertrain is available with the Confort Pack Clim (Expression and Dynamique trim), Luxe (Dynamique and Privilège trim) and Initiale equipment levels.
Modus is now powered by a 1.5 dCi 105 diesel engine coupled with a new six-speed manual gearbox developed jointly by Renault and Nissan. The new engine brings further improvements to the 100hp 1.5 dCi diesel from which it is derived, with power up from 100hp (74kW) to 106hp (78kW) at 4000rpm, and torque up by 20%, from 200Nm to 240Nm at 2000rpm. Performance rises accordingly, with a racetrack top speed of 186kph and acceleration from standstill to 100kph in 11.2 seconds.
This version of the 1.5 dCi engine carries over all the technologies that made the 100hp version so successful (second-generation common rail, multi-vane variable-nozzle turbocharger, 1600 bar injection pressure) and adds a few more. The solenoid injectors on the 100hp version give way to six-hole piezo-electric injectors on the new unit. Siemens piezo-electric technology makes multi-injection a viable proposition: with the tuning adopted, the response of the new injectors (four times quicker than a solenoid injector) is fast enough for three injections per cycle: pilot, main and post. With dosing even more precise than before, the pilot injection stage improves acoustics by minimizing the diesel clatter effect, especially at idle speed. The post-injection stage helps cut down on pollutant emissions by burning off the soot produced during combustion. The new engine thus achieves benchmark fuel consumption and pollutant emission performance for this vehicle category: 124g of CO2/km in a combined cycle on Modus. Another major upgrade concerns piston geometry, which also contributes to compliance with the Euro 4 emission standards.
Vehicle acoustics are further improved by using a twin-mass damping flywheel, which cuts out booming noise at low engine speeds. Noise is further reduced by the specially developed wide-faced cylinder block and fourth powertrain mounting point. And multi-injection technology (with the pilot injection stage in particular) cuts down combustion noise.
The 1.5 dCi 105 engine is assembled at the Renault plant in Valladolid, Spain.
First jointly developed gearbox from Renault and Nissan
The 1.5 dCi 105 engine is available with a new six-speed manual gearbox. It was jointly engineered by Renault and Nissan under the Alliance’s third powertrain co-development project (following on from the 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines). The new manual gearbox does not come as a replacement for any existing gearbox. Through Renault-Nissan cooperation on cost control, the new unit offers excellent value with the best in available technology. Powertrain cooperation is based on established Alliance practice, with Renault leading projects in manual gearbox technologies and Nissan in automatic transmissions. Co-development marks the second major stage in powertrain cooperation across the Alliance partners, following on from the cross-sourcing of engines and gearboxes.
With maximum torque of 240Nm, the new gearbox addresses small and mid-sized petrol and diesel engines. The sixth gear brings further improvements in response and fuel consumption. While closer-spaced ratios for the first five speeds make the most of engine response, the sixth enables the driver to cruise at a lower engine speed, which means lower noise levels and lower fuel consumption. Motorway fuel consumption is about 10% lower than with the J gearbox on a combined cycle. Triple-cone synchronization for the first two gears, plus synchronized reverse, lend the new unit excellent driveability.
This new two-shaft gearbox is particularly compact and lightweight (41kg, which is just 10% heavier than the J gearbox) considering its torque capacity of 240Nm. It is made at the Renault powertrain plant in Seville, Spain. The initial plant capacity of 450,000 units per year breaks down as 80% for Renault and 20% for Nissan, with Renault and Nissan splitting industrial investment on the basis of the volumes used. The new six-speed manual gearbox is teamed with the 1.5 dCi 105 engine on Modus and Mégane.
Renault leads the European small-car segment
At end-February 2005, Renault had sold more than 92,000 Modus in Western Europe since its launch in September 2004. Modus has rapidly won a place on the European market, with a B-segment market share of 5.5% in February 2005. Clio and Modus have a combined market share of 12.3%, consolidating Renault's lead in the B segment in Europe.
The high-specification versions are the most popular models, including the Dynamique version and the Confort and Luxe equipment levels. The 80hp 1.5 dCi common-rail diesel engine is the top-selling engine on Modus.
France is Modus' biggest market, with over 46,000 vehicles sold since its launch in September 2004. Driven by Clio, Modus and Twingo, Renault had an 11.4% share of the French TIV in February 2005 – equivalent to a 6.6% volume gain in the small car segment (A and B segments) compared with February 2004.
Text and photos courtesy of Renault
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