Renault beefs up Clio diesel engine

14 December 2001: It's academic just now, because the 1.5 dCi turbodiesel engine for the Renault Clio is not sold here in a segment which really doesn't do oilburners, but the marque has just launched in France an 80bhp version of the 65bhp unit sold since mid-year.

The new version is equipped with an intercooler and other developments suited to its performance level, and actually results in lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Directly derived from the 65bhp version, the 80bhp version of the "K9K" engine includes specific developments in the areas of air supply and injectors. An air/air intercooler allows the temperature of incoming air, and therefore of combustion, to be reduced, to the benefit of efficiency. The intercooler is associated with a new setting for the turbocharger wastegate, allowing higher boost pressure (1.2 bar maximum compared with 1.05 bar for the 65bhp version).

The injectors use the same technology as in the 65bhp version, but they have been developed to offer a higher flow rate. The holes in the injector nose in the 80bhp version are therefore larger, allowing a 15% greater flow rate by comparison with the 65bhp version. Calibration has been reset so as to control the new operating parameters in an optimum fashion.

Thanks to these developments, power is increased to 80bhp and torque to 185Nm. The car sells in France for EUR 15,050. BB