Renault has announced that it will start manufacturing its 1.6 dCi diesel engine in 2011 at its plant in Cleon, France.
The company has said that the site already makes the 1.9 dCi, 2.0 dCi, 2.5 dCi and V6 dCi diesel engines, the 2.0 and 2.0 turbo petrol engines, and five-speed and six-speed manual gearboxes.
Designed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the 1.6 dCi is intended to replace the current 1.9 dCi diesel engine as part of Renault's engine downsizing strategy.
According to Renault, the new engine will offer 130hp when it is launched, the same power output as the 1.9 dCi now, but with 30g/km less CO2 emissions and 20% more fuel economy.
The new engine will equip passenger cars in the C segment, in particular the Megane family, and the D segment, as well as light commercial vehicles in the Renault line-up. It will also fit Nissan models.
