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It looks like Nissan might not be alone in its corporate family with the Mixim electric car. Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has said that the French brand could be offering an inexpensive battery electric vehicle in three to four years. While Renault already sells many very efficient cars, particularly with diesel engines, Ghosn has said that zero emission vehicles are ultimately the only answer in urban environments. Ghosn himself apparently drives a fuel cell vehicle when he is in Tokyo and Renault is talking to fleet operators about pricing for a battery vehicle. Given the timing, the new Renault would probably be based on the Mixim that Nissan has already announced plans to produce.
Renault has just announced their competitor for the Challenge Bibendum that Michelin will be conducting in Shanghai China in November. The challenge is a rally where cars and trucks will be tested for CO2 and toxic emissions, performance, fuel consumption and noise. Renault will be using their low-emissions eco2 branding on a new Logan sedan that has been optimized to minimize its emissions and consumption.
The Logan eco2 has a CO2 emissions rating of just 97 g/km and is propelled by an 85 hp 1.5L diesel engine that is capable of running on B30 biodiesel. The engine has been tweaked to minimize internal friction and optimize combustion. On the outside the bodywork gets mods like a roof-mounted Vortex generator, front splitter and others to drop the drag coefficient from 0.36 to 0.29. All the changes together yield fuel consumption of 61.9 mpg (US). More details are after the jump.
The topic of cheap cars has come up on our pages before, and John McElroy has shared his thoughts on the topic over at Autoblog. It looks like John will be contributing over at our sister site on a somewhat regular basis, this is his first posting. McElroy is the host of Autoline Detroit which you may have seen on Speed TV or public television (make sure to watch it tomorrow). On the topic of inexpensive cars, John brings up the Dacia Logan, which is now part of Renault's stable. This car is just about the cheapest set of (four) wheels you can get in Europe, and McElroy highlights the fact that the car is selling rather well. This is causing the other manufacturers to look into offering similar vehicles in their own lineups.
The next point brought up is the possibility of even cheaper cars from companies like Tata from India. As McElroy points out, this type of vehicle is unlikely in the U.S. due to the fact that the emissions equipment alone on cars sold here might cost as much as the vehicles themselves in other area. Additionally, safety standards would likely impede inexpensive cars from making inroads on American roads.
Although the idea of an inexpensive new car that even low-income households could afford is certainly one with merit, if the vehicle is not capable of being safe and clean, it probably should not be sold. The argument could be made though that if the new car, even if not up to snuff with other new cars were cleaner than a five-year-old used car it could still be an eco-benefit. Sounds like a very fine line that would need to be walked, but if companies like Continental or Borg-Warner help with cheaper emissions and safety equipment, who knows what may come of it.
These Frankfurt Motor Show vehicles no longer need an introduction. We've been covering them to the hilt and, if you missed what any of them are, you can see last night's wrap-up for more information. What this post is meant to do is provide you with some shiny, high-resolution images to see the concepts for yourself. Consider it our version of a free ticket to the show. We'll keep posting on more details from the IAA today; for now, enjoy the images. My favorite is the mule in the shot of the Volvo ReCharge.
Last spring Nissan announced their intention to launch a Tier 2 Bin 5 clean diesel engine in the Maxima starting in 2010. Nissan has now revealed that the engine will be based on a new model co-developed with Renault. The 3.0L common rail diesel V-6 will be equipped with a particulate filter and nitrogen oxide after-treatment system.
During the development process, Nissan was responsible for package and performance targets while Renault had engineering responsibility. The Renault variant of the engine gets 261hp and 406 lb-ft of torque; Nissan's specs aren't finalized yet. The engine is also B30 biodeisel compatible. The Nissan and Renault press releases are after the jump.
Welcome to the the first edition of AutoblogGreen video round up! Video round up is a selection of several videos clips we think you might enjoy. The video above features the Opel Flextreme, GM's new E-Flex concept. The Opel video includes lots of views of the amazing doors, interior and even the Segway. Below the fold you will find Kangoo, the Renault compact concept, and Brabus' Smart Fourtwo concept.
Want a small Renault car, but nothing too small? The French automaker would like to introduce you to the latest incarnation of the Clio, this time its a small station wagon that will be unveiled the Frankfurt IAA in September. Just how green this car might be is not yet public information, but any time automakers give small a chance is good news to us.
Automotive News (subs req'd) says that Renault aims to compete with Skoda's Fabia Combi and Peugeot's 207 station wagons. Global Insight's Christoph Stürmer told AN that, "It's a defensive move. The success of the first-generation Fabia Combi was so great that no one wants to miss out on the opportunity. The B segment is highly competitive and you are fighting for every customer."
As announced, Renault is readying its first bioethanol car for the UK market: the Mégane Hatch E85. Part of the automakers eco² commitment, the Mégane Hatch E85's 1.6 16V 105 engine has been modified with fuel tank, injection system and combustion chamber upgrades to handle the ethanol. While this will be Renault's first UK E85 car, the company has years of experience with flexfuel vehicles - the Clio and Mégane - in Brazil. Just like any company that wants a piece of the Brazilian auto market, Renault has been selling E100 versions of these cars there for a while (since 2004).
The Mégane Hatch E85 will be available in the UK later this year. There's another picture of the E85 Megane and Renault's press release after the jump.
When Renault introduced the New Twingo back in March, it was no secret that this small car fit into Renault Commitment 2009, a pledge to sell one million vehicles that produce less than 140g/km of CO2. You'll note that no version of the New Twingo emits more than that amount.
Or, perhaps, you won't note that, and Renault really wants you to, especially if you're a man. While the Twingo has been selling pretty well (2.3 million) since it was introduced in 1993, most buyers have been women. To lure young males to the Twingo, Renault has hired supermodel Laetitia Casta to star in "L'affaire Twingo" a short fiction video about a woman and her stolen Twingo.
The site has been up since early March, and has snagged 700,000 visitors. The New Twingo goes on sale later this week.
In early eighties many carmakers started using turbochargers to try to enhance the power of their engines without cutting into mileage. Unfortunately many of the engines at the time still used carburetors or mechanical fuel injection systems. Issues with durability and drivability eventually led to most of these early turbos being dropped.
In recent years, thanks to modern engine management systems, variable valve timing, fuel injection and innovations like variable vane turbos, they are making a comeback. Volkswagen has a whole line of TSI 1.4L turbos that make more power than a 1.6L and consume less gasoline than a 1.2L.
Renault is now following a similar path with their new TCE engine. The French 1.4L turbo engine isn't as powerful as the VW range, only putting out 100hp but when installed in the new Modus model it averages 40mpg on the Euro combined cycle. Unlike the VW, Renault is still sticking with multiport fuel injection instead of using direct fuel injection which leads to the lower power output. The Renault press release is after the jump.
As our colleagues from Autoblog have published, the new Renault Laguna is not going to be officially shown off until the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show in October. Renault did, however, release some photos (before someone posted videos of the model, without the permission of Renault) and some engine information. Let's discuss here the base diesel model which has a lot of good ecological implications.
First, the 1.5L 110 HP diesel that get over 46 MPG and has 136g/km of CO2. This engine currently powers the sportier versions of the Clio and the middle Megane. With such an engine, the Laguna becomes a direct competitor of the VW Passat Blue Motion. This diesel Laguna also is labeled with Renault's ECO2 label, and it contains more than 35kg of recycled plastic and also more than 15kg of renewable materials.
It might sound surprising that such a small engine is used for a relatively large car. There is a similar trend at VW with their TSI engines. It's all related to motor taxing in Europe. In places such as France or the Germany United Kingdom, cars are taxed depending on displacement. That translates roughly to this simple rule: the bigger the engine, the higher the tax you pay for owning the car (usually on a yearly basis). However, it's also benefits everybody, since the smaller an engine is, the less it pollutes.
Correction: Thanks to our readers for the tips on the different taxing systems. In the UK cars are taxed not by displacement but rather by CO2 emissions. For example, this car will attract 115 GBP (roughly 230 USD) road tax per year. Compare it to 140GBP/year for current Laguna 1.9 dCi or 205GBP for Laguna 2.2 dCi.
The new Renault Twingo is set to hit dealer floors in Europe on June 15, says Automotive News Europe (subs req'd). The compact and low-emissions Twingo (the beefiest petrol model emits 140 grams of CO2 per kilometer) will also come with a 1.5 dCi diesel engine option. Renault has sold over 2.4 million Twingos since introducing the vehicle in 1993. The company makes the Twingo at the Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia
Renault's announcement of the Twingo back in March at the Geneva Motor Show came with a chapter-laden press release. I like the look of the production version more than the Twingo concept shown last year.
LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) cars are considered to be less polluting than gasoline counterparts. In countries like France, the UK or Italy, it's even less taxed than gasoline or diesel. In some other countries, like Spain, it's only available for professional drivers.
Dacia, the Romanian subsidiary of Renault, is offering a great offer for Italian customers. Not only they will be able to buy a 1.4 liter 75 HP car for less than 8,000 EUR but they will include the LPG conversion for free. This is possible because the Italian government helps motorists with 695 EUR to convert engines from gasoline to LPG and that's the price Dacia Italy asks for the conversion which is be covered by the standard 2-year warranty. All Dacia Logans sold in the EU reach the Euro 4 emission levels with the help of sequential multiport injection.
The standard-engine has an unimpressive mileage 26 MPG (US) and 166 g of CO2/km (24 and 170 for the optional 1.6 liter).The Dacia Logan can also be purchased with a sturdy 1.5 dCi 70 HP diesel car good for 40 MPG and 125 g of CO2/km, albeit without particulate filter.
The Dacia Logan is a no-frills sedan which was once thought for emerging markets but they can't cope with the demand in western Europe for cheap cars.
French automaker Renault is taking its environmental responsibility very seriously, so much so that it has kicked off a new initiative and associated line of vehicles it calls eco². From a high level, it's basically an end-to-end green industrial initiative, which looks to alleviate the impact the company has on the environment from initial manufacturing, through the operating tenure of a vehicle, and then the handling of said vehicle at the end of its usable life.
For a Renault to earn the eco² designation, three criteria must be met:
It must be manufactured in an ISO 1400-certified facility. In short, this means that the plant must show continuous improvement over time in certain environmental impact measurements.
Carbon dioxide emissions mustn't exceed 140g/km, or the vehicle must be able to run on E85 Ethanol or B30 Biodiesel
5 percent of the plastics used in the manufacturing process must be sourced from recyclable materials
Examples of cars that currently qualify for the eco² designation are the Renault Clio Rip Curl, with its stingy 1.2L TCE 100 turbo engine and Megane 1.5 dCi. In June, the automaker will release a Megane capable of operating on E85, which will automatically make it an eco² machine.
Not coincidentally, a general downsizing of the engines Renault is using in its cars coincides with the initiative. the newer powerplants offer comparable power to the larger units they replace, while surpassing them in the areas of fuel economy and carbon emissions. It's also important to note that the cars that qualify for eco² happen to target different audiences. This isn't something Renault appears to be looking to please a single segment with. They're going to apply it wherever they can. Long term it looks like it's going to be their new way of doing business.
Renault's comprehensive press release is pasted after the jump.
One day, car shoppers will be able to buy a performance-oriented sport hatch or sedan here in the United States. Unfortunately, that day is not today. If you live in Europe, on the other hand, spry, diesel-fueled cars are nothing new. The latest to arrive is the Megane Renault Sport dCi, which officially launched this week. Powered by a 2.0L turbodiesel, this top-end Megane pushes out 175 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque (from 2,000 rpm), all but guaranteeing that the enjoyment factor will remain on equal footing with its gasoline-powered counterpart.
Shaving some of the guilt associated with the fun and games is the knowledge that the powertrain delivers a combined-cycle fuel economy rating of 6.5 liters per 100km, or around 36 mpg. That combination would make for a super commuter car that doesn't require owners to sacrifice performance in the name of practicality. Two chassis setups are available -- the standard Sport and the available, more aggressively-tuned Cup. Cup cars get some specific visual cues that set them apart from the others, but whichever version you choose, chances are that disappointment won't be among the feelings you experience when you fire up the engine and plant your right foot. Full details are in Renault's press release after the jump.
It looks like Nissan might not be alone in its corporate family with the Mixim electric car. Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has said that the French brand could be offering an inexpensive battery electric vehicle in three to four years. While Renault already sells many very efficient cars, particularly with diesel engines, Ghosn has said that zero emission vehicles are ultimately the only answer in urban environments. Ghosn himself apparently drives a fuel cell vehicle when he is in Tokyo and Renault is talking to fleet operators about pricing for a battery vehicle. Given the timing, the new Renault would probably be based on the Mixim that Nissan has already announced plans to produce.
French automaker Renault is taking its environmental responsibility very seriously, so much so that it has kicked off a new initiative and associated line of vehicles it calls eco². From a high level, it's basically an end-to-end green industrial initiative, which looks to alleviate the impact the company has on the environment from initial manufacturing, through the operating tenure of a vehicle, and then the handling of said vehicle at the end of its usable life. 
