New Renault Duster To Get More Powerful 1.5-litre Blue dCi Diesel Engine

Renault’s updated 1.5-litre dCi diesel is more powerful and cleaner than before 

Renault has updated its 1.5-litre diesel engine that powers a variety of cars from the Renault-Nissan alliance. The updated motor is now known as the ‘Blue dCi’ and benefits from performance enhancements, while producing lesser emissions. 

The Blue dCi the last hurrah for the famed 1.5-litre engine as diesels are on their way out globally, especially in the relatively affordable segments. The second-gen Duster will be the first vehicle from Renault-Nissan to be powered by the new 1.5-litre Blue dCi diesel in Europe from June 2018. Subsequently, all cars from the alliance that currently use the older iterations of the 1.5-litre diesel motor will get the new Blue dCi engine.

• 2018 Duster Details Revealed!

The 1.5-litre diesel engine now comes standard with a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) that helps in reducing polluting emissions. Placed in the exhaust line, SCR reduces NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions from exhaust gases and eliminates all fine particles. Almost all diesel cars in Europe now come with an SCR system, including the India-bound sixth-gen VW Polo. 

The SCR system works in conjunction with a consumable urea-based liquid solution called AdBlue (trademark of German Association of the Automotive Industry or VDA). The system converts NOx into inoffensive nitrogen gas and water vapour. AdBlue needs to be refuelled from time to time, a notification for which will pop up on the instrument cluster. The updated engine conforms to the current EuroVI norms there. 

Speaking of performance, the incorporation of an improved air-water exchanger (cooling system) and new injectors with higher injection pressure (2000bars) has resulted in the 1.5-litre motor, which is available in two states of tune, becoming more powerful and torquier than before. Moreover, gearbox ratios have also been better optimised. As a result, Renault claims that performance of the engine has improved by a significant margin. The 0-100kmph time of dCi 95 and 115 have been shaved off by a second. The roll-on acceleration should also improve along with the overall drivability thanks to the increased torque. 

The 1.5-litre diesel is available in three versions in the country: 

• 64PS/160Nm, 5-speed MT: fixed geometry turbocharger (Nissan Micra and Mahindra Verito)
• 85PS/200Nm, 5-speed MT: fixed geometry turbocharger with intercooler (Nissan Sunny, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano) 
• 110PS/245Nm, 6-speed MT/AMT: variable geometry turbocharger with intercooler (Renault Duster, Captur and Nissan Terrano)

Only the 1.5-litre dCi with fixed geometry turbocharger, which powers the Micra (fourth-gen, phased out from global markets), has remained unchanged. That’s because the new fifth-gen Micra, which is yet to be confirmed for India, gets the more powerful version of the engine (dCi 95) in Europe. So, expect Renault-Nissan Alliance to phase out the 64PS version altogether in the near future.

As India switches to BSVI emission norms (equivalent to EuroVI) from April 2020, expect Renault to introduce the more powerful and cleaner 1.5-litre Blue dCi diesel engine in the country soon. It should either be introduced with the second-gen Duster, which is expected to arrive in India next year or by early-2020. The Renault Captur and other models that are equipped with the 1.5-litre diesel motor will also receive the updated engine in due course. Stay tuned to CarDekho for more details about the second-gen Duster and its updated engine.   

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