Renault 3.0L V6 dCi Concept Diesel to be the Basis for Nissan 2010 Tier 2 Bin 5 Maxima Diesel in US
10 September 2007
 |
| The Renault V6 dCi Concept. Click to enlarge. Drawing: H. Vincent |
Nissan North America, Inc. confirmed that a concept advanced diesel engine unveiled in Frankfurt by its Alliance partner Renault will be the basis for the US Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant diesel engine planned for the Nissan Maxima in 2010. (Earlier post.)
The 3.0-liter V6 dCi Concept engine was designed within the Renault-Nissan Alliance with Renault having much of the engineering responsibility and Nissan providing performance target settings and package optimization. The companies will market the engine separately in keeping with the Alliance commitment to maintain each company’s distinct brand identity.
Specifications for the engine to be used in the Maxima have not been fully determined.
 |
| The V6 dCi Concept graph. Click to enlarge. |
The 3.0-liter V6 dCi Concept. The V6 dCi Concept is a preview of a coming new generation of 3.0-liter V6 diesel engines. The new 2,993cc block is derived from the 2.0 dCi engine, with which it shares 25% of its components. The engine develops 195 kW (261 hp) of power and maximum torque of 550 Nm (406 lb ft) at 1,750 rpm with targeted CO2 emissions of less than 200g/km.
The common rail fuel injection system uses two rails pressurized at 1,800 bar which supply 7-hole piezo-electric injectors. This configuration supports up to five injections per cycle. “Ultra-fast” ceramic technology glow plugs enable almost instantaneous preheating and cold starting.
The V6 dCi Concept also includes a variable geometry turbocharger, which generates a high level of torque even at very low revs.
The engine’s air intake ducts have been specially designed to increase combustion speed inside the cylinders by swirling the air in the cylinders—the swirl effect. Cooled EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), which uses a Renault-patented air/water intercooler, contributes to overall environmental performance of the engine.
The architecture of the exhaust manifolds has been designed to limit load losses and ensure that the maximum amount of energy is delivered to the turbine.
The V6 dCi Concept introduces a new NOx trap. Alongside the catalytic converter, this device is located on the exhaust line between the turbocharger and the particulate filter. The engine is also fitted with a maintenance-free, periodic regeneration particulate filter, which operates using a seventh fuel injector located upstream of the filter. Regeneration occurs automatically, with no need for intervention from the user.
Renault says that the various production versions of the V6 dCi will also be compatible with the use of B30 biodiesel.
A 406lb-ft Maxima?!? Can anyone say overkill? Not sure there are many Maxima owners that like to tow things behind their vehicles.
Seems this engine would be better suited to their Quest minivan, or similar-sized vehicle. Still, 200g/km is a slight improvement over the current Maxima.
Is it just me, or do you agree that 4-cyls are quite sufficient for 99.9% of passenger vehicles out there?
Posted by: DieselHybrid | 10 September 2007 at 10:26 AM
Maybe they're going to introduce Infinity's answer to the Dodge Sprinter Van ;-p
Posted by: DS | 10 September 2007 at 10:43 AM
The engine performance would also lend well in Nissan's pickup and SUV lineup.
Posted by: allen_xl_z | 10 September 2007 at 10:50 AM
@ DieselHybrid -
two reasons:
(a) historically, diesel has a bad image in the US. Manufacturers want to ensure its re-introduction is well received, and oodles of torque and power always please motoring journalists and well-heeled customers.
(b) meeting T2B5 emissions is seriously expensive, so manufacturers have to pick high-margin configurations to achieve large fuel economy benefits and still meet profit targets. Unfortunately for them, most of the potential diesel customers in the US actually want something smaller and cheaper. Blame CARB for the mismatch, Renault has plenty of decent small diesels in its inventory.
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | 10 September 2007 at 11:09 AM
Boy! Look at this mechanical marvel, complete with a 26,000 psi fuel pump, direct combustion chamber injection, four cams, OHV, etc. It's interesting as hell from an engineering point; but, complicated antique technology that truly hasn't advanced much for being around 100 years old. It's still an inefficient ICE and what we really need is innovation in the transportation sector. Not taking away from the excellent engineering but it's the wrong direction for automobiles. I believe the intermediate future is in PHEVs with greater battery capacity and smaller light weight engines. And, the future is in fast charging, long range BEVs.
Posted by: | 10 September 2007 at 11:49 AM
put it in a frontier, i'd buy that.
Posted by: marc | 10 September 2007 at 07:20 PM
Mercedes-Benz E-, GL-, ML-, and R320 BLUETEC; BMW 335d and 535d, Jeep Grand Cherokee, VW Jetta TDI, as-yet-unnamed-Hondas, and now, the Nissan Maxima dCi. These are all great turbo diesel engines in passenger vehicles, and they are now all being offered (or shall be offered shortly) to American buyers! How long have we waited for the white hot heat of diesel technological innovation to reach our borders? Too long. The next few years will provide some much needed, and long overdue insight into the wonders of the modern turbo diesel in passenger cars.
Posted by: Bike Commuter Dude | 11 September 2007 at 12:05 AM
What a monster engine. This should be sufficient to tow 2.5 tonne vehicles comfortably!
Like 10-passenger busses - not one-person cars...
Dieselhybrid - I agree completely. An Audi A4 Avant with the 2.0 TDI has very quick acceleration, particularly at highway speed, yet it gets around 40 mpg for a family-sized car (maybe too cramped for Americans)
Too bad you don't have Citroen in North American, because the Citroen C4 Picasso five-seat minivan with the excellent 1.6 HDi and E6 automatic shift transmission also gets around 40 mpg. I really love the design of this car. On second thought, the acceleration of this car might be too sluggish for the taste of American drivers. But it still goes to show that can move the entire family in style @ 40 mpg.
Posted by: Thomas | 11 September 2007 at 04:41 AM
Is the blockmaterial CGI like Audis and Fords new V6s?
Posted by: | 11 September 2007 at 08:32 AM
Umm..there are plenty of diesel engines around 3L used overseas already (large cars, minivans)
A 1.5L diesel isn't the answer for every size car.
Posted by: Bill | 11 September 2007 at 10:49 AM
Now, if we can just talk Renault/Nissan into developing 1.9-liter and 2.3-liter turbodiesel engines for the US market. The former engine would be perfect for the Nissan Sentra, and the latter engine would be perfect for the Nissan Rogue small SUV and Nissan Altima sedan.
Posted by: Raymond | 11 September 2007 at 01:08 PM
Something like 15 years ago my parents had a medium sized diesel car with a 60 hp 1.6L diesel engine (Opel Ascona, the predecessor to todays Vectra FWIW). Top speed was about 140 km/h, more than the maximum limit in the country in question. Acceleration wasn't exactly stellar by normal standards, but more than enough in practice.
Posted by: jb | 11 September 2007 at 01:16 PM
can i use this bio b30 in my renault espace 1995 turbo diesel
Posted by: jason | 23 August 2008 at 11:32 AM
I can't wait for this car....diesels have gobs of torque available at low RPMs.
Please Nissan, put this engine in the Xterra and Pathfinder!
Posted by: Eddie Harron | 16 September 2008 at 12:25 PM