Renault Introduces Twingo with CO2 Emissions of 120 g/km
18 July 2008
Renault is introducing a new gasoline-engined Twingo with CO2 emissions of 120 g/km, equivalent to fuel consumption of 5.1 liters/100km (46 mpg US). The new car is a variant of the 1.2 16V 75 eco² with CO2 emissions cut by 15 g/km (11%) thanks to engine calibration work and longer gear ratios.
This 11% savings makes it eligible for the environmental tax incentives that have been introduced in several countries.
The lower emissions rating has been achieved by lengthening the gear ratios (20%), resulting in a reduction in the engine revs required for a given road speed, and consequently lower fuel consumption. Its power output (75 hp, 56 kW) and torque (107 Nm, 79 lb-ft) are unchanged.
The 120g/km version joins the Twingo catalogue alongside the range’s existing engines. It comes at no extra price to customers.
The percentage reduction looks good. But my Peugeot 107 is rated at 107 g/km on a petrol engine. And the twingo is really not much more versatile than this ...
Posted by: Will | 18 July 2008 at 07:33 AM
And why didn't they do this in the first place, select a better engine mapping and gear ratio. For a small car like the Twingo it seems stupid to map and gear for 12% higher fuel consumption than necessary, especially since going below the 120 g/km threshold gives tax and subsidies benefits in some countries.
Posted by: Rolf | 18 July 2008 at 10:00 AM
It shows the benefit of a "hard" limit of 120 gms Co2.
The car was probably designed before this was set, and launched as designed.
Then, when the limit became known, they tweeked the car to get the CO2 down (in the test, at least).
It is nice that the eco version does not cost any more than the normal one.
Posted by: mahonj | 18 July 2008 at 11:00 AM
FYI for all:
The Editor of the American Physical Society, JJ Marque wrote this in the July 2008 issue under Editor's Comments:
"There is a considerable presence within the scientific community of people who do not agree with the IPCC conclusion that anthropogenic CO2 emissions are very probably likely to be primarily responsible for the global warming that has occurred since the Industrial Revolution. Since the correctness or fallacy of that conclusion has immense implications for public policy and for the future of the biosphere, we thought it appropriate to present a debate within the pages of P&S concerning that conclusion."
http://www.aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/200807/editor.cfm
Posted by: gr | 18 July 2008 at 01:46 PM
gr-
SSSHHHH! Please refrain from posting any facts one these forums! :)
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You wouldn't want to be labeled a global warming heretic- now would you! So just smile and repeat after the rest of us: "Gee, Al Gore really is swell fella! The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" :)
Posted by: DieselHybrid | 18 July 2008 at 05:39 PM
gr-
SSSHHHH! Please refrain from posting any facts one these forums! :)
Page 1 of the posting guidelines state:
"Only vague one-sided studies (to include heresay and rumors) in favor of man-made climate change are allowed. All other scientific reports and studies, regardless of source, to the contrary are strictly VERBOTEN!"
You wouldn't want to be labeled a global warming heretic- now would you! So just smile and repeat after the rest of us: "Gee, Al Gore really is swell fella! The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" :)
Posted by: DieselHybrid | 18 July 2008 at 05:40 PM