Renault presented a new 1.8-liter full hybrid E-Tech 160 hp powertrain with a 1.4 kWh battery. Available on both Captur and Symbioz, it delivers more power and response, for lower fuel consumption—98g CO₂/km on Symbioz and from 99g CO₂/km on Captur.

With full hybrid E-Tech technology, the car starts in electric mode for silent driving. Drivers are able to remain in electric mode for up to 80% of their journey time in and around cities. Orders open on 6 May, with the first deliveries scheduled for early July 2025.

Renault developed the full hybrid E-Tech powertrain in 2021. More than 150 patents have been filed for this technology, which taps into Renault’s expertise in Formula 1, particularly in energy recovery and regeneration. It is already meeting high standards of performance and efficiency on many range models, from Clio to Rafale.

Renault has soldmore than 750,000 vehicles equipped with this full hybrid E-Tech powertrain since its launch in 2021. The brand currently ranks number two for hybrid (HEV) sales in Europe, with hybrid vehicles increasing their share of the sales mix by 7.8% in first-quarter 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. This trend underlines growing customer interest in hybrid technology as a solution for the energy and economic transition.

In the same way as with the previous generation, the series-parallel hybrid architecture of this new powertrain combines two electric motors (a 36 kW e-motor and a 15 kW HSG - High-Voltage Starter Generator) with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine of 80 kW or 109 hp (69 kW and 94 hp for the previous engine) mated to a new intelligent multi-mode clutchless dog box transmission and a 1.4 kWh battery. The dog box delivers fast precise gear changes with minimum power loss. It is also simpler from a mechanical standpoint, making it more reliable, Renault says.

The indirect injection of the previous generation has been replaced by a new direct-injection system. As a result, fuel injection is more precise and fuel vaporization is optimized at a pressure of 350 bar for greater precision and efficiency in combustion. This improves engine performance, reduces emissions and contributes to lower fuel consumption.

Torque is 25% higher (172 N·m for the combustion engine alone, i.e. +22 N·m) than for the previous version. This means that maximum torque is available at lower revs (around 2,000 rpm), for better performance and response, particularly during acceleration or when picking up speed on fast roads. Acceleration is therefore more dynamic. Captur now takes 8.9 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h compared with 10.6 seconds previously, delivering a better response for a more agile driving experience. Symbioz also improves its 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time: 9.1 seconds compared with 10.6 seconds previously.

The new hybrid powertrain ships has a battery of 1.4 kWh battery (230V), compared with 1.2 kWh for the previous version. The increased battery capacity increases vehicle range in electric mode, optimizing fuel efficiency and providing greater flexibility for drivers over urban journeys or short distances.

Fuel consumption is optimized by a regenerative braking function, combined with the high self-charging capacity of the 1.4 kWh (230V) battery and the efficiency of the E-Tech system. The new full hybrid E-Tech powertrain consumes just 4.3 liters/100 km, compared with 4.7 liters for the previous version. This optimized system delivers fuel savings of up to 40%, while also reducing CO₂ emissions to as little as 98 g/km on Symbioz (99 g/km for Captur).

The dog box transmission has been maintained: the dog clutch system replaces both a sprocket and a synchronizer ring in a clutchless layout with fewer friction parts for high levels of efficiency. The gearbox was then fine-tuned for faster, smoother gear changes. As a result, gear changing is quieter and more responsive, reducing vibration and engine noise for increased driver comfort. Further, the introduction of a new electronic gear lever (e-shifter) provides greater precision and optimised ergonomics.

The new full hybrid E-Tech 160 hp powertrain also boosts towing capacity from 750 kg to 1,000 kg. This provides greater flexibility for drivers towing a trailer or caravan.