The news was originally advanced by the French L’Argus and reports that Renault will be working on a new 1.2 TCe three-cylinder engine (codenamed HR12) that we should know by the end of 2021.
Derived from the current 1.0 TCe, the new 1.2 TCe three-cylinder engine aims to substantially increase its efficiency, with Gilles Le Borgne, Renault's Research and Development director, wanting to bring it as close as possible to that of a diesel engine.
The new engine is also aimed at complying with the Euro 7 anti-pollution standards that should come into force in 2025.
For the desired increase in efficiency, it will be at the combustion level that we will see the main advances, through the increase in the pressure of direct fuel injection and the increase in the compression ratio. This HR12 should also introduce new technologies to reduce internal friction.
Suitable for electrification of course
Finally, as expected, this new 1.2 TCe three-cylinder engine is being developed with electrification in mind. Thus, according to L'Argus and also the Spanish Motor.es, this engine should initially appear associated with the E-Tech hybrid system, adopting the Atkinson cycle (being supercharged, it should adopt, more correctly, the Miller cycle), more efficient.
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The idea is for this new 1.2 TCe to take the place currently occupied by the 1.6 l four-cylinder used by the Clio, Captur and Mégane E-Tech. The French L’Argus team are advancing with a maximum combined power in this hybridized variant of 170 hp, which we will have to know first in the successor of the Kadjar, whose presentation is foreseen for the autumn of 2021 and to reach the market in 2022.
Motor.es Spaniards, on the other hand, say that it may also replace some variants of the 1.3 TCe (four cylinders, turbo), advancing that the 1.2 TCe of three cylinders, in non-electrified versions, should offer 130 hp and 230 Nm, and may be associated to six-speed manual gearboxes or seven-speed EDC automatic.
Sources: L'Argus, Motor.es.