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Daimler And Renault Nissan Partnering On New Engines, Transmissions

Daimler and Renault Nissan will grow their existing alliance through the development of brand new engines and expanded availability of Daimler transmissions. Announced this week, the project will see a new direct-injected and turbocharged four-cyli

Mike Stevens

02:5501 October 2012

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Daimler And Renault Nissan Partnering On New Engines, Transmissions

Daimler and Renault Nissan will grow their existing alliance through the development of brand new engines and expanded availability of Daimler transmissions.

Announced this week, the project will see a new direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine family developed by the two brands, focusing on improved fuel consumption and emissions.

Both companies will manufacture the engines, which will debut in new models across the Daimler and Renault Nissan brands from 2016.

Specific details have not been revealed, but we can likely expect the new engines to feature in Renault, Nissan and Infiniti models, along with Mercedes-Benz and possibly the upcoming Smart Forfour.

If a performance option is planned, the new engines could also headline a reborn Alpine range, expected to launch in the coming years.

The transmission project will see Nissan licenced to produce Daimler automatic transmissions in Mexico, featuring start-stop and "park and shift by wire" systems.

The new transmissions will appear in Nissan and Infiniti models from 2016.

“These new components demonstrate how broadly and rapidly our collaboration is proliferating, while all the time remaining rooted in specific projects that give tangible benefits to our customers,” Renault Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn said.

Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche added: “The collaboration achieved a milestone this year, with the first vehicles and engines from the partnership now on the roads."