To qualify for the Renault eco2 appellation, vehicles must comply with three criteria: - they must be produced in an ISO 14001-certified factory - they must emit less than 140g of CO2/km, or else run on biofuel, - they must be 95% end-of-life reusable, while at least five per cent of the plastics they contain must be sourced from recycling. Today, 40% of the versions that make up the Renault range have already been awarded Renault eco2 status. To participate in this year's Michelin-organised Challenge Bibendum (November 14-17), which takes place in Shanghai, China, Renault will be represented by the new Logan Renault eco2 Concept. In addition to this experimental vehicle's outstanding economical credentials, Logan Renault eco2 Concept is also ecological and complies with all three of the criteria required to qualify for the Renault eco2 label. To begin with, Logan Renault eco2 Concept was made in the Romanian factory of Pitesti which received ISO 14001 certification in 2005. Meanwhile, 8.3 per cent of the plastics it contains come from recycling and 95 per cent of its mass is reusable. Last but not least, a special effort has gone into achieving a level of CO2 emissions performance that takes it under the 100g/km threshold. Logan Renault eco2 Concept is powered by a B30-compatible 1.5 dCi engine (63kW/85hp) and benefits from a long list of technical solutions and optimisations that all stand out as avenues of development for future Renault vehicles. These solutions cover the following areas: - Powertrain: modified pistons and injection system for enhanced combustion, detail work on tolerances and lubrication to minimise friction, new gearbox ratios. - Aerodynamics: the combination of a VORTEX generator (a small, drag-reducing, roofmounted feature), a flexible splitter under the front bumper, wheel fairings and a rear lip spoiler have enabled the Cd to be cut from the 0.36 of a standard Logan to 0.29. - Running gear: Logan Renault eco2 Concept is equipped with low rolling resistance Michelin Pure tyres (185/65 R15). The camber and toe settings, as well as the braking system, have also been optimised as part of the across-the-board bid to combat friction. The work accomplished on these three fronts enables Logan Renault eco2 Concept to boast record low CO2 emissions of just 97g/km (NEDC combined cycle), equivalent to fuel consumption of 3.8 litres/100km. The dashboard of Logan Renault eco2 Concept is also equipped with a gearshift indicator which permits the driver to make an active contribution to the optimization of fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. By taking full advantage of this feature's benefits, it is possible to take Logan Renault eco2 Concept's CO2 emissions performance below its homologated score of 97g/km. Logan Renault eco2 Concept reaffirms Renault's determination to demonstrate that ecology and affordability are perfectly compatible and asserts its conviction that the most effective environmentally-friendly techniques are those that are readily accessible to the vast majority of motorists. Logan has enjoyed indisputable success since its launch. It is manufactured and sold in Europe and Morocco as a Dacia but is marketed under the Renault brand on all the other markets on which it is present, notably Russia, India, Iran and Latin America. Logan is today available in 55 markets and almost 640,000 units (Logan, Logan MCV, Logan Van) have been sold since its release since its launch in 2004. |