The Renault Espace and Symbioz Bet on Hybrid Technology

Two new generation full hybrid E-Tech powertrains developed by Horse, a subsidiary of Renault, are being tested on the Renault Symbioz and Espace.

This technology, launched in 2020 and now present across a large part of the Renault range, is experiencing growing success. It represented 44.2% of Renault’s sales in the first quarter of 2025. The manufacturer is about to surpass one million units sold equipped with this powertrain.

The full hybrid E-Tech systems combine a petrol engine, two electric motors, a battery, and a clutchless multi-mode automatic gearbox. The series-parallel architecture offers different operating modes: all-electric, hybrid, thermal, or energy recovery. Derived from F1, the gearbox offers 15 possible operating combinations, suited for urban, suburban, and highway driving.

The Renault Symbioz receives the new 1.8 L full hybrid E-Tech engine with 160 hp. It combines an 80 kW (109 hp) petrol engine with two electric motors (36 kW and 15 kW), a 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, and a gearbox revised for smoother and more responsive performance. The result is 4.3 l/100 km and 98 g/km of CO2 (WLTP mixed cycle). The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h improves to 9.1 seconds. The range can reach 1,000 km and the towing capacity is up to 1,000 kg.

On its part, the Espace benefits from an optimized version of the full hybrid E-Tech with 200 hp. It is based on a 1.2 L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine (130 hp), a main electric motor of 70 hp (205 Nm), and a secondary motor of 25 hp. A software update for the gearbox improves performance and responsiveness, especially during acceleration. This powertrain shows a consumption of 4.8 l/100 km and emissions of 108 g/km of CO2, while offering up to 1,100 km of range and 943 liters of cargo space.

These developments are being carried out by Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Renault, Geely, and Aramco.

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