New Renault Rafale: its gearbox will have 15 speeds!
This page is translated from the original post "Nouveau Renault Rafale : sa boîte de vitesses aura 15 rapports !" in French.
- 21/12/2024 13:19
Horse, the joint venture between Renault, Geely, and the Saudi oil company Aramco, begins production of the hybrid transmission DB49.
Combustion vehicles are not dead, and this is the firm belief of HORSE, a partnership between French automaker Renault, Chinese automaker Geely, and Saudi oil company Aramco. Evidence of this is that they have just initiated production at the Renault factory in Seville, Spain, of their brand new DB49 transmission dedicated to plug-in hybrid vehicles.
This transmission aims to be ultra-modern, and its specifications are there to convince us: no clutch, 15 speeds, a maximum electrical torque of 470 Nm, and an assisting power capable of reaching up to 35 kW (that’s 47.5 horsepower). By the way, as a fun fact, this DB49 transmission houses not one, but two electric motors.
A small caveat: its weight of 99 kg, once again, points to the conclusion that the technical complexity of rechargeable hybrid vehicles, which seek to combine the best of combustion and electric power, is hardly relevant.
The first vehicle to benefit from this will be the new Renault Rafale PHEV in the coming months.
Rising performance, falling prices?
The new DB49 transmission will replace the previous DB35, which had a power output of 25 kW (34 horsepower) and a torque of 205 Nm. Acceleration will not be significantly more vigorous, but overall comfort will be markedly improved thanks to the additional torque. Ideal for a large SUV like the Renault Rafale powered by a 1.2-liter turbo 3-cylinder engine.
This announcement, initiated by HORSE and not Renault, nevertheless suggests that the Rafale will soon benefit from an update… even though its commercialization is scheduled for 2024. Strange? But between the lines, it’s also clear that a wave of promotions will flood the already produced Renault Rafale models waiting for customers. Perhaps the phenomenon has already begun, as discounts already reach up to 2,300 euros — even before negotiations — on stock units.
What do you think? We’re interested in your opinion!
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