The new site, called Pole d’Innovation Mecanique (PIM), is the result of a EUR60 million investment. It will employ around 60 people and will have the aim to the test entire Renault engine range.
“The twenty seven test benches of the PIM expand the powertrain and transmission development facilities already in place at the Lardy Technical Centre, the Renault group's global benchmark powertrain test centre, set up in 1951. Around sixty people work in this new building, which will test the full range of Renault engines, running on petrol, diesel or alcohol fuel,” stated the press release.
The new building has three wings. The first one, which is focused on improving fuel efficiency, uses ten test benches dedicated to friction tests, engine cooling and cold start emission control. The thermal and friction test benches will allow Renault engineers to downsize future engines. The wing also comes with aerothermal benches, which can test powerplants in their aerodynamic environment, with the devices being a world first.
“One wing of the building, devoted mainly to cutting fuel consumption will help Renault reach its objective of being European leader for low-carbon vehicles, thus satisfying the new Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission standards,” stated the press release.
The other two wings house about twenty test and measurement benches for the development of powerplants (reliability and durability) and fuel systems (best compromise between performance, fuel consumption and emissions).
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