Renault plans expansive engine lineup, new 1.2-litre MPFI to debut with Bridger SUV

The upcoming Renault Bridger will share the catalogue with the Duster soon, targeting a turnaround for the French brand in India. Renault has lined up an expansive powertrain range in the segment ahead for Duster as well as the upcoming Bridger as revealed by a recent report. As per a recent Autocar report, the manufacturer is also developing an all-new 1.2-litre MPFI engine that will go on sale with the Bridger soon.

Renault Bridger ICE Lineup

Renault’s new under-development 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine will power the Bridger. This new engine is expected to be a derivative of the 1.3-litre TGDi engine. Since the displacement has been reduced to 1,200 cc, the Bridger is likely to qualify for the sub-4-metre tax slab, helping Renault bring the price of the product down competitively.

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The engine will reportedly feature a simple, cost-effective multipoint fuel injection system, as opposed to the Duster’s direct injection system. This means the car can also be engineered to run on CNG. Right before the launch of the Duster in India, several European-spec models were seen testing with a CNG kit; it is possible that they were testing and benchmarking the same 1.2-litre MPFI engine.

In petrol guise, the engine is expected to produce around 120 hp. It is also possible that a naturally aspirated version of the engine may be offered as well.

Renault’s expansive powertrain lineup

Renault is lining up a range of powertrain options for buyers, including a naturally aspirated engine, a turbocharged unit, and CNG options as well. The Bridger is set to have one of the most diverse engine lineups in the segment, though it will not include a diesel option. The success of these powertrain options will depend largely on pricing.

The badge-engineered Euro-spec variant, also known as the Dacia Duster, has an ECO-G 120 variant as well. This variant offers a dual-fuel petrol-LPG powertrain with a 6-speed gearbox. As per the Dacia website, this setup produces close to 120 hp and delivers up to 20% lower running costs.