Deep Dive Into The Hybrid Engine That 4 New Renault And Nissan SUVs Will Soon Get
Renault India unveiled the third-generation Duster on January 26th, at a grand event in Chennai. The mid-size SUV impressed many with its stance and design. The bigger highlight was, however, the powertrain pool. Two turbocharged petrol engines were announced to be available from launch- a bold move considering how popular the diesel engine was on the previous Duster. Making things more interesting, the carmaker also announced a strong hybrid powertrain to soon join the lineup. Here’s a more detailed look at this setup which will have a large 1.8L petrol engine at its heart.
Called the HR18 HEV, this powertrain was co-developed by Renault and Geely. It will be used in at least four upcoming Renault and Nissan SUVs.
First of all, Renault calls this powertrain ‘E-Tech 160’ on its production cars. HR18 HEV appears to be an internal codename, and HR18 refers to the combustion engine used in this setup. The (sixth-generation) Renault Clio hybrid sold in global markets already uses this engine.
The HR18 HEV is a fully integrated hybrid powertrain. It was developed by Horse Technologies, a division of Horse Powertrain. You may not be familiar with this company. It is a joint venture between Renault Group, Geely and Saudi Aramco. Renault and Geely hold 45% stakes each while Saudi Aramco’s share is just 10%.
This company was set up in 2024 and the HR18 combustion engine entered production in mid-2025. It was developed at the R&D centers in Romania and Spain, and is produced at the company’s plants in Türkiye and Spain. When brought to India, this powertrain is likely to be assembled at the Chennai facility or even be fully imported. We lack clarity on this front.
The biggest highlight of this powertrain is its integrated design. It combines a new 1.8L, 4-cylinder direct injection petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4kWh battery pack. The combustion engine alone is capable of making 106hp and 172Nm. More importantly, it weighs just 100 odd kilos!
The HR18 is an Atkinson-cycle engine built specifically for use in hybrids. It prioritizes fuel efficiency over outright performance. Fuel blends of up to 10% Ethanol content are supported. In other words, E10. The India-spec version will likely be made E20 compliant. On the emission front, the HR18 petrol engine is both Euro 6E-BIS and Euro 7 compliant.
The 1.4kWh battery pack used in this powertrain is a BTA Gen2 lithium-ion unit, developed at the Valladolid facility. It comprises two 34-cell modules with an integrated cooling system. It is compact and light, weighing just 35 kilograms. This battery supports a peak discharge rate of 11.6Ah, and a voltage range of 150-279V.
Mated to this hybrid powertrain is a clutchless, high-torque transmission (DB45S) capable of handling up to 436Nm. The absence of a traditional clutch reduces complexity and enhances durability.
More importantly, it ensures a smooth driving experience. The DB45S is manufactured in Seville, Spain. Renault has already clarified that the hybrid Duster will have an 8-speed transmission which has been developed using its Formula 1 learnings.
And finally the electric motor- a Horse Technologies 5DH, capable of generating around 67hp and 212Nm. This is made in its plant in Portugal. The combined system output is around 158hp and 172Nm.
In the HR18 HEV setup, one of the electric motors provides drive to the wheels while the other acts as a generator- more accurately, a high-voltage starter generator. The goal seems to be to maximise opportunities where the vehicle can run in all-electric mode.
The strong hybrid Duster is expected to run on pure electric power 80% of the time, in stop-and-go traffic. The fuel efficiency is expected to be around 24-26kpl.
In India, the Duster will be the first model to feature the HR18 HEV powertrain. The seven-seater Renault SUV based on it, will also get this setup. Nissan's version of the Duster (called the Tekton) is another. Strong hybrid variants of Nissan's upcoming seven-seater SUV will also use this setup.