Renault raises the stakes
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• Renault has finally launched a low-emission 135hp (1010W Euro-1 Perkins-powered Midliner S135,08/A into the UK 7.5.tonne rigid market. It is accompanied by a 147hp (110kVer) Midliner S150.08/A fitted with Renault's six-cylinder M1DS 06.02.12.D13. superseding the six-cylinder Perkins Phaser previously offered in the Midliner. And a retail finance scheme called Diamond Finance has been set up to help operators buy new vehicles.
Renault claims that with Perkins' latest Euro-1 four. cylinder 135Ti Phaser the 2.75tonne Midliner 135 is the lightest in its class. The new 4.0litre engine is air to-air chargecooled and has been specially tailored for Renault with a strong "British-made" element.
It uses Perkins' Fastram direct injection system that features an 800 re-entrant piston bowl with cen tre nodule to maximise air/fuel mixing for complete combustion. Pistons have an armoured top ring groove.
Its compression ratio is 17.5:1; the bore and stroke 100x127mm.
As well as redeveloped inlet ports, the 135Ti has the Bosch VE rotary pump giving 20% higher injection rates. It also has Garrett's T25 wastegated low-inertia turbocharger to improve the engine's responsiveness and help cut emissions. Perkins specifies five-hole injectors rather than four for better fuel atomisation and combustion.
The 3.8m-wheelbase Midliner S135.08A uses the 135Ti Phaser and aluminium-cased ZF 55.42 five-speed gearbox, putting less weight over the front axle.
fl See next week for driving imPressions.