Many factors, from cost to engineering marvels, from emission standards to market needs, affect choices in this field. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the vehicle’s engine is a key that determines a brand’s identity, performance and competitive advantage, rather than just being a part of a machine. Mercedes, which we will discuss now, is one of the most sensitive brands in this regard.
Of course, there is a logical reason behind why the German brand Mercedes uses Renault engines containing French engineering. Together, we will look not only at this reason, but also whether this affects the quality of the vehicles.
Why does Mercedes use low-volume French engines in its high-end vehicles?
With the increase in global competition, the need for brands to produce more and more economically rather than original and less production has arisen. This situation has led many manufacturers to manufacture not only engines; It also led to the widespread use of common parts.
Unfortunately, this situation even led to questioning of prestigious brands such as Mercedes and BMW. However, on the other hand, the use of common parts brought the quality of automobiles closer together.
It’s important to remember that these manufacturers are essentially businesses and need to sell large numbers of products at a profit. Because if they adopt a conservative attitude, there will always be a risk of losing power in the market with low and low-profit production. It should also be kept in mind that a car is not just about the engine.
It should not be forgotten that the engines in question are reliable and high-performance and are appreciated by the masses. Because these are pieces that have proven themselves. As a result, we can say that this move was made for economic reasons.
Is the prestige of Mercedes affected by using a common engine?
When we think of a company that prioritizes quality, we cannot say yes to this. “Is this the case because it involves any partnership?” If you say yes, there is an engineering agreement between the two companies.
But the situation in question is not limited to Mercedes. Volvo and Ford have also been using PSA diesel and some gasoline engines for a long time and are developing their own new engines based on these engines.
We can multiply these examples; for example, the 2.0 turbo-gasoline engine used in Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar models is also produced by Ford.
Mercedes’ engines are famous throughout the world for their durability and longevity.
It is normal to wonder why a brand famous for its durability uses a different brand’s engine. There are some differences between the durability of the engines used today and those of years ago.
Engine parts used in the past were generally produced as alloys by mixing iron-steel materials and other metals. However, nowadays, as lightness becomes more important and raw material resources decrease, steel and aluminum alloy materials are generally preferred in engine parts.
Basically, materials made of steel are generally stronger than those made of aluminum.
Although there are very few metals that can compete with the steel previously used in engines in terms of durability, there are almost no materials that are superior to aluminum in terms of lightness and heat conduction. Aluminum is a material that has no rivals due to its lightness and heat conduction properties.
Another important factor in the durability of past Mercedes engines is German engineering and discipline. Germans are known for their discipline in manufacturing a product for durability and longevity, without sparing cost.
Examining the engine parts produced by the Mercedes brand at that time shows that the metal and casting quality and measurement tolerances were at such a high level that it is impossible not to admire these details.
Which Mercedes models use Renault engines?
It is known that Renault engines are used in Vito, A series, B series, C series, Citan, CLA, GLA models. Most of these cars share one particular common feature, their size.
Mercedes’ focus on Renault engines makes them an ideal choice for the brand’s more compact vehicles, especially since they are small and economical.
Moreover, Mercedes is not only using Renault engines for its X-Class pickup truck; It is also known that he prefers Nissan engines such as the 2.3-liter diesel engine.
Not only Mercedes, but also many brands use engines of different brands.
French PSA (Peugeot SA – Peugeot – Citroen Group) has been supplying engines to Ford, BMW, MINI and Volvo brands for a long time. Some models of brands such as Land Rover, Range Rover, Jaguar and Volvo use Ford engines.
Apart from Mercedes, Renault also supplies engines to Dacia and Nissan. Let us even give you a surprising piece of information: It is known that the V10 engines produced by Lamborghini are used in some Audi R8 and Audi RS series.
The only thing we can say as a result of our analysis is that using a Renault engine will not harm the prestige of Mercedes and will not automatically make Renault a star. Common engine use can be considered, in the most general and summary terms, as a win-win relationship.
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