By René Fagnan, View author's other articles





The current power plant, codenamed the RS27, is a 750bhp V8 engine with a capacity for 18,000rpm.



In 2013 identical units are supplied to four partner teams: Red Bull Racing, Lotus, Williams and Caterham.





SPECIFICATIONS RS27 ENGINE*

DESIGNATION: RS27-2012

CONFIGURATION: 2.4L V8

NO OF CYLINDERS: 8

NO OF VALVES: 32

DISPLACEMENT: 2400cc

WEIGHT: 95kg

V ANGLE: 90°

RPM: 18

FUEL: Total

OIL: Total

POWER OUTPUT: >750 bhp

SPARK PLUGS: Semi surface discharge

IGNITION SYSTEM: High energy inductive

PISTONS: Aluminium alloy

ENGINE BLOCK: Aluminium alloy

CRANKSHAFT: Nitrided alloy steel with tungsten alloy

counterweights

CONNECTING RODS: Titanium alloy

THROTTLE SYSTEM: 8 butterflies





ENGINE STATISTICS*



2,500

2,500 parts make up one RS27 engine.



95 kg

The vital statistics of the engine are partly determined by the regulations. For example, the engine’s weight and centre of gravity must meet a minimum criterion. As a result the engine weighs 95kg, the equivalent to two small grown women, but this could be even less if given free rein !



Materials

Each engine piece is carefully crafted to be as light as possible whilst optimising the weight

distribution. Materials such as aluminium and titanium are used for their lightweight properties.





900° C

During a race, the exhausts of the RS27 will reach up to 900°C, an average consumer oven will only reach 240°C. These temperatures are very close to the melting point of most metals, therefore, special lightweight materials are used to make the exhausts.



750 bhp

Each engine is capable of producing approximately 750bhp. Most road car engines produce between 120 and 180bhp, less than 25% of the RS27.



2 tons

The actual weight of a piston is only 250g but when the engine revs to its maximum limit of 18,000rpm this weight exerts a force of 2 tonnes on its connecting parts.





2.5 s

The RS27 can accelerate from

0 to 60kph in 1.6 seconds. It can do 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 5.1 seconds and 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph) in 12.0 seconds dependant on aerodynamic setup and gearing.



220 litres

Over the course of an average race, the RS27 will consume approximately 220 litres of fuel.



3,000 km

Each race is a maximum of 300km, but each F1 engine is capable of running to around 3,000km, ten times a race distance. It’s not a lot compared to an average road car user, who will run 16,000km per year, but the average road car engine does not rev to 18,000rpm!





20,000 hours

Renault Sport F1 has 10 test beds at its factory. Each dyno at Viry will run for 4.5 days a week, 12 hours a day. Even taking into account holidays and downtime that’s equivalent to more than 20,000 hours dyno time per year!



* From Renault Sport F1





Renault Sport F1 is the division established by Renault to represent its interests in the FIA Formula One World Championship and is tasked with designing and building optimised engines that can be fully integrated into a chassis package by RSF1’s carefully selected partner teams.The current power plant, codenamed the RS27, is a 750bhp V8 engine with a capacity for 18,000rpm.In 2013 identical units are supplied to four partner teams: Red Bull Racing, Lotus, Williams and Caterham.DESIGNATION: RS27-2012CONFIGURATION: 2.4L V8NO OF CYLINDERS: 8NO OF VALVES: 32DISPLACEMENT: 2400ccWEIGHT: 95kgV ANGLE: 90°RPM: 18FUEL: TotalOIL: TotalPOWER OUTPUT: >750 bhpSPARK PLUGS: Semi surface dischargeIGNITION SYSTEM: High energy inductivePISTONS: Aluminium alloyENGINE BLOCK: Aluminium alloyCRANKSHAFT: Nitrided alloy steel with tungsten alloycounterweightsCONNECTING RODS: Titanium alloyTHROTTLE SYSTEM: 8 butterflies2,500 parts make up one RS27 engine.The vital statistics of the engine are partly determined by the regulations. For example, the engine’s weight and centre of gravity must meet a minimum criterion. As a result the engine weighs 95kg, the equivalent to two small grown women, but this could be even less if given free rein !Each engine piece is carefully crafted to be as light as possible whilst optimising the weightdistribution. Materials such as aluminium and titanium are used for their lightweight properties.During a race, the exhausts of the RS27 will reach up to 900°C, an average consumer oven will only reach 240°C. These temperatures are very close to the melting point of most metals, therefore, special lightweight materials are used to make the exhausts.Each engine is capable of producing approximately 750bhp. Most road car engines produce between 120 and 180bhp, less than 25% of the RS27.The actual weight of a piston is only 250g but when the engine revs to its maximum limit of 18,000rpm this weight exerts a force of 2 tonnes on its connecting parts.The RS27 can accelerate from0 to 60kph in 1.6 seconds. It can do 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 5.1 seconds and 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph) in 12.0 seconds dependant on aerodynamic setup and gearing.Over the course of an average race, the RS27 will consume approximately 220 litres of fuel.Each race is a maximum of 300km, but each F1 engine is capable of running to around 3,000km, ten times a race distance. It’s not a lot compared to an average road car user, who will run 16,000km per year, but the average road car engine does not rev to 18,000rpm!Renault Sport F1 has 10 test beds at its factory. Each dyno at Viry will run for 4.5 days a week, 12 hours a day. Even taking into account holidays and downtime that’s equivalent to more than 20,000 hours dyno time per year!* From Renault Sport F1 Topics: f1, renault, racing Email Print Save More... User Rating: Rate it: Choose rating 0 Stars 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars You must log in before rating this. You have already rated this. Thank you Recent Articles F1: Change rules or say 'goodbye' to Renault, warns Christian Horner

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