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The Renault 16 - engines
For the Renault 16 a new engine was constructed. Siginficant was the block of aluminium alloy with wet, replaceable cylinder liners. This construction made it easy to increase capacity with bigger liners and pistons, as well an engine overhaul would be easier. Tha valves were controlled by a single in-block camshaft driven by a chain, pushrods and tappets. The first engine had 1470 cc capacity, a Solex single downdraught carburretor and had a power output of 58 HP. This engine also made its career in the Lotus Europa, but with a different head, camshaft and carburettor.
1968 the TS was introduced. The engine, now with a capacity of 1565 cc, also introduced a new crossflow cylinder head with hemisherical combustion chamber and a double barrel carburettor, but still with camshaft in the block. The power output was 83 HP, later 85 HP. This engine was an "I-can-do-it-all", and was used in the R12 Gordini, in the R17 and in the Alpine models A110 and A310 - up to 170 HP in the racing version!
All models, also the later TL, had a fully synchromesh four speed gearbox in common, with gearshift lever on the steering column.
For the first automatic model, the TA, the 1565 cc block was topped with the "old" head. In combination with a single carburretor this engine had a power output of 67 HP. This engine was later also used in the TL. The TA, equipped with a 3-speed automatic gearbox, was in production for a short period only, from 1971 on all models were available with automatic gearbox. Therefore, the TA seems to be the most rare R16 model.
The TS engine was modified furtheron, and 1973 the R16 TX was presented to the market. It was the top of the R16 range. The engine had a capacity of 1648 cc, a Weber double barrel carburettor and a power output of 93 HP. The TX was equipped with a fully synchromeh five speed gearbox (automatic on demand), certainly also with steering column gearshift lever. Due to the high transmitted fifth speed and some aerodynamic modifications (e.g. the roof wing) the TX was not only the most powerful but also the most economic R16!