PSA ES engine

The PSA ES engine is a V6 engine used in automotive applications. It was co-developed by the PSA Group (Peugeot and Citroën) and Renault to replace the outdated PRV engine. It was introduced in 1997 with the Peugeot 406 Coupé. It is designed and manufactured by the company "Française de Mécanique" for PSA and Renault. In Renaults, the engine is known as the Renault L engine.

Unlike the PRV V6, which was a 90° engine because it was developed from a V8 project, the ES/L has a traditional 60° V-angle. It is constructed entirely in aluminum, and available only in DOHC 24-valve format. Its sole iteration, the ES9 (PSA) or L7X (Renault), has a displacement of 2946 cc, slightly less than the 3.0 L variant of the PRV. Bore is 87 mm and stroke 82.6 mm. A 3.3 L version was initially planned as well, but is unlikely to see production due to decreasing demand in V6 petrol engines in Europe and Renault's switch to Nissan-sourced V6 after its alliance with the Japanese carmaker.

Initially, the ES9/L produced 194 PS (143 kW) in accordance with the German and French insurance category limits in force at the time for engines under 3 Litres.(The BMW 2.8 and Audi 2.8 produced the same figure circa 194 PS.) In 2000, Porsche retuned the Peugeot/Citroën version of the engine introducing variable valve timing on the intake camshafts varying between 0-40 degrees, improving fuel consumption, low engine speed flexibility for the introduction of the Peugeot 607 and Citroën C5. This iteration, called ES9 J4S, can now achieve 207 PS (152 kW). In 2005, Peugeot/Citroën slightly upgraded the power to 211 PS (155 kW). This version is not used by Renault who is now focusing on Nissan-developed V6.

In 2000, Tom Walkinshaw Racing created a competition version for use in the Renault Clio V6. It could achieve a maximum of 280 PS (206 kW) in racing trim, with a version detuned to 230 PS (169 kW) for the road car. The road version's power was improved to 254 PS (187 kW) by Renault Sport in 2004.

The ES/L V6 has been used in a variety of cars from Citroën, Peugeot and Renault in the executive and luxury segments, namely the Citroën XM, Citroën Xantia, Citroën C5, Citroën C8 and Citroën C6; the Peugeot 406, 407, 605 and 607; and the Renault Laguna (Mk.I and II), Espace (Mk.III), Renault Avantime, Renault Safrane and Clio V6. It was also modified by Venturi into a 300+ hp twin turbo in the last of their Atlantique 300 cars. Unlike the PRV, it didn't have much of a career in motorsport, next to the Renault Sport Clio V6 Eurocup the engine was also used by Courage in the C52 and C60, as a 3.2L bi-turbo engine, with a max output of 650 bhp. The engines are build by Sodemo.

With Renault now shifting to the Nissan VQ engine 3.5L V6, PSA is now the sole user of the ES.

See also

• List of PSA engines
• List of Renault engines

Sources

• Guide des moteurs Peugeot Citroën (in French)
• Abu Dhabi Peugeot 407 launch details