The engine made its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in the new 1962 Renault Floride S, replacing the Dauphine Gordini. The capacity, which delivered a dozen additional horsepower, ( SAE), a few months later was seen in the new R8 sedan. For racing and motorsport versions, Amédée Gordini was responsible for designing a hemispherical combustion chambered head allowing ; for a 1000 cc version as opposed to for the previous 700 cc Gordini engine. Gordini revealed some weaknesses in the rigidity of the block which could lead to blown head gaskets; this prompted Renault to stiffen the block slightly.