Stellantis Develops New 1.6 Turbo Four-Cylinder Firefly Engine for Hybrid Cars

Stellantis Announced the Investment of US$ 99 Million for the Construction of a New Four-Cylinder Engine That Will Be Installed in Hybrid Cars.

The Stellantis is already focusing on its electrification in the European market; however, in the United States, things are still moving at a slower pace. Therefore, the group decided to apply new investments of US$ 99 million to modernize three North American factories. The new units will be responsible for the production of a new four-cylinder engine, which will have 1.6 liters and will be specifically used for hybrid cars manufactured in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Stellantis’ Four-Cylinder Engine Will Arrive in the Automotive Market in 2025

The Stellantis plants in Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan, Etobicoke Casting Plant in Toronto, and Kokomo Casting Plant in Indiana will be modernized. The group’s four-cylinder engine will feature a turbocharger and direct fuel injection, configured for use in full hybrid cars.

With large-scale production expected to take place in 2025, the engine will be derived from the GSE Firefly 1.5 Turbo, currently used in models such as Renegade and Jeep Compass in Europe. There, the GSE 1.5 Turbo is used only in hybrid or plug-in cars due to its high torque at low revs.

Thus, what will be available in Canada and the USA will be the GSE Firefly 1.6 Turbo, an engine exclusive to the region for future hybrid cars from Stellantis. It is worth noting that, at present, the four-cylinder engine could already equip Jeep models, such as the Compass and the Renegade, for example.

Stellantis Factories Will Build Other Engines Focusing on the Brazilian Market

Numbers for the Firefly 1.6 Turbo are not known, but assembly will take place in Dundee, Michigan, which will continue producing the 3.6-liter Pentastar Upgrade for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Grand Cherokee.

In the same factory, the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine will be developed in the first quarter of next year, while the casting of the block and the oil pan will be carried out at the Etobicoke and Kokomo units, respectively.

With the new 1.6 four-cylinder engine for hybrid cars, the GSE Firefly family expands, including turbocharged 1.0, 1.3, and 1.5 liters, as well as the variants used in Brazilian territory with 1.0 and 1.3 liters, albeit with two valves per cylinder.

In Brazil, at some point in the coming years, Stellantis is expected to launch a new engine for hybrid cars or utilize a modification in one of the current engines to serve as a generator.

Tesla Announces Electric Motor

In addition to Stellantis, the electric car industry giant, Tesla, led by Elon Musk, recently introduced its new motor for electric cars which, according to the entrepreneur, can deliver much better performance than current engines. Moreover, Elon Musk claims that the company has big plans for this year, with even more visionary strategies compared to previous ones. The strategies are becoming even more innovative.

The billionaire revealed that Tesla’s next electric motor will be carbon-covered and will offer a much higher RPM index.

The new motor, which is expected to be installed in a Tesla Roadster, was created by the company as part of the engine upgrade announced last October. According to Musk, the arrival of this new engine could significantly reduce the complexity of the powertrain, enhancing performance and efficiency.

The executive also adds that the new motor arriving soon is so good that the company could replace its current lineup with vehicles equipped with it without making any changes.