CAUGHT: 2022 Jeep® Renegade Limited Mild-Hybrid (mHEV):

Powertrain engineers from the former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) side of Stellantis, are continuing to develop new solutions for its existing powertrains. This includes the company’s Global Small Engine family (or GSE, marketed as FireFly). 

The FireFly engines have been successful in vehicles like the Jeep® Renegade, Compass, and Fiat 500X. The turbocharged 1.3-liter direct-injection inline-four-cylinder produces 177 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque and has proved itself since 2018, when it was first introduced to the market under the hood of the Renegade. Since then, the 1.3-liter became part of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain for the Renegade and Compass 4xe.

Last year, we learned more about the updates to the GSE family thanks to the Unione Italiana Lavoratori Metalmeccanici (UILM), the Italian metalworkers union. In updated contracts, the UILM said that the Stellantis plant in Termoli would produce 1.0-liter and new 1.5-liter versions of its GSE engine family in both naturally aspirated and hybrid variants. It came almost a year after we first discussed the possibility of a new 1.5-liter engine.

According to sources close to MoparInsiders.com, Stellantis is currently working with the German supplier, Getrag to supply a 7-speed, wet dual-clutch, mild-hybrid transmission. The transmission should be an updated version of Getrag’s 7DCT300 transmission (shown above). The transmission is expected to feature an integrated electric motor capable of 15 to 25 kW of power on a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with the possibility of running on just electric power alone.

We saw spy photos of an updated Compass prototype with the new engine out testing on European streets last month. Now, we are seeing more proof of the existence of this new system, in a series of spy photos from our friends at GabetzSPYUnit. These two Jeep Renegade models appear to be testing the new 1.5-liter with mHEV system and one of them appears to be showing us the new all-white “e” logo that the new mHEV units will use.

A sticker on the outside of the orange Limited model, also confirms that the displacement will in fact be 1.5-liters. 

The new powerplant is expected to not only be under the hood of the Renegade and Compass, but the new Alfa Romeo Tonale, and the upcoming Dodge Hornet. According to our sources, the 1.5-liter will have an output somewhere around 205 horsepower and 229 lb.-ft. (310 Nm) of torque. A modest boost of power over the 1.3-liter.

The new mild-hybrid system is one part of Stellantis’ part forward with it’s electrification strategy. We expect that all gasoline and diesel powertrains will have some form of electrification added from this point forward.

2022 Jeep® Renegade Limited mHEV Image Gallery:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.