Stellantis Will Invest $99 Million Into Development For Four-Cylinder Engine For NA Region!
Three Facilities Will Get Updates For HEV Engine Updates...
Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) announced earlier today that it would invest $99 million into three of its North American plants to produce a new turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. Investments will be made at the Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan, the Kokomo Casting Plant in Indiana, and the Etobicoke Casting Plant in Toronto.
The new engine will feature direct injection and flexibility for future hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) applications. A spokesperson from the company confirmed to use, that the turbocharged 1.6-liter will be based on the PSA-source engine used in Peugeot and Citroën vehicles.
For example in the Peugeot 508 D-segment sedan and wagon, the turbocharged 1.6-liter PureTech inline-four-cylinder engine provides two levels of output for its pure gasoline layouts. One features 178 horsepower and 250 N⋅m (184 lb.-ft.) of torque, while the other makes a generous 222 horsepower and 300 N⋅m (221 lb.-ft.) of torque.
The new engine will power two future North American HEV models. One of those models is believed to be the next-generation Jeep® Cherokee (KM) and possibly a Wagoneer sibling that the next-generation D-Segment SUV will spawn. The engine will be the company’s first HEV engine in the North American marketplace. Stellantis says production will begin in early 2025, putting it right align with the production schedule of the next-generation Cherokee.
About $83 million of the investment will go to the Dundee Engine Plant, as it will be retooled and become the final assembly location for the new engine. The Michigan plant will continue production of the 3.6-liter Pentastar upgrade (PUG) V6 engine for both the Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL74) and Grand Cherokee L (WL75).
The old naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter Tigershark inline-four-cylinder engine currently built there will end production in Q1 2023. The engine is used in the Jeep Compass (MP) and the Ram ProMaster City (VM) are the only vehicles left using the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine. Our sources have been indicating for some time that the Compass will adopt the turbocharged 1.3-liter GSE-T4 inline-four-cylinder for the 2023 model year.
The engine blocks for the new engine will be cast at the Kokomo Casting Plant, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. More than $14 million will be invested to convert existing die-cast machines and cells for the new engine.
The Etobicoke Casting facility will produce the oil pan for the new engine. The company will invest nearly $2 million to support the development and installation of new tooling and equipment upgrades.
