About a month ago, we broke the news about the 2019 Jeep Renegade for the North American market getting a new 1.3-liter turbo engine. The engine is based on the new GSE or “Global Small Engine” family.
Since 2016, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) have built two versions of the GSE engines without turbos for the Brazilian-market Fiat Uno. Back in May, FCA decided to show off two of the latest versions of the GSE family. Both will be used in the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X globally, but only the 1.3-liter will be used in North America.
Internally called “T3” and “T4”, the new 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines make huge gains of power over the ones they are replacing. The 1.0-liter will make 120 horsepower and 140 lb.-ft.of torque. While the 1.3-liter turbo will have 180 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque. Keeping in mind that the current base model for Sport and Latitude models in North America is the 1.4-liter turbo with 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft.of torque and the optional 2.4-liter “Tigershark” with Multiair2 technology produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque.
For the 2019 model year, the 2.4-liter “Tigershark” with Multiair2 technology will become the standard engine in the Sport and Latitude models, while the 1.3-liter “T4” will be the standard engine in all Limited and Trailhawk models.
When designing the new drive, the engineers scrutinized the extent to which components of the Fire engines could be reused with the new turbo version. The first prototype took over the crankshaft of the old drives. Later, the developers tested versions with old cylinder heads. Ultimately, it only managed to keep the long-stroke design in the GSE engines .
With this design, a compact combustion chamber can be realized. FCA claims to achieve good turbulence and short flame paths. Both variants receive direct injection with a fuel pressure of 200 bar, four-valves per cylinder, a MultiAir and an exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head.
In this way, the warm-up phase of the engines shortens. Small bearings on the crankshaft reduce the friction. Both save fuel. The engine blocks and cylinder heads are made of aluminum. FCA claims to have built a lighter engine than the competition, which they are saying the 1.3-liter “T4” will only weigh about 242lbs.
Both the “T3” and “T4” engines start with standard small monoscroll turbochargers. However, in the long term the application can run twinscroll turbochargers, however FCA will not comment on future products.
In the preliminary configuration, the engines meet the new emission standards according to Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP). However, the real driving emissions (RDE) cycle requires load ranges that increase particulate emissions – a common problem for direct-injection engines. Therefore, the manufacturers install a gasoline particulate filter directly behind the catalyst.
Both variants are similar in bore and stroke (70 mm x 86.5 mm) and in the compression (10.5: 1). The camshafts are driven by a silent chain. The current 1.4-liter Turbo engine has a timing belt.
The new design will be significantly more economical than its predecessor. A diagram from the development shows that much less fuel is injected, especially at high loads. The predecessor is cooled here with comparatively much fuel (“full load enrichment”). An important development step, because FCA has big plans since the GSE engines are to be sold long after 2025.
A special thanks to our forum member Bili for helping us iron out all the details on this new 1.3-liter engine.
The 2019 Jeep Renegade starts production with the Limited trim on September 3rd. Those models will feature the new 1.3-liter engine as standard. The 2019 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk which also features the 1.3-liter standard starts production on October 15th. The rest of the 2019 Jeep Renegade lineup will go into production on November 27th. Those models will be standard with the 2.4-liter Tigershark and the 1.3-liter will be optional on the Latitude model. From September 3rd to November 27th, FCA will continue to build the Sport and Latitude 2018 models will standard 2.4-liter Tigershark engines.
