Stellantis announces plans to produce new 1.6-litre engines in North America

Stellantis is set to produce two new 1.6-litre engines that are reportedly destined to power upcoming Peugeot and Citroen models. Announcing the plan recently, the firm will invest US$99 million (Approx. RM441.19 million) into producing these engines across its plants in North America.

Credible sources online report that these new 1.6-liter mills will be a turbocharged, inline 4-cyl units brimmed with direct fuel injection, plus the flexibility for application in hybrid-electric vehicles. Though Stellantis has not specified exactly what engine these are, the firm confirmed that a version of which is currently being fielded in Europe.

Presently, Stellantis employs the ‘Prince’ 1.6-litre unit, which is also hybrid-compatible, in a number of vehicles such as the Peugeot 408 and 3008. The firm further confirmed that the will be used in two hybrid vehicles in the North American marketspace, though it didn’t specify any models in particular.

The bulk of the investment – up to US$83 million – will reportedly go into retooling and Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan state, with the aim of transforming it into the final assembly location for these new engines.

Said plant will also continue to build the 3.6-litre Pentastar Upgrade mills that powers the Jeep brand’s Grand Cherokee model. As for the Tigershark 2.4-litre 4-cyl mill that comes out of this plant presently, it will be phased out by the first quarter of 2023.

Another chunk of the investment – US$14 million – will go into the Kokomo Casting Plant in Indiana state. Said funds will see the facility convert its existing machines to accommodate production of these new engines.

Lastly, approximately US$2 million will also go into the Etobicoke Casting Plant in Toronto, Canada as well. It will be re-tooled and re-equipped to produce oil pans for these new engines too.

With the investments and subsequent repurposing of the facilities noted above, Stellantis says production of these new engines will start in early 2025.