Wagoneer

Make
Jeep
Segment
SUV

Automakers across the globe have committed to an electric future. But that won't happen overnight. In the meantime, we need more efficient, less polluting engines to power our cars. And to that end, Stellantis is launching a brand new four-cylinder turbo engine; shortly after it dropped a cool $2.5 billion on a new EV battery plant and unveiled the Hurricane straight-six to power the new Wagoneer.

Stellantis says that this new engine is also part of its greener commitment, which the brand calls Dare Forward 2030. But the news here is the engine, what it may power, and how it ties into the Dare Forward plan.

Stellantis will invest $99 million into the new mill, spending the cash across three plants. That includes the Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan, the Kokomo Casting Plant in Indiana, and the Etobicoke Casting Plant in Toronto.

The engine will displace only 1.6 liters across its four cylinders. It will also have all the modern accouterments you'd expect in a new combustion engine, from direct injection to hybrid-electric compatibility.

Interestingly, while this engine is new to the USA, it has been around for a while. It's currently used in several of Stellantis' French brands, including Peugeot and Citroen. In those products, it produces between 177 to 221 horsepower. The original version dates back to 2006, and results from BMW and PSA (Peugeot and Citroen) working together to create a small-capacity turbocharged engine.

For Stellantis, the new powerplant will be the basis for the first hybrid electric powertrain (HEV) in the Americas. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe does not count because it's a PHEV. It will power two new North American hybrids. For now, we aren't sure what vehicle it could be. Given the close connection with the French, it might just power the recently spied baby Jeep.

The Dundee Engine Complex is getting the lion's share of the investment, using a total of $83 million to retool. It will be the final assembly point for the new engine. However, Stellantis will also manufacture the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine at the Dundee Complex in the first quarter of 2023.

The block for this new 1.6-liter engine will be cast at the Kokomo casting facility. Stellantis says this is one of the largest in the world and will be investing $14 million into the plant to convert the brand's die-cast machines for this motor.

Finally, Etobicoke will produce the oil pan that will sit under this new four-pot. It will get $2 million to support the development and installation of new tooling and equipment upgrades.