When it was unveiled this summer in the USA under the hood of the new Jeep Cherokee 2026, Stellantis presented its "new" 1.6L hybrid engine as a great novelty for the American market. In fact, specialists will have recognized it: it's the PSA EP6 engine, already familiar in Europe in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form in models such as the Peugeot 3008. This time, however, the engine has been adapted into a simple hybrid (HEV) version, and may soon be arriving in Europe, including in Italian models.
A more powerful 1.6L hybrid engine
Produced at Chrysler's Dundee plant in Michigan, this 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, combined with a hybrid gearbox and two electric motors, now delivers 177 hp from the internal combustion engine and 210 hp from the hybrid engine. This is a significant increase in power compared with the current European plug-in version, which is limited to 150 hp internal combustion and 195 hp hybrid (and 225 hp in the Peugeot 408).
From Europe to the USA and back to Europe
After the Cherokee, Stellantis has confirmed that the new European Jeep Compass will also adopt this 1.6L HEV. The idea is clear: to offer a simple, no-recharge alternative to customers who don't want to switch to the 100 % electric, but who expect gains in efficiency.
And the story doesn't end there. As Jean-Philippe Imparato, Director of Stellantis Europe, explained at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, full hybrid technology (HEV) will be gradually introduced in Europe over the coming months, before being extended to the Group's medium and large models. Stellantis also anticipates the arrival of new generations of longer-range MHEV, HEV and PHEV in the next 24 to 36 months. REEVs (range-extending hybrids) are even mentioned as a "promising" technology.
Italian brands in the firing line
In Europe, with the necessary adjustments, this 1.6L hybrid could replace the already well-known 1.6L PHEV engine. As for the Italian brands, several projects are on the table:
- The future Lancia Gamma, due next year, could well benefit from this.
- The future Alfa Romeo SUV (A4U), scheduled for unveiling in late 2026, is also an ideal candidate.
- There are even rumours that the engine may be used on the Alfa Romeo Junior, although nothing has yet been confirmed.
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Of course they sell so many Italian cars that after the 1.2 puretoc, we're entitled to the 1.6 l😡😡😡.
Pasamos 10 años con ese motor 1.2 puretch, de 3 cilindros y ahora ese 1.6 será igual la correa bañada en aceite?
Maybe we'll get another Peugeot puremerde. No more stelantis, I've just switched to a Suzuki. I used to love Fiat, but now I don't trust these crappy French engines.
yet you're familiar with this engine, which has already been around for over 10 years (165 hp 180 hp 225 hp and 270 hp in pure thermal form and 180 hp or 225 hp in PHEV) in its current form and has had very few problems since PSA took over the development of this engine from BMW.
It's an excellent engine, sober, flexible, powerful and very reliable.
The big problem with idiots like you is that they learn about mechanics from the cheap press and think they know it all without actually understanding anything.
This engine is so good that you can see the number of engine failures on RCZs and other models, so before insulting it, you'd better get informed, because it's precisely the first engine that caused so many problems for PSA that it wasn't just the ECU that had to be reprogrammed, Bimota had to install a new exhaust system and a new turbocharger discharge valve, but had to install a stroker kit to get as many forged parts as possible, because the engine is not 1.6 displacement as advertised, but 1.75.
Leider ist es so, die Grand Nation, von faulen Mächten zerstört oder wieder mal davonlaufen, wie damals um 1800 am BergIsel die Soldaten von Napoleon vor einer Handvoll Bauern in die Flucht geschlagen wurden.Tapferkeit lohnt sich anscheinend nicht.
It's all very well to release an HEV. But will they manage to produce it before 10ans😀? Given the level of industrial production skills lately at Stellantis...
Original PSA EP6 1.6L HEV engine!
And it's this engine that Stellantis wants to put in Alfa Romeo? Dismaying.
It makes you wonder if Tavares has really left?
Yes, but this EP6 is not the EB2 Gen 2 with its calamitous reliability.
And frankly, this EP6 is better in every way than the 1.3l and 1.5l Fiat currently fitted to the Alfa Tonale. When I say better, I mean in terms of pure performance, fuel efficiency and reliability.
Reliability remains to be proven, because for the moment it's precisely the opposite.
There's no guarantee that it's better than the Tonale's 1.3 and 1.5 Fiat, as we have no feedback on this engine.
Given the design of original French engines, this is going to end up as a continual recall!
In short, very bad news.
Yes, it's proven to be reliable, since it's an evolution of the 1.6 l Thp, which had a timing chain problem at the time, and has since been made more reliable in the Puretech Thermique and Plug-in Hybrid versions.
The advanced Ep6 version has been developed by Opel engineers to meet the new pollution standards.
No, it's just that the 1.6 is notoriously unreliable, and it's not the upgrades that have changed the problems of cylinder scratches, connecting rods that end up as marmalade, oil consumption, turbo consumption... etc. No, the Fiat 1.3 and 1.5 are far more reliable.
This engine is very reliable and I think that in Europe it will be downsized to an EP4.
In Europe, it will have the same 1.6-liter displacement, since it already exists as a plug-in hybrid on many of the Group's models manufactured in Hungary.
Beh, sempre meglio del disastroso puretech 1.2 con la cinghia a bagnomaria che montano adesso sull'alfa 🤦♂️ e su altre cento macchine uguali
@Stanislas "PSA-sourced EP6 1.6L HEV engine" ...and BMW!
Now and for the past 10 years, one of the most reliable engines in the world since it was corrected.
Not yet, because it still has just as many problems: the timing chain lengthens (due to a faulty tensioner) and can break, intake valve clogging linked to direct injection, excessive oil consumption due to brittle rings and an undersized turbo return circuit, and failures of the high-pressure pump or the turbo itself. Problems with the cooling system and ignition (spark plugs, coils) are also frequent... all of which, as far as we know, have not been corrected.
So yes, there's plenty to worry about!
Are you sure? I didn't hear anyone on forums about the newer 1.6 puretech version of that engine having problems, while i read many complaints about the older 1.6thp version.
So, do you really know bad stories about the 1.6 puretech, or you just talk about the 1.6 thp version? Thanks!
"And there are even rumours that the engine may be used on the Alfa Romeo Junior, although nothing has been confirmed yet."
So if this rumor is true, that would be great. Much more glorious than 3cyl (whatever the origin).
Dopo il 1.2 pure tech adesso ci tocca pure il 1.6... mi dispiace ma con questi motori non compro nulla!
This is another engine that will constantly cause problems, given its roots, and will drive even more customers away from the group.
In South America, they're definitely luckier than we are.
It makes you wonder if we don't want to get rid of the automobile in the EU and put in catastrophic engines.
For the time being, and for the past year... It's the Junior with its engine that makes the gearbox turn!
Certainly not the other models of the FCA era!
For the moment, it's Fiat that keeps the Group going with its sales in South America, and certainly not the products of the PSA era.