Stellantis challenges electric cars with an upgraded Euro 7 diesel engine

At a time when the European automotive industry is engaged in massive electrification, Stellantis has chosen a more pragmatic path. The Franco-Italian group is not giving up on electric power, but refuses to make it the sole answer to market needs. Behind this inflexion lies a technical project far more ambitious than a simple return to diesel: the birth of a Euro 7 diesel engine that has been thoroughly modernized, electrified and designed to last. This choice marks a break with the past. Above all, it sends out a clear message: not all customers are ready, or forced, to switch to the 100 % electric.

A context that prompts Stellantis to rethink his plans

The last few months have been full of weak signals... that have become obvious. Slowing sales of electric cars, hesitation on the part of private customers, persistent reluctance on the part of business fleets: the energy transition is not following the hoped-for timetable. At Stellantis, this reality has led to several structural decisions, including the postponement of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio until 2028, in order to reintroduce a combustion engine under the hood.

The Group's new management team has adopted a more open approach. Brands retain a certain degree of technological freedom, as long as they comply with regulatory constraints. And within this framework, diesel has never totally disappeared. It still survives today in some of the Group's models, such as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, proof that demand still exists, particularly among long-distance drivers.

The programmed end of BlueHDi

However, this relaunch will not be based on the engines of the past. The 1.5 BlueHDi diesel, inherited from the PSA era, is living out its final months. Initially scheduled to be updated to meet the Euro 7 standard and extend its career to 2030, this engine has finally been discarded. Stellantis has decided. The future of diesel will no longer lie in France, but in Italy. The Group is now relying on a well-known and reputedly robust architecture: the Multijet engine.

The Multijet is back in force... XXIᵉ century version

At the heart of this new strategy is a new 1.6-liter diesel engine, directly derived from the latest generations of Multijet. This engine has been extensively reworked to meet the requirements of the Euro 7 standard, but also to adapt to an environment where combustion alone no longer has a place. For this new diesel will never be “simple”. It will systematically be combined with light electrification. Stellantis plans to add its eDCT6 transmission, a dual-clutch automatic gearbox already used on the Group's petrol hybrids.

This is where the project takes on a truly disruptive dimension. The eDCT6 gearbox integrates a 20 to 28 hp electric motor, powered by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery. This architecture makes it possible to assist the internal combustion engine, recover energy during braking and even make very short trips in 100 % electric mode.

In practice, this light hybrid diesel promises a significant drop in fuel consumption, reduced CO₂ emissions and full compliance with Euro 7, without sacrificing range or freeway enjoyment. An almost ideal equation for corporate fleets, heavy-duty drivers and all those for whom electric power remains restrictive. This choice also implies a symbolic consequence: the abandonment of the TCT gearbox by certain brands, notably Alfa Romeo, in favor of a technical solution common to the entire Group.

A diesel engine designed to power the entire range

Unlike previous generations, this new engine is not intended for a few isolated models. It is destined to become Stellantis' European diesel base. Several sources point to its arrival as early as 2026 on strategic models, including the future DS Nº7 and the Lancia Gamma.

Underlying this strategy is a clear-sighted observation. Electricity is on the advance, but not everywhere and not at the same pace. Infrastructures remain uneven, costs high, and business uses still largely dependent on combustion engines. While the Chinese competition is focusing on zero-emission vehicles, Stellantis has chosen to diversify its offering. This new Euro 7 diesel hybrid is not a step backwards. It is a technical response to an energy transition that is slower and more complex than expected.

An industrial and symbolic turning point

If this information is officially confirmed, Stellantis won't be content with prolonging the life of the diesel. The group could well redefine its role in the post-2030 era, betting on a sustainable coexistence between electric and hybrid. And the symbolism is strong: after several years dominated by French powertrains, Italian engineering could become the backbone of the Group's new-generation diesel. Official confirmation could come as early as May 21, at a major industry event organized by Stellantis in the USA. A date to keep a close eye on.