The motor factory in Campo Largo, in Brazil, has a long history of 25 years which started in 1999 when Chrysler and BMW created Tritec to produce 1.4L and 1.6L engines.
Used in models as diverse as the Neon, PT Cruiser and MINI, in 2008 the plant passed into the hands of FIAT. Curiously, at that time the union between the Italians and the Americans, who at that time were merging with Daimler (Mercedes), was very distant.
With the support of FIAT, the engines were transformed and the E.torQ family was born with a 1.6L and an 18L, both 16 valves. The former went out of production a while ago, while the larger one is in retirement.
Due to anti-pollution regulations that came into force in Brazil this year, the 130 hp 1.8L 16V was no longer marketed in that country. After a maximum peak in the early 2010s, and reaching 1.5 million units produced in 2029, FCA (today part of Stellantis) began to focus on engine production in Betim where today it manufactures the Firefly and GSE. Stellantis clarifies that the factory will not close and that the employees will be reassigned to new tasks.
What does the future hold?
Stellantis brands (including Citroën and Peugeot) are expected to gradually adopt the new 1.0L three-cylinder turbocharged engines known as the T200 in the region.
T200 engine characteristics
- 1.0L three-cylinder
- Turbo and direct injection
- 12V Multiair III
- 120hp
Secondly, the 99 Hp 1.3 L 8V should continue in the arena of the most basic FIAT models and it is possible that at some point Cronos and Argo will receive the T200 at their top of the range, although that would bring them closer to the more expensive Pulse and Fastback. That engine is also expected for the restyling of the Strada.
T270 engine characteristics
- 1.3L 4 cylinder
- 16V and timing chain
- aluminum block
- 175 hp
