The third-generation Mercedes CLA, which will debut next year, should also get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline turbo engine from Horse Powertrain Limited. It is a company jointly founded by the Chinese Geely and Renault to develop and produce internal combustion engines.
Allegedly, Mercedes with its knowledge also participated in the development of this engine, which is expected to develop 250 hp and 360 Nm. Production will take place in China, but the exhaust gas treatment system will be installed in Germany, to ensure compliance with strict European standards for harmful emissions. The transcontinental manufacturing process may seem a bit convoluted, but it clearly reflects the increasingly globalized nature of the automotive industry, he says. Jutarnji.hr.
While you may think it sounds very strange that the new generation CLA will use engines from Geely and Renault, it should be noted that these companies are quite connected as Geely CEO Li Shufu owns a 10 percent stake in Mercedes-Benz. Geely also operates a joint venture with the German automaker to build Smart electric vehicles.
Also, this wouldn’t be the first time that Mercedes uses other people’s engines. The first and second generation A-Class and models based on it used diesel engines developed in cooperation with Renault and Nissan. Also, many Mercedes used a gasoline 1.3 liter engine developed in cooperation with the same French-Japanese alliance.
According to CarNewsChina, some reports hint that this four-cylinder engine could be paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that integrates the electric motor directly into the transmission, allowing for a smoother and more efficient drive.
This engine is not the only Chinese technology making its way into the new CLA. The compact sedan will also feature an advanced driver assistance system developed by Chinese startup Momenta. Although you have probably never heard of this company, Mercedes-Benz has been cooperating with and investing in it since 2017. GM, SAIC and Yunfeng Capital, a company owned by billionaire businessman Jack Ma, also invested in the same company.
The new CLA will have efficient four-cylinder engines, but also several fully electric versions with an advanced 800-volt electrical architecture. An electric AMG version is also in preparation.
Source: Jutarnji.hr / Carscoops.com
Photo: Arhiva Autoblog.rs / Mercedes
Source: autoblog.rs
