Hyundai-Kia's Launched New 1.6-litre Diesel Engine - V3Cars

Hyundai-Kia has launched has revealed the next generation of its 1.6-litre diesel engine, the 1.6-litre U3 CRDI. It will be offered for the first time in the updated Optima (Kia’s version of the Hyundai Sonata), which will be showcased at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The launch of this powertrain is a joint effort between Hyundai and Kia. As Hyundai is a primary shareholder of Kia, this joint product development effort is one of many of the initiatives that both companies take up from time to time to build up and maintain cordial business relations.

The new engine will replace the Optima’s ageing 1.7-litre CRDI and the 1.6-litre U2 CRDI in the near future, which currently powers cars such as the Verna, Creta and the Elantra in India along with a few more in Europe and other countries. The new diesel engine that is being introduced by Hyundai would have more torque boost and power.

Kia claims that the new powetrain has been designed to go beyond the emission norms as laid down by the current striker Euro 6, which also employs Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) for cleaner emissions. It is expected to be coupled to a seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission system in the Optima which will be showcased at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. India has been the production hub for the 1.6-litre U2 CRDI engines, which made its global debut with the first-gen i20 in Europe way back in 2008.

The new U3 model will also eventually make its way to India as well where the BSVI emission norms will come into effect by 2020. The current diesel engine model U2 will also be BSVI compliant, but there would be a significant drop in power when the revised emission norms come into play. Hence, it is probable that the shift to U3 motor will happen soon and Hyundai and Kia might shift to the new U3 motor globally. 

It is being presumed that the SP concept SUV of Kia that is being planned as the new compact SUV to be launched in India would be based on the same diesel engine model. The 1.6 liter diesel powertrain that is being planned for this car would be compliant as per BS VI standards. There is also a plan to lauch the facelift model of Hyundai Creta soon.

Besides this, there's also a chance that Hyundai and Kia might develop a slightly downsized version of the same powertrain as the 1.6-litre attracts relatively higher taxes currently. The likes of Verna and the Creta are considered luxury cars due to the presence of 1.6-litre motors, while on the other hand their rivals, the Honda City and the Renault Captur, are powered by 1.5-litre petrol and diesel powertrains.

Jeep is also expected to launch the Renegade in India soon which will give a run for money to the rivals SUVs such as the Creta and the SP. It is likely to be powered by Fiat’s 1.6-litre Multijet diesel that churns out 120PS along with a 320Nm torque. The torque boost received by the new engine would certainly help the SUVs from Hyundai and Kia stand strong in the market and forefend the new Jeep better.

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