Announced April 24, a €300M (±$480M) investment in Lorraine (near smartville's location) for a new gas 1 l. 3 cylinders engine. To rival the one used in smart?
Quote:
Press release
04/24/2008
Development and industrialization of a 1l petrol engine - Objective: vehicles emitting less than 100g CO2/km - Construction of 2 manufacturing facilities - 500 jobs created at the Trémery plant (Lorraine) and search for Eastern European site
PSA Peugeot Citroën has decided to develop a new family of 1-litre 3 cylinder petrol engines with power ranging from 70 to 100 CV. This engine will bring very significant reductions in CO˛ consumptions and emissions and enable the Group, currently leader on the low CO2-emitting vehicles segment, to maintain and comfort its competitive advantage. The aim is to offer the market vehicles with CO2 emissions below 100g/km with no additional technology. Two extremely competitive manufacturing sites will be set up, one in France, the other in Eastern Europe.
The first facility, with an annual capacity of 600,000 engines, will be operational as of 2011. It will be located in France on the PSA Peugeot Citroën site at Trémery and enable the creation of over 500 jobs. In 2007, the Trémery plant, located 15 km from Metz, manufactured 1.74 million engines. Since being set up in 1979, this world-class plant with 4,100 employees has produced over 30 million engines.
A second facility will be set up in Eastern Europe by 2012. In order to find the best location for this additional engine-making plant, PSA Peugeot Citroën has begun canvassing several countries in this region. The choice will be made in the middle of this year.
With this new manufacturing facility in Eastern Europe, the Group will strengthen its position in this geographic region. This site will offer additional support to its marketing offensive in this part of the world alongside its plants in Slovakia (Trnava), the Czech Republic (Kolin) and Turkey (Bursa).
They have been using small 4 cylinders for years, and I imagine these would go into something like the C1 or 106. I don't see them looking to market anything too much smaller than what they have now in the marketplace, and with the Euro the way it is now, don't expect them to be talking anything about North America for a long time to come yet.
They do have a bit of a relationship with some other companies with Micros, maybe in the Fiat 500???
Fiat Ducato and Citroen Jumper are the same vehicles rebadged, so maybe something could be going the other way, but I think they might try putting a 3 cyl in vehicles for their own market now that gas prices are getting so high, even in France, they might be willing to downsize a bit.
Italy is more accepting of smaller motors and cars, so we will have to see where the market really is for all these.
Last edited by 2smartArizona; 07-20-2008 at 10:01 PM.
Seems like yesterday, when made in Japan was a synonym for cheap junk. MB had a good reputation for reliability. The commies where the bad guys and we payed the taliban to control the local farmers not to grow dope. Am I worried about a French motor (engine) in my possibly next smart... Non. The Mitsubishi motor is a ballsy little mill the way things are now. I like it.
karl
PSA is best known right now for their 2.0 HDi motor, known as one of the cleanest diesels out there. I have not owned this particular motor, but I have owned many other Peugeot diesels, and they are very tough, energy efficient engines. I don't see PSA supplying motors to smart anytime in the future, but I must admit I would have fewer concerns with their motor than a Mitsubishi motor. I have never owned a Mitsubishi myself, but my sister did, and it was nightmare of engine seal problems.
The modern PSA diesel engines have one of the best reputations in Europe, and while I have never had a gas powered PSA car, I would strongly consider one if they sold it in the USA.
A friend of mine is a teacher in France, and I met one of her students that had just returned from 5 years in Mexico. His father was a PSA exec who had been there working on the Peugeot introduction into the Mexican market. He said they had no plans of trying to come to the USA in the future, and that PSA is concentrating on other markets, especially Asia and Eastern Europe. I think the press release reflects this too. China will be a better market than the USA for their products.
China is going to get a lot of cool cars, and as soon as that pipeline is on line 100%, they will get all the Mid East oil too.
"Japanese = cheap." Yup, there was such a connection once as karl pointed out. But the reality is that was our own doing, or more specifically, General McArthur's doing. When he was personally running immediate post-WWII Japan he actively promoted the manufacturing and peddaling of such stuff to give Japan a quick economic base. Before the defeat of Japan, their technical and industrial base was on-par with the Western world, and by 10-years after WWII it was well on its way to full recovery. Dang, but didn't the Mitsubishi "Zeros" and Nakajima "Kates" give our Pacific Fleet Navy a hard time! Anyway....
I trust the skill and work ethic of the average Japanese on the assembly line more than most any average Continental wrench-turner.
The intention of my original posting was to make all aware that the group PSA Peugeot Citröen was investing in the development of an engine that could be in the same league as "our" Mitsubishi.
If Daimler wants to make a move from a Japanese to a French group is not even mentioned. Nevertheless, it did drop its own engine in favor of the Japanese we currently have. Another move is always possible.
Especially that Smartville is very much attune to savings in the moving of parts, as per their overall "green" policy. If an engine that could replace the Mitsu is available within less than a day of transport, that may be tempting, don't you think?
J Paul... I would prefer the 999cc Mitsubishi to have a long life in the smart brand.
I fear your "prediction" but must admit that if the power package is compatible, lower co2 emissions, and cheaper (even if only transport costs) you may have a point...
I still do NOT like the idea though... the Mitsubishi motor is a one off variant not currently in any other auto... we need long term density if we desire to own a particular 08 /09 smart for a decade or two...like I usually do with my vehicles
Additionally; one or two Model year run is generally not enough density for aftermarket to invest in supporting
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