The new three-cylinder engine nearly halves fuel consumption.
Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles, new developments show that conventional engines still have room to evolve. Engineers have unveiled an advanced powertrain based on a traditional architecture that uses modern technologies to significantly reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
The system was developed by Horse Powertrain in collaboration with Repsol. The companies created a prototype H12 engine derived from the turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder HR12 engine. It runs on 100% renewable Nexa 95 gasoline and achieves an impressive thermal efficiency of 44.2%, thanks to a new exhaust gas recirculation system and improved ignition technology.
Fuel consumption is reported to be below 3.3 liters per 100 km, roughly 40% lower than the European average for internal combustion engine vehicles (5–6 liters per 100 km). This improvement can reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 1.77 tonnes per year over a distance of 12,500 km compared with a conventional petrol engine.
Nexa 95 renewable fuel is produced from organic waste, including agricultural residues and used oils. It is compatible with existing engines and can cut emissions by more than 70%, offering a fast and practical pathway to reduce environmental impact without immediately switching to electric vehicles.