New Powertrain Turns EV Platforms Into Hybrids Without Redesign
Financial Reality Behind Electrification
Producing a broad electrified lineup to meet various market demands isn't as simple as it sounds; factors like development costs come into play, with BMW even allocating resources to retool its century-old German factory to support electric vehicle production. Where there is a problem, though, companies will try to find a solution, and Horse Powertrain says its new "all-in-one" powertrain is designed to help automakers streamline that process.
Horse Powertrain, a U.K.-based powertrain supplier backed by Renault and Geely, is set to unveil a product called the X-Range C15 Direct Drive at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. It is a hybrid powertrain engineered to be integrated into an existing all-electric vehicle platform, which, on paper, means automakers could use a single set of EV underpinnings for a broader electrified lineup – including BEVs, HEVs, PHEVs, and REEVs – without the significant changes that typically drive up costs.
Rewriting the EV Playbook
The new X-Range C15 Direct Drive features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine available in naturally aspirated form for smaller vehicles and a turbocharged version for larger ones. The NA setup produces 70 kW (95 horsepower), while the turbocharged variant delivers 120 kW (160 horsepower), around 20 hp more than the U.S.-spec Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
The engine is integrated into a single housing with the transmission and two electric motors. One acts as a generator, while the other is connected to the transmission's output shaft. The setup allows the motor to drive the wheels on its own in a series-hybrid configuration – similar to a range-extended EV – and to work with the engine to deliver additional power.
The standard configuration is rear-wheel drive, though automakers can opt for all-wheel drive by adding another electric drive unit to the front axle.
Flexibility by Design
Speaking about the flexible hybrid powertrain, Matias Giannini, Horse Powertrain CEO, said, "The X-Range family of powertrains is about reflecting today's market realities, allowing automakers to pivot from BEVs to hybrids and range extenders on a single platform, quickly and at scale."
As mentioned, Horse Powertrain will showcase the X-Range C15 Direct Drive at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, which runs from April 24 to May 3. It will also give the company an opportunity to attract more stakeholders by highlighting other products, including its hybrid engine concept, the H12, which is claimed to deliver up to 71.3 mpg under WLTP testing. That figure would likely be lower under EPA standards, though for reference, the Toyota Prius is rated at an EPA-estimated 57 mpg.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:45 AM.