There's been a lot of buzz around Horse Powertrain, the English company that wants to help OEMs improve their efficiency via outsourced, specially designed internal-combustion engines. Just last week we learned that Lotus would use Horse power for the updated Emira and the reborn Esprit, a move that isn't terribly surprising considering the firm is part-owned by Geely – the same parent company as the boutique sports car manufacturer. Now, it seems that the equine engineering company will make it even easier for other manufacturers to adopt its wares, introducing a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder that meets advanced emissions standards worldwide. Keeping ICE And Going Green The latest version of the V20 engine will come in two variants: a 400-volt plug-in hybrid and a 48-volt mild hybrid. Despite lacking any kind of forced induction, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces a reasonable 194 horsepower in base form – for comparison, the NA 2.0-liter found in the Toyota Corolla makes 169 hp, while an identically sized engine in the Kia K4 has a mere 147. That would make the Horse V20 a perfectly acceptable proposition for a compact sedan or SUV.GeelyThe engine manufacturer also claims that the plug-in hybrid version of the latest V20 is seven percent more fuel-efficient than before, which doesn't sound like much, but it's the difference between 45 and 48 miles per gallon, something that would have an impact over a few years of vehicle use – especially if gas prices continue to rise. In PHEV form, the V20 and its associated electric motors would likely put down between 250 and 300 hp, a healthy amount that would be more than adequate for a family crossover or midsize sedan. One-Size-Fits-All Emissions Rating The latest generation of the Horse V20 is also unique in that it meets the varying emissions requirements of the US, the European Union, and even China. A multi-injection fuel system, presumably incorporating port and direct injection, helps the four-cylinder meet the incredibly strict China 6b standard for particulate and nitrogen emissions, while a redesigned intake improves combustion for greater thermal efficiency. According to Horse Chief Technology Officer Ingo Scholten, the decision to make the one engine platform meet all three emissions standards was deliberate (and, surprisingly, more difficult than designing three different engines).As the regulatory map is fragmenting, one engine that meets all three sets of rules delivers greater value to our customers, ensuring we can offer greater economies of scale. Pulling that off requires serious engineering.–Ingo Scholten, Deputy CTO, Horse PowertrainHowever, by ensuring the V20 can work as a true global engine, Horse is able to offer one product that can meet a variety of manufacturers' demands. That tactic allows the company to amoritize its engineering efforts across a wider variety of vehicles and regions, meaning the V20 could be equally at home powering a Volvo in Connecticut, a Renault in France, or a Lynk & Co. in Beijing.RenaultHorse Powertrain has been building the V20 at its factory in Skövde, Sweden, for some time now, and the latest redesign happened without production coming to a halt. Instead of idling, the factory produced previous-generation V20s while a parallel assembly line was installed to build new variants. As OEM demand for the V20 expands, Horse will be able to seamlessly scale up production of the newest design.What could that demand entail? Currently, Horse supplies individual engines for a variety of Nissan, Mitsubishi, Volvo, and Renault products, meaning the next-generation Juke or Outlander Sport could feature pony power.Source: Horse Powertrain