German automaker Mercedes Benz plans to use three-cylinder engines for future hybrid versions of compact front-wheel-drive vehicles.
The company is relying on these engines because of their small size, which will be needed for transverse-mounted hybrid powertrains.
Daimler powertrain development head Bernhard Heil said: "In packaging a hybridized engine in the front end, the four-cylinder engine has its limitations."
However, the company will retain rear-wheel-drive vehicles with four-cylinder engines as they have more space to accommodate longitudinally mounted engines.
Vehicles that will feature four-cylinder engines include Mercedes' C class, E class and S class and a hybrid-four-cylinder version.
According to Heil, Daimler will develop and market a small gasoline engine in collaboration with French carmaker Renault. Currently, Mercedes-Benz offers its compact cars with a slightly tweaked 1.5L turbodiesel engine from Renault in Europe.
Mercedes Benz will equip its compact A class, B class, CLA and GLA with the three-cylinder and the four-cylinder engines, which are being co-developed with Renault.
Image: Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class compact segment vehicle. Photo: Daimler AG.
