Peugeot-Citroen's 3-Cylinder Engines Will Start Production in 2012

Following an investment of EUR175 million in the the company's northern France engine plant, PSA Peugeot Citroen will start producing a small 3-cylinder engine for models like the Peugeot 207 and Citroen C3. Between now and 2013, the plant located in Douvrin, in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, will prepare for the production of a new three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine line. The investment follows the group's decision to extend the range of I3 engines currently under development by adding a turbocharged version.

The new I3 engine family will include 1.0- and 1.2-liter naturally-aspirated versions to be produced at PSA's Tremery plant beginning in 2012, with capacity of 640,000 units per year, and the 1.2-litre turbo versions to be produced at Douvrin from 2012 with capacity of 320,000 units annually. The Douvrin plant currently builds petrol and diesel engines for Peugeot and Citroën models, including the EP petrol engine developed in cooperation with BMW for the Mini line.

"We have not got a definitive model list yet as we are still planning how to spread the engines around," said a PSA spokesman quoted by just-auto.com. "It is likely to be the 207 and cars of that size – also C3 will be the initial target - it will be between now and 2013 so it will be imminent", added the spokesman. "Later on it will also be other cars - potentially 308 and C4. The first engines and cars will be produced towards the end of 2013 - it will ramp up to full production in 2014," said the official.

Created in 1969, the Douvrin facility is a 50-50 joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroën and Renault, with 3,400 employees. It produces 6,200 engines per day. Output in 2009 totaled 1.3m units, of which 942,000 were for PSA.