The Horse B20 is a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine from U.K.-based Horse Powertrain, designed specifically for extreme off-roading and water-fording. The company claims the engine is “fully waterproof” and meets IPX8 standards, while producing as much as 248 horsepower.
Horse B20 Delivers Up to 248 Horsepower
Unrelated to the iconic Honda B20, the Horse B20 produces between 187 and 248 horsepower, with torque ranging from 221 to 280 lb-ft. Horse says the engine can operate at depths of up to 1.1 meters, or more than 43 inches.
That is roughly 200 mm deeper than the stated wading depth of a Range Rover, which is 35.5 inches. The engine can also deliver continuous and stable power while climbing a 100 percent grade, equivalent to a continuous 45-degree slope.
The B20 uses the Miller cycle and achieves a brake thermal efficiency figure of 48.4 percent. Horse has also focused on keeping the engine lightweight: It weighs just 286 pounds, considerably less than the BMW B48 four-cylinder turbo engine, which weighs between 317 and 427 pounds and produces up to 302 horsepower.
Engine Designed for Extreme Conditions
Horse designed the B20 to withstand high combustion pressures with a gantry-type aluminum block featuring an integrated exhaust manifold. The engine also uses a variable-displacement oil pump and high-tumble intake ports designed to improve atomization through the high-pressure injectors.
Its pistons are designed to take advantage of the “squish” effect, which forces the air-fuel mixture toward the center of the combustion chamber at top dead center. The goal is to promote better air-fuel mixing at the peak of the compression cycle.
Horse also says the B20 features a fully active dual-cooling system that is exclusive to the engine. One of its most notable systems uses sensors to detect when the engine is submerged, automatically adjusting power output and throttle response to maximize traction.
Potential Applications for the Horse B20
Horse Powertrain has not provided specifics about where the B20 could be used in the future. The company says the engine supports mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and range-extended EV applications, giving it a broad range of potential uses.
The B20 has already been paired with a PHEV powertrain in the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700, a China-only off-road vehicle.
The engine’s combination of water-fording capability, efficiency, power, and compatibility with multiple electrified powertrains could eventually see it used in other products. The upcoming baby G-Class is identified as a potential application.
Horse Powertrain’s latest engine adds another notable entry to the company’s recent series of powertrain developments, with the Horse B20 combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder layout with IPX8-rated waterproofing and off-road-focused capabilities.
