Horse Power Unveils X-Range Extended-Range System and Full-Stack Hybrid Tech Matrix, Enabling Rapid Electrified Platform Expansion

On the first day of Media Day at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, Matias Giannini, Global CEO of HORSE Powertrain, stated that over one billion vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines (ICEs) are expected to remain in operation globally by 2040. He noted that the full transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) faces significant short-term constraints due to three key factors: limited charging infrastructure coverage, supply shortages of battery raw materials, and high end-user pricing. Automakers are also grappling with the substantial cost pressures associated with simultaneously developing both BEV and hybrid platforms. To address these challenges, HORSE Powertrain unveiled its X-Range extended-range system, designed to enable automakers to rapidly add hybrid or range-extended capabilities without modifying the underlying architecture of their native BEV platforms. The system comprises three core products: the ultra-compact HORSE C15 range extender, the future-oriented HORSE F15 Direct Drive hybrid system, and the newly debuted HORSE C15 Direct Drive system. Notably, the C15 Direct Drive supports full coverage across BEV, HEV, PHEV, and range-extended configurations without requiring platform modifications, making it suitable for B-segment family sedans up to D-segment luxury vehicles and light commercial vehicles. The F15 Direct Drive system offers fuel flexibility, compatible with gasoline, ethanol, methanol, and synthetic fuels. Giannini emphasized that this approach allows OEMs to redirect resources toward brand differentiation, user experience, and intelligent features—key areas of competitive advantage. Beyond X-Range, HORSE Powertrain showcased a comprehensive full-stack product portfolio spanning high-efficiency hybrids, high-performance hybrids, and low-carbon fuel technologies. Highlights include: - The HORSE B20 ultra-efficient waterproof hybrid engine, featuring a world-leading thermal efficiency of 48.41%, weighing just 96 kg, and rated IPX8 waterproof—capable of operating submerged at a depth of 1.1 meters. Mass production is scheduled for 2026. - The first product from the HORSE DHTS Super Hybrid platform, the DHTS210, set to launch mid-2026. It features a highly integrated 14-in-1 design, delivers 3,500 Nm of wheel-end torque, and meets Euro NCAP 5-star crash safety standards. - The HORSE DHT290 premium intelligent e-drive system, built on a quasi-1,000V high-voltage platform, boasts a 290 kW drive motor and peak wheel-end torque of 4,920 Nm. It is already deployed in the Zeekr 9X, 8X, and Lotus For Me hybrid supercar. In the high-performance segment, HORSE introduced the W30+4LDHT all-terrain V6 hybrid powertrain. The W30 engine delivers a rated power output of 350–400 kW, with specific power exceeding 125 kW/L, yet maintains a compact footprint comparable to a four-cylinder unit, supporting both transverse and longitudinal layouts. Paired with the 4LDHT transmission—which employs dual-speed pure-electric drive technology—it achieves an industry-leading 9,200 Nm of wheel-end torque and features full electric reverse capability. Vehicle integration is expected by 2028. On the clean energy front, HORSE exhibited a methanol flexible-fuel range extender, a lean-burn methanol range extender, and the Yufeng Shunlan ultra-lean-burn gasoline engine technology. The methanol system supports any blend ratio from M0 to M100 and enables one-touch cold starts using pure methanol at -40°C without requiring an auxiliary fuel tank. The lean-burn methanol system achieves a methanol-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 2 kWh/L, integrating a dual-rotor axial-flux motor and SiC modules. The ultra-lean-burn gasoline engine utilizes an active pre-chamber ignition structure to enhance ignition energy, enabling stable combustion at extremely lean air-fuel ratios. Overall, HORSE Powertrain’s latest offerings span applications from mainstream family cars to luxury, performance, and off-road vehicles, covering both current mass-production solutions and mid-to-long-term technological roadmaps. This comprehensive strategy establishes a full-stack powertrain solution that transcends technical pathways, fuel types, and vehicle platforms. The move underscores an accelerating trend toward specialized division of labor in the powertrain sector, where dedicated suppliers like HORSE are positioned to take on capital-intensive, long-cycle powertrain development tasks—enabling automakers to reduce costs and improve efficiency.