In a move that has been expected for over five years, BMW has officially sold its stake in Tritec Motors to DaimlerChrysler. With enough Tritec engines in storage to last through the end of R52 production (late 2008) the time was apparently right for BMW to shed the plant.
Look for DaimlerChrysler (soon to be just Daimler) to make a quick sale. As reported on MotoringFile last winter, the current rumor is that several Chinese automakers are interested in either the plant or the raw materials and know-how to produce the engines in Asia. Currently the only other car (beyond Euro versions of the PT Cruiser) that uses the Tritec engine is the Chinese built Chery A105 sedan.
Here’s the official BMW Group press release:
>The BMW Group has transferred its shares in Tritec Motors Limitada to DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler Group effective as of July 11, 2007. The companies – who each held half of the shares in the Brazilian engine plant – have agreed not to divulge the details of the transaction, which is subject to administrative registration and regulatory approval. Chrysler Group has assumed the responsibility for exploring long-term options for the Tritec operations whereby all possible alternatives for continuing the business for the long run are under analysis. This may include a sale of the facility to a third-party.
>Tritec Motors was founded in 1997 by the BMW Group and the Chrysler Group for the production of 1.4 and 1.6 litre four-cylinder petrol engines. The engine plant is located in the town of Campo Largo in the region of Curitiba, in the Federal State of Paraná, southern Brazil. Large-scale series production started in January 2000; the plant’s annual production capacity is around 250,000 units.
cue the viloins
ha! thats what I get for typing too fast!
Any idea how that will affect the price of engine parts on the R50, R52 and R53??
Isn’t the R50/53 powerplant getting used in several Chrysler models in europe or no?
Doesn’t the PT Cruiser in the Netherlands use the tritec? I heard once that it did so I looked it up and in the Netherlands they sell a PT Cruiser 1.6i which has a 1598cc 4cyl engine.
I think it’s significant to note that Chrysler just signed a deal with Chery motors to sell Chery cars in several markets, starting with south america – and eventually, here in the US.
And yes, there are NON-US versions of the PT cruise that used the tritec engine…
I doubt the sale of BMW’s ownership stake in Tritec has anything whatsoever to do with engine inventories. BMW/MINI would likely still have a contract. (That’s the “not to divulge” part.) After all, MINI will need to stock spares and parts for many, many years, only some of which may currently be in their inventory.
Time for me to trade in the 2006 Cooper on a 2007 or soon a 2008 model. The big value in owning a MINI is the great resale and trade-in value. Now what happens when someone finds out that the 2006 engine is an orphan and the CVT transmission is one also? My guess is that it is time to trade before the bottom falls out. And to think the clasic Mini A series was around for 41 years and this one only 10…
What an engine, what and era…
Long live the TRITEC!
PS: Only export versions(Europe and South Africa) of the Chrysler Neon (Now defunct) and Chrysler PT Cruiser were fitted with the N/A version of the 1600cc TRITEC engine found in the Cooper model. However, the Supercharged version of the engine was exclusive to the MINI Cooper S and no other car shared this engine.
The TRITEC is not going away and will continue to live in China powering locally made Chery cars and the S/C most likely will continue its life under the hood of the 2010 Dodge Hornet.
So even if your near MINI dealer stops stocking parts for your “MOPAR” TRITEC, I am sure that more than likely your local Dodge dealer will sell parts and service for those of us with “old” and “outdated” 1st gen MINIs (Tongue in cheek).
-Nigel
>S/C most likely will continue its life under the hood of the 2010 Dodge Hornet.
Actually the Tritec will not meet upcoming Euro emission regulations and won’t be sold in any <em>new</em> car without major revisions. The only reason the Dodge Hornet had the tritec in it was because the entire car was built from a MINI. This is the first time I’ve ever mentioned this but I learned last year from a source that Dodge simply bought an MCS from a Detroit dealer and built the entire concept off of that car. Hence the tritec engine inside.
Look for the final version to differ greatly from the prototype in both running gear and proportion.
Oh well.
Tritec engines could easily meet Euro 5 emission standards without any major revision. Look at the emissions data of a 1.6L Mini and compare with the Euro 5 proposal and you’ll see that the vehicle is already meeting the targets.
One more comment is regarding the performance of the engine. This simple, reliable and nice piece of Engineering can achieve 124HP and impressive 166Nm just using the Neon intake manifold, a bigger airbox and a decent calibration. . . Oh, and torque at 2500rpm is 158Nm. LONG LIFE TO TRITEC!
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Hornet for sale with that very same Tritec 1.6L.