The new Avenger e-Hybrid with innovative 48Volt Hybrid engine on test drive
The Jeep® Brand puts its e-Hybrid lineup to the test, inviting esteemed members of the media to explore the key features of its innovative 48Volt Hybrid engine technology.
European journalists are given the exclusive opportunity to immerse themselves in the unique qualities of the iconic Jeep® brand e-Hybrid vehicles, with the new Avenger e-Hybrid as the first vehicle to unveil itself. Balocco is where several of the latest Jeep models have been created, most notably the Renegade, and offers the best off-road track in Europe and all the road testing you need.
Eric Laforge, Head of Jeep brand in Europe, has commented: “At Jeep, the new Avenger e-Hybrid is extremely important as it makes even stronger the “Freedom of choice” we offer to the customer. It’s a third option, on top of petrol and full electric ones, granting a first access point to electric mobility for those who feel not ready yet to join this market evolution. The new Avenger e-Hybrid combines the electrification and automatic transmission as many customers desire at this moment in time”.
The media days experience, designed to demonstrate that the Jeep brand stands alone in offering a mild-hybrid that performs similar to a full hybrid, kicks off with the new Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid. Boasting exceptional driving capabilities while also ensuring reduced CO2 emissions, the new Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid, driven by its innovative 48 Volt hybrid engine, further advances the Jeep brand’s trailblazing journey into electrification.
What journalists will undoubtedly observe on the road is that the engine powering the new Avenger e-Hybrid represents the highest level of technological achievement, delivering both comfort and performance. With this state-of-the-art technology, the new Avenger e-Hybrid delivers an exceptionally smooth driving experience, enabling fortunate journalists to embrace electric mobility at lower speeds. This is made possible through the integration of the automatic 6-speed e-DCS6 dual-clutch transmission with its integrated electric engine.
The route retraces the double soul of the Avenger: at ease both on road and offroad. On the one hand, the on-road route allows the driver to try the hybrid features (energy recovery & electric drive at low speed) and the tech features such as L2 assisted driving. On the other hand, the offroad route demonstrates the all-terrain and all-weather capabilities where all the USPs of the model can be exploited: selec-terrain, hill descent control, ground clearance & offroad angles. Participants will be able to test the new Avenger e-Hybrid with a challenge for each route: driving as much electric as possible on the on-road route and easily tackling the offroad twist.
The new Avenger e-Hybrid has been designed to be the first entry point into electrification. It employs a powertrain based on a lightweight 48V Hybrid system capable of delivering a nearly complete hybrid experience. A 100hp internal combustion engine coupled with a 21kw electric motor is then integrated into a double-clutch 6-speed automatic transmission and a 48V Belt Starter for a smooth transition to the electric drive that also produces further CO2 savings. The 0.9 kWh lithium-ion battery is located under the driver’s seat, with no impact on the interior space, which remains the same as that of the Avenger petrol.
The entire 48V hybrid system weighs only 60 kg more than a conventional automatic transmission. This keeps the total weight of the new Avenger e-Hybrid to just 1280 kg.
The new Avenger e-Hybrid significantly reduces fuel consumption and, through the Brake Regeneration System, stores energy to release when needed in the hybrid’s cycle. Moreover, the electrified automatic transmission integrated into the 48V hybrid system reduces fuel consumption of up to – 20% when compared to a conventional automatic transmission. Altogether, the consumption of the 48V hybrid system is -13% versus the thermal engine, and if we consider only city driving, the reduction can reach -28% on WLTP city cycle.
That puts the new Avenger e-Hybrid’s emissions at up to 111 g/km CO2 with a net fuel consumption equal to 20.4 km/l on WLTP cycle.
Furthermore, the electric motor and the thermal engine can move the front axle independently. This means that all low-speed maneuvers can be performed in silent, all-electric mode for more than 50% of the trip in city driving, greatly reducing the stress of the daily drive. The new Avenger e- Hybrid offers a seamless driving comfort, from parking the car with e-parking up to making traffic jams almost bearable thanks to the ease of e-creeping and e-queuing features. In addition, the new Avenger e-Hybrid can run for up to 1 km with the combustion engine switched off for smooth driving in low-emission areas such as the 30 km/h zones.
The new Avenger e-Hybrid offers what customers value most from the real hybrid experience: sustainable, yet comfortable driving. At the same time, the system can provide a little extra thrill when you desire it, through the E-Boost function. In this mode, the 55 Nm torque of the electric motor is added to the torque already available from the thermal engine. This improves elasticity at low revs and when starting the car.
The hybrid system, with the addition of the 48V belt starter, also assures smooth and fast transitions between electric and combustion driving modes.
