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Global powertrain company Horse Powertrain has announced the development of its new ‘all-in-one’ hybrid powertrain, the X-Range C15 Direct Drive, as it prepares for a potential entry into the Indian market. The company will officially unveil the system on April 14 at the Beijing Auto Show 2026. The new technology enables BEV platforms to support HEV, PHEV, and REEV configurations, allowing automakers to build multiple powertrain variants on a single platform.
The X-Range C15 Direct Drive is an ultra-compact unit integrating a 4-cylinder 1.5-litre engine, transmission, electric motors, and power electronics within a single shared housing. Designed for rear subframe mounting, it enhances NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) performance. The system features a P1+P3 motor configuration, where the P1 motor acts primarily as a generator, while the P3 motor provides electric traction.
According to the company, the powertrain will be available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants. The naturally aspirated version delivers up to 70 kW, while the turbocharged version can produce up to 120 kW. It operates in both serial and parallel modes, improving fuel efficiency as well as driving performance.
The X-Range C15 Direct Drive is part of Horse Powertrain’s X-Range family, which also includes the HORSE F15 and HORSE C15 systems. It can replace the rear electric drive unit in BEV platforms and can also support all-wheel-drive configurations when paired with a front electric drive unit.
The company believes this innovation will allow automakers to adopt a multi-powertrain strategy without significant changes to vehicle design or production processes. Additionally, rear-axle packaging enables better space optimization for batteries and passenger compartments.
