Driving through deep water can be catastrophic for a combustion engine, but a new hybrid powertrain developed for rugged SUVs and utes has been designed specifically to keep running while submerged.

Horse Powertrain, the powertrain specialist backed by Renault and Geely, has revealed its new B20 engine, which it says can operate in water as deep as 1100mm.

The company develops engines, hybrid systems and transmissions for a range of manufacturers, including Renault, Geely, Volvo and Mitsubishi, and says the B20 has been designed for vehicles tackling extreme off-road conditions and deep-water crossings.

3D rendering of a car engine showing intake manifold, turbo pipes, and flywheel nearby for reference.
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At its heart is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing between 140kW and 185kW, depending on specification, with torque ranging from 300Nm to 380Nm.

The engine can be incorporated into conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid and range-extender powertrains, while Horse claims thermal efficiency of up to 48.7 per cent.

Its headline feature, however, is IPX8 waterproofing.

Horse says the engine is fully sealed and incorporates waterproof components and sensors that monitor conditions surrounding the powertrain. It can operate while submerged at depths of up to 1.1 metres.

For perspective, the current Land Rover Defender has a maximum claimed wading depth of 900mm, while the Jeep Wrangler can tackle water up to approximately 760mm deep. Those figures relate to the vehicles’ overall wading capabilities rather than their engines being completely waterproof.

When the B20 detects that it is submerged, its electronic controls can automatically adjust parameters including throttle response and power output according to information supplied by its sensors.

Rear view of a dark green Geely SUV with a spare-tire carrier on the back, parked in a desert canyon with a camp setup nearby.
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Horse says these measures allow the engine to continue operating reliably during deep-water crossings.

The first production vehicle to receive the technology is the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700 (above), also previously known as the Galaxy Battleship 700.

The large Chinese off-roader combines traditional 4×4 construction with an electrified drivetrain, using a ladder-frame chassis and the B20 engine paired with a three-speed hybrid transmission.

The Cruiser 700 is expected to spearhead a broader push by Geely into rugged electrified off-roaders, potentially putting future models into territory traditionally occupied by vehicles such as the Defender and Toyota LandCruiser.