Horse Powertrain, the propulsion-systems company controlled by Renault Group and Geely, has presented the B20, a petrol engine designed to keep running in water up to 1.1 metres deep. Its first application is the plug-in hybrid system of the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700, an off-road SUV aimed for now at the Chinese market.

The claim does not mean any car fitted with this engine can be driven like a boat. Wading depth depends on the whole vehicle: intake, electrical system, battery, transmission, cabin sealing, vents and the position of electronic modules. Horse certifies the engine; the carmaker must set the fording limit of each model separately.

What the Horse B20 engine is

The B20 is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. Depending on configuration, it develops between 140 and 185 kW, equivalent to about 190-252 hp, and between 300 and 380 Nm.

According to the Horse Powertrain statement, the engine can be integrated into three types of electrified system:

  • hybrid without external charging, HEV;
  • plug-in hybrid, PHEV;
  • extended-range system, REEV, in which the combustion engine can work mainly as a generator.

Horse positions it for SUVs and pick-ups able to cover difficult off-road routes. The company says the engine can deliver stable power under high load, including climbing a ramp with a 100% gradient. That wording describes a ramp that rises one metre for every metre travelled horizontally, an angle of about 45 degrees, not a vertical slope.

How it has been protected against water

The engine and its relevant components meet IPX8 protection, a category used for equipment able to withstand immersion under conditions set by the manufacturer. For the B20, Horse indicates operation at depths of up to 1.1 metres.

Sealing is not limited to the engine block. Exposed sensors and connections must be protected, and the control system monitors the environment around the power unit. When it detects a water crossing, the electronics can change throttle response or limit power to keep operation stable.

The protection matters because water drawn into an internal-combustion engine cannot be compressed like an air-fuel mixture. The result can be hydraulic lock and serious mechanical damage. A snorkel raises the intake point, but it does not automatically protect connectors, sensors and every other component.

Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700 is the first application

Horse first presented the B20 at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. The engine was then integrated into the PHEV system of the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700 SUV, together with the 3DHT230 three-speed intelligent hybrid transmission.

Geely had previously shown the water technologies of the Galaxy Cruiser family. The manufacturer announced dedicated sonar and radar sensors, a wading depth of more than 800 mm and a demonstrative ability to float and move at more than 8.5 km/h. Those features were presented by Geely Holding for the demonstrator vehicle; they should not be extrapolated automatically to every production version.

The engine's 1.1-metre limit is higher than the wading depth announced for the vehicle, which illustrates the difference between the resistance of one component and type approval of the whole car.

Why a waterproof engine makes sense on a PHEV

An off-road plug-in hybrid SUV has more than one source of propulsion, but the combustion engine remains necessary when the battery is low or high power is needed for a long period. If it stopped during a ford, the car's mass and water resistance could exceed what the remaining electric system can do.

The B20 tries to remove that weak point. At the same time, a PHEV needs serious protection for the high-voltage battery and power electronics. Engine waterproofing is therefore only part of the technical solution.

Will the technology reach Europe?

Horse Powertrain supplies engines, transmissions and hybrid systems to 25 customers, including Renault Group, Geely, Volvo Cars, Proton, Nissan and Mitsubishi. The company has more than 19,000 employees, 18 plants and five research and development centres in Europe, China and America.

The B20 architecture is not tied exclusively to Geely, so it can be offered to other manufacturers. Horse has not, however, confirmed a European or Romanian model fitted with this engine. The price, European timeline and specifications of a possible local version of the Galaxy Cruiser 700 have not been announced either.

For ordinary drivers, the technology does not change the essential rule: a flooded road should not be crossed if the depth and the state of the surface are unknown. Water can hide potholes, currents can move the car, and damage from water ingress can affect warranty and insurance. The B20 is a solution for vehicles specifically designed and tested, not an invitation to ignore barriers on flooded roads.

Photo: Geely; illustrative image. The model shown is the Starray EM-i, not the Galaxy Cruiser 700.