Dongfeng’s 1.5T hybrid engine outperforms Toyota’s and BYD’s with 48.09% thermal efficiency
Dongfeng Motor has unveiled its new Mach 1.5T hybrid gasoline engine, claiming a peak thermal efficiency of 48.09 per cent and earning the “Energy Efficiency Star” certification, according to Sina. Thermal efficiency measures how effectively an engine converts fuel into mechanical work; higher values indicate greater efficiency. This is the first hybrid gasoline engine in China reported to exceed 48 per cent.
The engine employs an innovative combustion method, a high-compression ratio above 15.5, a high-energy ignition system, and a 500-bar fuel-injection system. These features aim to improve fuel combustion efficiency and speed. Key hybrid-specific components, including a variable-geometry turbocharger, valve-seat-free design, and electric variable valve timing, have been optimised to ensure smooth airflow across the full engine speed range.
Additional technical measures include an integrated electric-motor oil pump and a thermal-spray coating of the cylinder bore, along with more than 10 other innovations. Collectively, these design features significantly reduce mechanical losses, enabling the engine’s high-efficiency operating range to exceed 50 per cent of its total operation.
According to Dongfeng, these breakthroughs improve fuel efficiency and power delivery across a range of driving scenarios, from urban traffic congestion to highway cruising. The company claims the engine enables a roughly 10 per cent increase in range under equivalent fuel conditions.
Compared with other automakers, the Mach 1.5T’s 48.09 per cent thermal efficiency surpasses widely cited benchmarks. Toyota’s hybrid Atkinson-cycle engines, including the Prius and the Dynamic Force family, achieve around 40–41 per cent efficiency under optimal conditions. Recent Chinese hybrid engines, such as those from BYD, have reported thermal efficiencies of approximately 46–46.5%. Dongfeng’s engine, therefore, represents a new high for reported production-intended hybrid gasoline engines globally.
The Mach 1.5T engine adds to China’s growing range of hybrid powertrains as automakers respond to stricter fuel consumption standards and rising demand for lower-emission vehicles.
Updated: 10/12/2025 19:30 China time
