Production of the Auburn Hills, Mich.-designed engine will begin in the third quarter of 2017. More detailed information about the engine’s specific application will be announced at a later date.

When production of the new four-cylinder engine begins next year, it will replace the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which is currently assembled on the flex line at Trenton North. Pentastar engine production will continue at Trenton South, Mack Avenue Engine (Mich.) and Saltillo South (Mex.).

The Trenton Engine Complex comprises two facilities, a north plant and a south plant. The Trenton North Engine Plant began production in 1952 and was idled in May 2011 after producing more than 38 million engines. It reopened in late 2011 and added a flexible production line in 2012.

The Trenton South Engine Plant opened in 2008 and began production of the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 in 2009. Trenton South was awarded a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Green Building System certification for meeting the highest environmental standards. At the time of its designation in 2009, Trenton was one of only four auto manufacturing facilities to receive a LEED rating of any kind and the only engine manufacturing facility in the world to achieve the honor.

In April 2014, the Trenton Engine Complex achieved the Bronze award level in World Class Manufacturing after demonstrating clear know-how and competence in the manufacturing methodology. World Class Manufacturing is a methodology that focuses on eliminating waste, increasing productivity, and improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way. WCM engages the workforce to provide and implement suggestions on how to improve their jobs and their plants.