This paper reviews the main drivers forcing change and progress in powertrains for passenger cars in the coming years. The environmental drivers of omissions and CO2 will force better technical performance, but customer demand for increased choice will force change in the basic engine design and provide opportunities for alternate configurations of powertrain. Gasoline engines will embody refinements of valve train actuations as well as developments in combustion, especially direct injection and possibly a lean booated form of direct injection. Nevertheless, the conventional, port injected engine will continue to be the dominant engine for some years to come. The high speed direct injection diesel will very soon supplant its indirect injection predecessor completely. It will take an increasing share of the total powertrain market as improved specific power and refinement make it even more attractive to the customer. Car manufacturers will provide diesel models to satisfy this customer demand as well as using the efficiency of the diesel to enable them to meet their fleet CO2 commitments. Both gasoline and diesel engines will see an increasing degree of electrification and partial hybridisation as efficient flywheel mounted electrical devices become available.