Wagoner gives Kalamazoo Newspaper details on 1.4L turbo

[Kennyboy]

Hopefully this engine makes it into other cars besides the Cruze. The next generation Aura or what ever its going be called will get this engine.

[thedivibird]

Originally Posted by Quickening

I would guess so. Saab use to offer three engines in their 9-3 range. A 2.0t which had a turbo but did not require premium fuel, and then the 2.0T which does require premium. Of course the non premium fuel, got better gas mileage and was slower and eventually got cut from the line.

So it is possible to have turbo'd engine without premium fuel and might work wonderfully in the Cruze.

The current Saab 9-3 2.0T does not require premium fuel, only 87 octane. The manual specifically states that "One of the advantages of boost pressure regulation is that the engine can also be run safely on gasoline with a lower octane rating, although not lower than AON 87."

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Chaz_23

That moronically-named Cruze better be one light car or accelerating onto freeway will be terrifying.

I don't know what you drive, or where, but statements like these make no sense to me.

I have a 127-hp Forenza Wagon, and it accelerates fine onto Houston freeways. Can I safely pass someone else who's driving 80MPH? I wouldn't want to try it, but in that case I'd just drive behind them anyway.

I'd only be afraid to merge at 85MPH, and even then it would be more of a stability issue than getting up to 85MPH.

I tend to think this is some kind of terribly dated stereotype left over from a ride in a fully loaded Chevette or something.

[hrcslam]

Originally Posted by Ming

I don't know what you drive, or where, but statements like these make no sense to me.

I have a 127-hp Forenza Wagon, and it accelerates fine onto Houston freeways. Can I safely pass someone else who's driving 80MPH? I wouldn't want to try it, but in that case I'd just drive behind them anyway.

I'd only be afraid to merge at 85MPH, and even then it would be more of a stability issue than getting up to 85MPH.

I tend to think this is some kind of terribly dated stereotype left over from a ride in a fully loaded Chevette or something.

Yeah, and the Cobalt/Ion both have 140-150hp with the 2.2L while the 1.4T is expected to diliver the same. I don't forsee many issues.

[Pinnacle]

2009 would be much nicer

[blkwrxsti]

Originally Posted by smokyn454

I am surprised that there isn't a study out to show that manual drivers actually pay more attention to the road than automatic drivers. Manual drivers actually have to pay attention to what they are doing. My 6-year old nephew could drive an automatic.

The sentence from your post should have caused you to ask why - do you know who does studies like this? The Insurance Institute. Back in the 90's they were giving discounts for things like ABS, before they looked at the data and noticed that cars with ABS were just as likely to be in an accident than cars without.

You know what they never offered any sort of discount for? Driving a manual. I wonder why? As far as I know, there's no risk based discount specific to transmission type in Europe either.

I actually did wonder why, so here's my theory - your "have to pay more attention" theory only applies for the first month or two. After that, most teens and mature adults move on to "I wonder how to launch it better" or "How should I work this cell phone between shifts".

In other words, people fill up as much of their attention units as THEY are individually comfortable with. As insignificant as the effect is, I would point out that the downside to having to devote more attention units to driving is increased fatigue, which slows reaction times and inhibits good judgement. I will agree with you that the manual driver generally has more skills (like using the gas or the brakes to slow the car, starting from a stop on a steep hill, or shifting into neutral when coasting), but with all that additional training and interest in driving, why would their insurance rates as a group not be lower?

Because accidents happen when you are not ready for them. If a manual driver has to hit the brakes in panic, both feet have to move with a lot of speed. Manual drivers do not necessarily take the time to make this reflex second nature (I've seen many people who drove a stick their whole lives just hit the brake, or even the gas and brake, in an emergency - making the brakes slow down the car and the engine). For those of you that think this is not a big deal, try to get into ABS without pushing the clutch in first. If your ABS can pulse the brakes 20 times a second, but it takes your engine .5 seconds to slow down, you just lost 10 cycles of good braking while going 70 mph. Same story applies if your car has stability control - you spin out and your vehicle has to decide which gear you're in and whether you pushed the clutch in or not, and then try to work around the engine and the transmission. The automatic already knows and probably just disconnects the whole thing...

If a manual driver has to accelerate out of the way of danger, he has to have, and take, the time to downshift first. Before that, he has to recognize the situation so that he will know if he has enough time to downshift. Again - difficult skills to train.

Heinricy - why did he set the fast lap in the automatic CTS-V again? Oh yeah - he did make a comment on that - "...Using an automatic transmission equipped vehicle has created some controversy, but Heinricy explains that the reason for using it was simply because he had been extensively driving the vehicle literally across the U.S. in the preceding weeks and felt changing vehicles would be a mistake. He also knew the aggressive calibration of the transmission's sport mode would be sufficient, particularly in regard to the revs upon exiting a corner as well as shifting exactly at redline. Heinricy knew the transmission could do a better job than he could. Heinricy also opted not to use the steering wheel paddles for fear of making the simple mistake of inadvertently tapping the lever at the wrong time."

So as time goes on - this "tuning" could easily find itself into the most basic economy car, or as you opined, maybe he's just scared of manuals because he can't put down his latte long enough to blitz the ring. Maybe he was busy using a cell phone to negotiate a raise, so he couldn't be bothered to run the ZR-1

How many manual drivers can upshift in .25 seconds and downshift with perfectly matched revs in .5 seconds? How many can do it every time without any preparation?

I have owned at least one manual for the last 20 years, and I'm thinking of buying my first new automatic ever, so I just had to weigh in with the reasons... I'm not going to be the last dinosaur claiming things like power steering or power brakes take all the fun out of driving yourself. Or that tube amps will always be superior to digital amps, or that CRT's will always be better than LCDs. I'm going to try to recognize the implications of technology and be ready to jump.

I'm just a little unsure of what my extra hand and foot will do. I think I'll have my extra hand assigned to full time steering duty, and my left foot is going to try out for the brake pedal job. If it ever tries to "de-clutch" the brake - it'll be relegated to full time dead-pedal duty.

[blkwrxsti]

Originally Posted by hrcslam

Yeah, and the Cobalt/Ion both have 140-150hp with the 2.2L while the 1.4T is expected to diliver the same. I don't forsee many issues.

And if the 2.0T with DI is anything to go by - a much meatier torque band...

I agree with those that say this thing should really be able to run on regular unleaded. I like how Hyundai released two different power ratings for their Tau V-8 = use premium and you get another 8 horsepower. Given the value-concious nature of their market, I'm betting none of those Genesis sedans ever see premium after the first 2 months.

[gardnet1]

Originally Posted by mjd1001

9mpg increase is all well and good with a manual equiped car..but what difference will it make with an Automatic equiped car? (where most of the sales come from).

After all, I would think the difference would be even great with this new engine and going from a 4 speed auto to a 6 speed auto than it would going from a 5 speed manual to a 6 speed manual.

I'll be one of those getting the automatic but the tv ad will be what matters...It's where the bragging rights are. It will pretty much match the pius and save you about $10,000+ in the process. If you go with an XFE model, it will almost certainly match the pius.

It along with the diesel Fiesta will be the ultimate commuter cars.

[kenman923]

I can see turbos making a comeback. It's possible the next Corvette will have twin turbos.

[breaker104]

Originally Posted by member12

Aveo gets 34mpg...so this would put it at 43mpg? Nice. I'd like to see what the 1.4L Turbo and 2.0L Turbo would do in a Malibu.


I can't wait for the Cruze....to be honest, I would probably go for the 2.0L turbo in a sedan with a good six speed manual and a loaded interior, but I'd be tempted with the 1.4L. I love my Silverado, but when I move back to Houston..I'm getting a nice car.

If the 2.0L makes 260 horses, would 150 horses out of a 1.4L be that out of reach?

Yea! Come on back home dude!!

[plane]

Originally Posted by Ming

I have a 127-hp Forenza Wagon, and it accelerates fine onto Houston freeways.

I don't know how you handle that much power.
I really don't.
A '93 Saturn SL came stock with 85 hp.
And then there's this puppy.......



Sporting a 70 h.p. 2.0L 4-banger.

[treekiller]

Originally Posted by mikest00

GM could always rush it into production like the 350N (350 engine converted to run on diesel). That went over well! I would rather take two years and be done right than to have a recall nightmare. And yes GM will be around...bet the farm on it.

I know GM will be around. there sales are not sagging as fast as the competition and they are moving in the right direction as far as reducing expenses..

Now the 350 Diesel.. was not a converted gas engine... biggest myth in GM history.. yea they had problems. and yes it was manufacturing issues, in addition to shoddy diesel fuel of the day (which more of them had issues with) but it shared no parts with a similar gas 350 cubic inch.

[Beau]

Lol Plane. I see the lame arse vw buses struggle to go up hills. It sounds like their throttle has a picture of a turtle and a rabbit.

Or more accurately a picture of an old turtle, and a picture at the bottom of an even Older turtle.

[AMcA]

Originally Posted by Inchworm

How much do you want to bet the local in Flint (almost) blows the deal by hardnosed 'negotiation'?

All but guaranteed.

And naturally so: this program is vitally important to GM. So of course they'll feel the need to target it. Don't want our employer to prosper, there, now do we?

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Beau

Lol Plane. I see the lame arse vw buses struggle to go up hills. It sounds like their throttle has a picture of a turtle and a rabbit.

Or more accurately a picture of an old turtle, and a picture at the bottom of an even Older turtle.

Whenever I hear an old air-cooled VW engine I think of those !blat-blat-blat! cars you drive on the rails at Disneyland.