Opel will get a 1.4 L VVT turbo engine in 2010

[DmitryKo]

GM Announces Two New Fuel Efficient Engines

Turin/Italy – General Motors Corp. will introduce, starting in 2009, two new engines with significant fuel efficiency gains for vehicles marketed in Europe and other regions. The announcement was made this week at a GM Powertrain Europe event showcasing its comprehensive line-up of advanced propulsion technologies currently under development.

The 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be used in vehicles worldwide starting in 2010.

1.4-Liter Turbo

The 1.4-liter Turbo engine is a new addition to an engine family that ranges from 1.0 to 1.4-liter displacement. The engine will produce an estimated output ranging from 88 kW/120 hp to 104 kW/140 hp and torque values of 175 to 200 Nm. It will deliver an approximate 8 percent improvement in fuel consumption (compared to a higher displacement naturally aspirated engine with similar output) and will be EURO 5 compliant. Key features include a turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold, full variable valve timing, thermal management, flow-controlled oil pump, and a reinforced crankshaft and connecting rod.

The engine will be manufactured at the GM Powertrain assembly facility in Aspern, Austria.

Full PR: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...27&docid=45710

NEW 1.4 TURBO

Lightweight and powerful
When small turbocharged units are made to achieve the same performance as larger naturally aspirated engines, GM calls it “rightsizing”. It promises significant gains in efficiency. One outstanding example for this strategy is the new 1.4-litre tubocharged direct injection engine from GM’s small 4-cylinder engine family. In terms of performance and drivability, it can even compete with naturally aspirated engines of higher displacement.

Key facts:

• Gasoline direct injection, variants featuring MPFI will also be available
• Camshaft timing control and turbocharged
• Reinforced bedplate and connecting rods, more rigid crankshaft
• Emissions: EURO 5

Ingenious design
Injection nozzles are positioned centrally in the combustion chamber for the direct injection (up to 200 bar) make sure that a homogeneous mixture is produced and also ensure that the design will not become outdated, as it will also be suitable for other future developments such as HCCI. The two camshafts can be adjusted independently of one another. At medium load, the intake valves are closed late, which is good for low consumption. At low engine speeds and high loads, on the other hand, the engine works with a higher valve overlap to improve the torque curve.

PDF product flyers http://media.gm.com/servlet/com.gm.m...ur&language=en


See also:
A Look into the Future of Engines and Transmissions: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...37&docid=45732
Photo gallery: http://media.gm.com/servlet/com.gm.m...ur&language=en


Note that since the engine is based on the European Family 0 design (slide #256420 and slide #256421), it will probably be an Opel exclusive so US-built or Korean-built vehicles won't get it any time soon...

[dratnol]

Originally Posted by DmitryKo

Note that since the engine is based on the European Family 0 design (slide #256420 and slide #256421), it will probably be an Opel exclusive so US-built or Korean-built vehicles won't get it any time soon...

While I don't think they would necessarily be hot sellers in the US, I do think that GM should offer them here. I find it interesting that global cars are still not truly global in that certain engines/transmissions will not drop into all versions.

[osv_alero]

With todays GM, I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't find their way into other cars, or possibly available in the Opel / Saturn brand line around the world.

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by dratnol

While I don't think they would necessarily be hot sellers in the US, I do think that GM should offer them here. I find it interesting that global cars are still not truly global in that certain engines/transmissions will not drop into all versions.

Why dont you think this motor would do well in NA?? I would have thought this would be a great motor for cars like Cobalt and G5 and some other small GM cars, near 2Ltr power with economy of 1.4Ltr, should be a great motor

[Beau]

Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. Although it would have to go in a realatively small vehicle or at least light, which GM doesn't do well at.

I think it would be nice, for those that want to chip it, and do some other work, and run around 210-220 horse, depending on the size of the turbo, and still get 1.4 DIs worth of fuel economy when driving nice :**

The only question is, what the heck kind of a turbo are they going to put on it... The 2.0s already have a Bazooka Joe Kazoo for a turbo, I would imagine the 1.4s would have a solar powered computer fan.

Hehe, but I'm glad to see them explore more DI turbo applications.
I wish they would do a DI Turbo 3.6 V6, based off that hot alloytec NA 3.6

[GM-Joe]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

With todays GM, I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't find their way into other cars, or possibly available in the Opel / Saturn brand line around the world.

The next gen Cobalt/Astra will get it; I read it a couple of weeks ago.

[benroethig]

Whether this ends up in the U.S. in one form or another depends on how well Ford's Ecoboost goes over.

[packardlust]

Twice in the above quote GM refers to a HCCI application for this engine. I think this tells you where they are going with this baby. Pretty freaking exciting, in my book. Looks like HCCI is just around the corner. 1.4 DI litre Turbo, HCCI, BAS+, 6 speed auto tranny. Lets add fuel savings up - based on what has been written about these technolgies. HCCI 15%, BAS+% 15%, 6 speed auto 7% Total 37% gain in fuel economy. Figure a current 1.4 litre at 30 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. These technologies should return you 41 mpg city, 48 highway, maybe better. This without a CVT or redundant Synergy Drive.

[gmhashope]

I have my fingers crossed that somehow GM has this ready for the '09 Astra maybe midyear for the U.S and that's why they haven't released info on it yet. I would be sold if they put it in the current Astra.

[DmitryKo]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't find their way into other cars, or possibly available in the Opel / Saturn brand line around the world.

Probably, especially considering that the Holden/Saturn/Opel Astra is one and the same car built in Spain. However, the engine will only be produced in Austria, at least initially, and strong Euro will probably be a prohibitive factor for exports to foreign subsidiaries. Consider that the Opel Antara is built in Korea and it doesn't have European-built engines; its diesels come from GM Daewoo and its I4 and V6 petrol engines come from Holden.

If and when GM will open production in Korea (especially considering rumours that the next Optra/Lacetti sedan from GM Daewoo will be named Cobalt on the European market AND will probably replace the US-built Cobalt on the NA market), that would be a whole another story. I however consider this unlikely, as next European Chevrolets (built by GM Daewoo) and Opels will share their platforms, so GM will have to find a way to distinguish the Opel brand as more upmarket and a competitor to the Golf. This turbo engine would surely help Opel with the task, considering that the Golf has a similar engine.

Originally Posted by packardlust

Twice in the above quote GM refers to a HCCI application for this engine. I think this tells you where they are going with this baby. Pretty freaking exciting, in my book. Looks like HCCI is just around the corner.

From the HCCI Tech Show .PDF flyer, HCCI mode requires Gasoline Direct Injection, variable cam phasing with two-step adjustable valve lift, and an advanced engine control system with cylinder pressure sensors. The first two are already production technologies, so it does look like HCCI is indeed around the corner.

Originally Posted by Beau

I think it would be nice, for those that want to chip it, and do some other work, and run around 210-220 horse, depending on the size of the turbo, and still get 1.4 DIs worth of fuel economy when driving nice

I doubt this engine block will stand a chip-tuning to 200 hp. A much larger Family II block for the Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line comes in a reinforced version to stand the engine's 260 hp.
Similar engines from VW and Fiat make from 120 to 150 hp in different versions; that should have probably been the design goal for GM Powertrain Europe.

Originally Posted by gmhashope

I have my fingers crossed that somehow GM has this ready for the '09 Astra maybe midyear for the U.S and that's why they haven't released info on it yet. I would be sold if they put it in the current Astra.

You know, these things don't just happen so easily. They've got to do some planning, stacking parts, teaching of the personnel, sending out repair manuals to workshops, etc. If GM says 2010, they have probably estimated everything that is needed to put this engine into production. The introduction date can only be delayed from now on.

[Beau]

Dimitri... It just said a more robust crank, and rods. I'm sure it'll hold 200 horse, if its holding 200 ft lbs of torque.

Torque is what kills motors... not horsepower. Unless you're spinning to 8500 to get the power.

I'd like to read that article, it says access denied.

[DmitryKo]

Originally Posted by Beau

I'm sure it'll hold 200 horse, if its holding 200 ft lbs of torque.

No, the torque is 175-200 Nm (Newton-meters) which converts to 130-150 ft lbs.

I'd like to read that article, it says access denied.

You need to login to any page in GM Media Gallery first - such as PDF product flyers page http://media.gm.com/servlet/com.gm.m...ur&language=en - then direct links to specific images and galleries will be accepted without authorization for some time.

[eaton53]

140hp / 140lb/ft would be just peachy considering there are plenty of gutless turds running around with less than 110 hp.

If it gets the mileage into the 40's that would be outstanding.