Report: New GM Diesel Will Be 4.5 Liters; MY10 Pickups To Get Engine

[Perian]

Link: http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/070613/1476272.html?.v=2

bizjournals.com
GM Tonawanda poised to start diesel work
Wednesday June 13, 5:11 pm ET

An announcement that General Motors Corp. will assign a new engine line to its Tonawanda Powertrain Division plant is expected this Friday.

The manufacturing complex made a formal bid for a 4.5-liter diesel that would be installed in certain pickups and SUVs in the 2010 model year. Production would start in 2009.

There is no formal confirmation yet that such an announcement will be made Friday. But one source close to the situation said the plant will get the new work "unless GM changes its mind at the last minute."

Officials of the United Auto Workers union, which represents 1,350 factory workers, declined to comment, and plant officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The diesel would largely preserve jobs, though 150 additional new jobs have been mentioned.

Making a diesel engine would be a first for the River Road plant, which produces gasoline engines for GM cars and trucks. The plant has been competing against at least two other GM facilities for the diesels. But its reputation as one of the most efficient and productive North American engine plants has been a factor in winning about a half dozen other new engine assignments from GM in the last decade.

The Detroit automaker has invested $1.5 billion to upgrade the facility and purchase and install new production machinery.

The diesel would broaden the scope of the $300 million expansion in Tonawanda that GM announced in January for its 1,860-employee facility. That project involves eight-cylinder gasoline engines for future luxury cars.

[roteague]

GM needs to get diesels here now, not in 2009.

[I-Love-Pontiac]

We've waited this long. A few more years is nothing in comparison.

We should just be grateful GM is finally developing one that's practical.

[Realist]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

We've waited this long. A few more years is nothing in comparison.

We should just be grateful GM is finally developing one that's practical.

"It won't be long now, our dazzling new products are just around the corner".

How many times has that been said by GM, or that mentality been accepted by GM fans?

Enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of all the smoke and mirrors, whether it's "upcoming" diesel engines or regarding the Volt. GM should completely stop with this PR nonsense and only make announcements that are concrete.

I'll be grateful when I see with my own eyes those diesels inside the engine bay of a new Silverado, Sierra, or Tahoe.

[E. Haskell]

Great gas mileage and loads of torque - bring it!

[WishIhadatruck]

This is only 2 years away, it should be now, but at least they aren't just making plans to design one. I think these engines will be really popular, especially if gas prices keep climbing. I wonder what the price will be over and above a gas engine? If it is $7k like the Duramax it won't sell. The HD trucks can only get away with that because people that tow demand and love all the torque. These smaller diesels will make great 1/2 ton tow vehicles with all that torque but they will be desired even more for the fuel efficiency and if they cost too much it won't be worth it.

[Butz]

MY10! Why not now?

[HoosierRon]

Diesels are dead.

[GMusa]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Diesels are dead.

Along with hybrids! The only thing left... hydrogen!

[GMsElite]

Is this the engine that was being tested in the GMT360(cant think of the specific model) around a year ago?

[MelvinJ]

Originally Posted by GMsElite

Is this the engine that was being tested in the GMT360(cant think of the specific model) around a year ago?

I'm guessing it was. It's supposed to have the pretty much the same footprint of a Vortec small-block.

When will all of the other light-truck manufacturers have their diesels out? Ford in MY 2009?, Toyota in ???, Nissan in ???, Dodge in ??? Anybody know any of their timelines?

[Rick_VT]

So are there any plans for this engine to go into cars as well? Or is it not refined enough for cars, if so would make a great option for maybe sporty Chevs or for G8, would be great if they could take 2 cylinders of for a V6 version to

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by Rick_VT

So are there any plans for this engine to go into cars as well? Or is it not refined enough for cars, if so would make a great option for maybe sporty Chevs or for G8, would be great if they could take 2 cylinders of for a V6 version to

I'm not sold on the idea of a diesel being installed in a sporty car. Trucks, family sedans, economy cars - fine. But the fun of driving a sporty car is winding it out and feeling high RPM power...one thing a diesel does not have.

[jckjds]

Is this a 6 or 8 cyl? Honestly, this engine is clearly designed to be the fuel economy leader, so I was hoping for a bit smaller engine in a 6 cyl configuration. (I mean, GM already has very powerful gas and diesel engines, so the purpose of this engine is clearly to provide excellent fuel economy whil providing sufficient power for normal truck use, right?)

Given that, I would have preferred that this engine be more in the 3.8-4.0l range. With an engine of that size, GM should have easily been able to extract 200+ hp and 300-350 lb ft of torque, which is more than enough for the average truck buyer and, more importantly, just right for the truck buyer who wants/needs to get better fuel economy.

Oh well, I'm sure this will be designed to get excellent fuel economy -- so here's to hoping. I think fuel economy averaging in the mid 20's in mixed driving would be very respectable.

[jbartley]

could this be paired with GM's new two-mode hybrid system?