[nadepalma]

Good news for GM. I hope that it gets to the US market eventually as well.

SOURCE: Motor Authority

It appears General Motors will be the first manufacturer to use HCCI technology in its vehicles, with new reports claiming the revolutionary technology will first appear in the recently revealed Opel Insignia. GM has been running tests of the efficient powertrain in a number of Opel Vectra and Saturn Aura prototypes (the predecessor to the Insignia) and soon the latest Insignia will become the first production car to be equipped with HCCI technology.

HCCI works by achieving combustion through compression of the air-fuel mix rather than using a spark plug. This is similar to how a diesel works, but now the technology is being applied to petrol engines and is already showing 15% improvements in fuel efficiency.

MORE HERE

 

[Mikkoo]

Wow, this could be huge. Being the first to market this technology shows
GM can be an innovator, not a follower. Way to go GM.!!

 

[HoosierRon]

So does this mean that Toyota will stop chasing after GM on the li-ion battery front, and start chasing after it on the HCCI front?

By the way, how's that Tundra diesel coming along?

 

[K-1]

I'm so hoping this is available in my next AURA. That would be sweet.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Wow, this could be huge. Being the first to market this technology shows
GM can be an innovator, not a follower. Way to go GM.!!

Only Toyota and Honda can innovate. With Hybrid, VTech, and VVTi, also , bluetooth and AWD..
Detroit builds old technology

 

[megeebee]

:clap:

So does this mean that Toyota will stop chasing after GM on the li-ion battery front, and start chasing after it on the HCCI front?

By the way, how's that Tundra diesel coming along?

 

[bcjohnso99]

Only Toyota and Honda can innovate. With Hybrid, VTech, and VVTi, also , bluetooth and AWD..
Detroit builds old technology

I hear the sarcasm... just like to add that Cadillac had variable value timing in 1906 so Honda and Toyota are indeed building old technology.

 

[paul38469]

I believe they tested it on an Ecotec in the Vectra and an HF V6 in the Aura, so I hope it makes its way across both engine lines very quickly. I imagine an HCCI engine coupled with engine shutoff using BAS+ would get terrific fuel economy.

 

[paul38469]

I hope that this is a sign that all of GM's considerable investments in advanced technologies including HCCI, DI, AFM, turbos, 6-8 speed transmissions, hybrid systems, fuel cells, AWD systems, infotainment and electric vehicles is about to really take off and start paying off in the marketplace. GM has been considered a follower for so long, it is time for them to really get these technologies out there en masse and challenge their competitors from every direction.

 

[ericmvest]

By the way, how's that Tundra diesel coming along?

Toyota was also talking about using Hybrid Synergy Drive on the Tundra, but I have not heard much about that lately. They may have rethought their plans since General Motors' Two-Mode Hybrid is far superior in truck applications. Maybe Toyota felt comparitive road tests of the Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid versus the Tundra Hybrid Synergy Drive Hybrid would not be favorable.

 

[momolos]

That means that the 3.6L would get about 30MPG on the HWY
and that the 2.4L would get with the 6speed auto will be about 37MPG on the HWY. According to the 15% increase they are talking about.


No other car midsize car can come close to those two numbers!

 

[BGH]

That means that the 3.6L would get about 30MPG on the HWY
and that the 2.4L would get with the 6speed auto will be about 37MPG on the HWY. According to the 15% increase they are talking about.


No other car midsize car can come close to those two numbers!

Camry and Accord are already at 28 and 29 MPG respectively.

But its great how GM will be the first out with HCCI. Let's hope they can spread it across their engine range and vehicle line up quickly.

 

[mechgmguy]

Camry and Accord are already at 28 and 29 MPG respectively.

The 3.5L in the malibu and aura get 29 MPG hwy too...

 

[mechgmguy]

and that 3.5L is with a 4-speed...

 

[BGH]

The 3.5L in the malibu and aura get 29 MPG hwy too...

Just pointing out other cars are near 30 MPG right now, and can the malibu do 0-60 in under 6.5 seconds like the camry? Toyota probably has the best V6 on the market right now, does anyone know when the HF get some major updates.

 

[zete]

Camry and Accord are already at 28 and 29 MPG respectively.

But its great how GM will be the first out with HCCI. Let's hope they can spread it across their engine range and vehicle line up quickly.

The irony is that the 3.5l in the Malibu gets 29mpg highway while the 3.6 gets 26mpg.

HCCI + BAS+ might up the mileage 20 - 30%, which would be a great combination, assuming it's all compatible.

 

[K-1]

Just pointing out other cars are near 30 MPG right now, and can the malibu do 0-60 in under 6.5 seconds like the camry? Toyota probably has the best V6 on the market right now, does anyone know when the HF get some major updates.

Piss-poor EPA test. Mine gets 22 city/33hwy, driven aggressively.

 

[K-1]

The irony is that the 3.5l in the Malibu gets 29mpg highway while the 3.6 gets 26mpg.

HCCI + BAS+ might up the mileage 20 - 30%, which would be a great combination, assuming it's all compatible.

I don't think the Atkinson-cycle BAS engine + HCCI would play well together.

 

[jlt0x]

That means that the 3.6L would get about 30MPG on the HWY
and that the 2.4L would get with the 6speed auto will be about 37MPG on the HWY. According to the 15% increase they are talking about.
No other car midsize car can come close to those two numbers!

Let's not get to happy about the proposed increase in fuel economy. The article states that the HCCI system operates from idle up to speeds of 55mph where by going any faster would active the usual spark-ignition system that we all know and love.

So while fuel economy for the CITY my increase by, at least, 15%; HWY fuel economy may only get a nudge upwards due to a new transmission.

 

[MCGARRETT]

and can the malibu do 0-60 in under 6.5 seconds like the camry?

I dont know what the Malibu does, I know that Edmunds road tested a 2006 G6 GTP coupe with the 3.6 DOHC and 6 speed auto and they were able to get 5.9 0-60 times, there were a couple of Aura XR road tests to that had the Aura in the low 6's, so.....yes,I guess would be the answer to your question?

does anyone know when the HF get some major updates.

DI will/is the update, expect to see a 280-290 or so HP Malibu Sport sometime in 2009.