GM to Introduce First Diesel Chevrolet SUV in Europe

23 November 2005

Captiva will use the new GM Daewoo diesel engine.

GM announced it will introduce the Captiva—a new compact Chevrolet SUV based on the S3X concept vehicle—at the Geneva Show in March 2006. At the Paris Motor Show in 2004, GM showed a diesel micro-hybrid version of the S3X concept—a vehicle that used GM’s Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) system to provide stop-start functionality and regenerative braking. (Earlier post.)

The Captiva will offer the first production application of the new 2.0-liter GM Daewoo diesel engine (earlier post), making it Chevrolet’s first compact diesel SUV in Europe.

Captiva also will be the first model in Chevrolet’s European range with an electronic stability program (ESP).

The new 2.0-liter diesel. Click to enlarge.

GM Daewoo will produce two variants of 2.0 liter, four-valve, single overhead cam, common rail engines jointly developed by GM Daewoo Auto and Technology, GM Powertrain and VM Motori of Italy:

• A version with fixed geometry turbo (FGT) will develop 88 kW (118 hp) at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 280 Nm at 2,000 rpm.

• A high-performance version with variable geometry turbo (VGT) will turn out 110 kW (147 hp) at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 310 Nm at 2,000 rpm.

The engines are Euro-4 compliant. A diesel particulate filter (DPF) will be offered for both versions to further reduce emissions of particulate matter.

The engines also feature design details that offer step improvements in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

GM launched the Chevrolet brand in Europe on 1 February 2005, replacing the Daewoo brand across the region. Sales have gone well—in September, European sales were 82% higher than in March. The diesel platform will help further.

The lack of a diesel engine range has been a big obstacle to our sales growth in the UK where diesel sales now exceed 35% of the market.

—Andy Carroll, Managing Director of Chevrolet UK

Future Chevrolet applications of the new diesel engine family will be in the range of Lacetti 5-door, 4-door and Station Wagon models.

More details on the Captiva will come closer to launch, and there is no indication yet whether or not GM will implement the BAS micro-hybrid system in the first production version of the vehicle.