GM to Introduce Two New Fuel-Efficient Engine Variants in 2009
15 May 2008
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| GM’s new 1.4L direct-injection turbocharged gasoline engine. Click to enlarge. |
General Motors Corp. will introduce in 2009 two new engines offering fuel efficiency gains for vehicles marketed in Europe and other regions. Both engines are new variants of GM’s existing engine families used globally.
A 1.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be used in vehicles worldwide starting in 2010. A 1.6-liter Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be introduced in the Opel Zafira in 2009.
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 to 104 kW (120 hp to 140 hp) and torque values of 175 Nm to 200 Nm (129 lb-ft to 148 lb-ft). It will deliver an approximate 8% improvement in fuel consumption (compared to a higher displacement naturally aspirated engine with similar output) and will be Euro 5 compliant.
Injection nozzles are positioned centrally in the combustion chamber for the direct injection (up to 200 bar) to make sure that a homogeneous mixture is produced and also ensure that the design will not become outdated, as it will also be suitable for other future developments such as HCCI.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 fuel 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.
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.
The 1.6-liter CNG Turbo is a new variant in the 1.6-liter engine family that includes a naturally aspirated gasoline unit and a CNG unit. The engine will generate an estimated output of 110 kW (150 hp) and an estimated torque of 210 Nm (155 lb-ft).
Key features include a turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold, an intake manifold with a gasoline and CNG fuel rail, and an oil cooler and piston cooling.
Add start-stop and offer it in the US in all compact and midsize GM vehicles and they will have a winner.
Posted by: Jon | 15 May 2008 at 08:46 AM
Can't offer it in the US. It's Euro five compliant not CARB compliant.
Posted by: Joseph | 15 May 2008 at 09:30 AM
How about this idea for a hybrid.. atach a motor/generator directly to the crankshaft.. no belts, either in the front or back of the engine.. the motor replaces the starter and the alternator, can be used for start-stop function, can add torque when the car needs it and can recover brake energy.. the only thing it would not do well is move the car along on pure electric power since it is permanently connected to the crankshaft. Go all the way and replace the water pump and oil pump with electric ones and get rid of ALL the belts, reducing maintenance also. You can even get rid of the 12vdc lead acid starting battery since you have a main storage battery.. not too big since its not used to move the car along.
You could stop the fuel injection and close the valves if you wanted to be a pure electric.. but you would still have the drag of the pistons moving up and down. Weight wise it would not be too far from a regular engine if you dont make the power battery too large.. cost difference should just be the added power battery.. seems to me like an easy way to do a hybrid.
Posted by: Herm | 15 May 2008 at 09:36 AM
The 1.6 litre Zafia on biomethane would be great performance, carbon neutral, very low impact on local air quality. What a great idea, truly sustainable transportation, no food issues, no sustainability issues. Great that GM seeing the benefit of natural gas at a time when natural gas prices are 30% less than the oil equivalent price (in energy terms) and so we need to start using more natural gas for road fuel (in 5 years time UK will not be able to afford to import 1 million barrels per day of oil, 30% cheaper for UK plc to use natural gas!)
Posted by: baldwincng | 15 May 2008 at 10:49 AM
The 1.6 litre Zafia on biomethane would be great performance, carbon neutral, very low impact on local air quality. What a great idea, truly sustainable transportation, no food issues, no sustainability issues. Great that GM seeing the benefit of natural gas at a time when natural gas prices are 30% less than the oil equivalent price (in energy terms) and so we need to start using more natural gas for road fuel (in 5 years time UK will not be able to afford to import 1 million barrels per day of oil, 30% cheaper for UK plc to use natural gas!)
Posted by: baldwincng | 15 May 2008 at 10:56 AM
Posted by: Reality Czech | 15 May 2008 at 12:16 PM
Herm - You need to do a bit more study. All you would have to add is an automatic electric clutch.
Google William Lucas Jones Hybrid.
That concept is 8 to 10 years old but only part of it has yet been adopted. Fully implemented, it's the future of personal transportation.
Posted by: Lucas | 15 May 2008 at 12:59 PM
Hell will freeze faster than any of these engines find their way into the US... and don't blame GM for that!
Posted by: | 15 May 2008 at 02:23 PM
If Ford is successful with their 1.4L turbo port injected engines...I bet GM would bring this motor to the US but I haven't looked into when we can expect to see a Ford with their 1.4L turbo engine.
Posted by: Patrick | 15 May 2008 at 03:08 PM
With cheap $4/gal gas Americans do not need more efficient smaller engines.
By the time gas reaches $10/gal...maybe... but PHEVs and BEVs may be around before.
Posted by: Harvey D | 15 May 2008 at 04:03 PM
Tks Reality, yes indeed it was the Honda IMA in the Insight.. IMA stands for integrated motor assist.. yes me and Honda are both brilliant :)
Nice car, shame it was never mass produced, used lots of aluminum and plastic parts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Insight
Posted by: Herm | 15 May 2008 at 04:47 PM
8% improvment is not a lot for a new engine, variable compression ratio / atkison can get 25% improvment
Posted by: treehugger | 15 May 2008 at 06:07 PM
Hell will freeze faster than any of these engines find their way into the US... and don't blame GM for that!
Whose fault is it? Jimmy Carter, or Bill Clinton?
Posted by: George | 15 May 2008 at 11:29 PM
Herm, IMA is still used by Honda in the Civic Hybrid...
Posted by: Patrick | 16 May 2008 at 08:10 AM
a good article on the Honda Civic hybrid, from 2005.. they are talking about $5 a gallon gas :)
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/09/show_time_for_t.html
Posted by: Herm | 19 May 2008 at 05:12 PM
There is a new type of engine out there that should be replacing the ICE, but Detroit seems to be giving it the cold shoulder. It can be seen at www.cyclonepower.com, or do a YouTube search for Cyclone Engine and watch the videos..
Posted by: Ernest Anderson | 11 July 2008 at 02:52 PM
The 1.4 liter turbo charged will be the ICE for the Chevy Volt.
Posted by: Guy Incognito | 08 September 2008 at 02:23 PM