Gm Ecotec Engine Family — Small Is the Next Big Thing
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TechNOLOGY ENGINES GM ECOTEC ENGINE FAMILY — SMALL IS THE NEXT BIG THING 50 www.autotechreview.com There is no replacement for displace- ment. This used to be a common adage till a few years back, whenever vehicle performance was discussed. Fast for- ward to today, and engineers have found replacements for cubic capacity. One such recent and important develop- ment is the announcement of the Ecotec engine family by General Motors. This new engine range is a key development for the company since it will power 27 models by 2017. Ecotec engines have been built around the theme of smaller, lighter and cleaner, which is presently being pursued by automakers globally. This modular engine architecture is also claimed to reduce manufacturing complexities, making it easier for adoption on more vehicles. The engine portfolio includes 11 engines, both ECOTEC engines feature an aluminium cylinder block and head in favour of weight reduction three and four cylinder, ranging from 1 l to 1.5 l. While specifics for individual units haven’t been shared yet, the power line-up. The 1.5 l naturally aspirated block height and other dimensions. Mul- output for the Ecotec line-up is in the engine will first be introduced as an tiple moving parts are common through range of 75 hp to 165 hp. option in the next-generation 2015 Chev- the range, including the fuel and valve- Reflecting GM’s focus on the future is rolet Cruze in China. For markets such as train system components. All of this the fact that the engine architecture has China and India, the 1.5 l unit could modularity makes it easier for the com- been designed to support hybrid technol- offer a lower selling price to customers, pany to make changes to the engine in ogy and alternative fuels as well. GM making it easier to sell more cars. order to make them adapt to various plans to manufacture more than 2.5 mn On the turbocharged engines, the regions and applications. of these engines across five locations in turbo is placed closer to the engine, A two-stage variable intake manifold the world including Flint, US; Shenyang, thanks to the design advantages of the is used on some naturally aspirated vari- China; Szentgotthárd, Hungary; Toluca, integrated cylinder head/ exhaust mani- ants to improve fuel economy and per- Mexico; and Changwon, South Korea. The fold. This increased proximity reduces lag, formance. Below 5,000 rpm at full load, Flint facility alone underwent an invest- a key issue with single-turbocharger inlet air passes through intake tracts that ment of more than $200 mn in technology equipped engines. The turbo in itself is a increase torque. At speeds greater than and tooling to support the production of small low-inertia, water-cooled unit, 5,000 rpm, a butterfly valve within the Ecotec engines. which is claimed to offer high torque at lightweight composite intake manifold Although there is no mention of manu- low engine speed. The single stage, single opens to create a shorter intake path, facturing these engines in India yet, one scroll unit is equipped with an intercooler enabling the engine to produce maxi- could expect GM India’s powertrain facil- and pressure-activated wastegate. A low mum horsepower. This two-stage mani- ity to be a likely future destination for diameter of 35 mm for the turbine wheel fold helps the engine produce approxi- Ecotec engines. and 40 mm for the compressor is said to mately 90 % of peak torque from 2,200 help the engine deliver 90 % of its torque rpm to 6,000 rpm. at just 1,500 rpm for the 1.4 l variant. Innovations and technology inclusions ECOTEC TECHNOLOGY Taking into account the higher com- do not end here. We will bring you more bustion pressures in the turbocharged and details of the powertrain range as they get All engines in the Ecotec range feature naturally aspirated direct injected engines, launched, both globally and in India. The an aluminium cylinder block and head, along with the need to increase refine- first model to feature an Ecotec engine helping lower the overall weight. Inclu- ment, a forged steel crankshaft has been will be the Opel ADAM, which will get a 1 sion of technologies such as direct injec- used. Port fuel injected variants with l, three-cylinder turbocharged engine, fol- tion, continuously variable valve timing lower combustion pressures make use of lowed by the 1.5 l naturally aspirated and and variable intake manifold airflow a cast-iron crankshaft with hollow cast the 1.4 l turbocharged engine in the Chev- increase the power output and efficiency cores for lowering weight. rolet Cruze in China. at the same time. While some might be Modularity is a key point for Ecotec surprised that not all engines are turbo- and has been taken to a level where charged, GM seems to have gotten it three and four cylinder engine blocks Read this article on right by not turbocharging the entire share bore spacing, bore diameter, liners, www.autotechreview.com autotechreview April 2014 Volume 3 | Issue 4 51.