17.1.2013 New Vauxhall engine 10% more efficient

Vauxhall has developed an all-new diesel engine to add to their powertrain portfolio, with increased efficiency and much lower fuel consumption compared to previous versions.

The brand new four-cylinder turbo-diesel 1.6-litre CDTI ECOTEC engines will replace the existing 1.7 litre engines and several lower powered versions of the 2.0 litre range.

Vauxhall are beginning to downsize across the range with the aim to increase efficiency, with this being the first downsized diesel option. Vauxhall has already released a family of 1.6 litre SIDI ECOTEC petrol engines.

Featuring closed-loop combustion control and an aluminium block, the new 1.6 CDTI ECOTEC is the first diesel from Vauxhall to comply with future Euro 6 emissions requirements. The engine will be available in a variety of power outputs across several car lines.

Class-leading NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), high power/torque density and low fuel consumption were the main development targets, and the results have been impressive. Initially maximum power and torque have been increased versus the 1.7-litre engine to 136PS and 320Nm respectively, while fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 10% compared with similarly powerful 2.0-litre diesels.

Dr. Thomas Sedran, Deputy Chairman of the Opel/Vauxhall Management Board, said: "Our new 1.6-litre diesel will set benchmarks for refinement, performance and environmental compatibility. By the end of next year we will have launched three all-new generations of petrol and diesel engines, as part of our roll-out of 23 new models and 13 new powertrains by 2016."

The new 1.6-litre diesel and its innovative engine control unit have been entirely developed in-house by a global team of engineers in Germany and the USA. Beginning in spring, the 1.6 CDTI ECOTEC will be manufactured at the same "flex plant" as the new 1.6-litre petrol engine, in Hungary.

Newspress