General Motors designs new turbo-diesel engine

A multinational team led by GM’s Torino Engineering Center and supported by engineers from GM India has announced that production of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder diesel engine will start in June 2011. The diesel expertise of the GM’s Torino engineers has resulted in an engine that is expected to enhance GM’s competitiveness in the Indian market. “The exclusive design leveraged the capabilities of dozens of Torino-based diesel engineers to deliver what is expected to be a leader for its size in performance and fuel efficiency for the Indian market,” said Stefano Caprio, the 1.0-liter engine global program manager and chief engineer. “Contributing to the great fuel economy is an innovative, lightweight three-cylinder design.” The new compact engine will also be the peak torque leader for its displacement in the Indian market (140 Nm @ 1,750 rpm) and low-end peak torque leader for its displacement worldwide at 100 Nm @ 1,250 rpm. GM Torino and GM India Engineering collaborated closely to design in specific regional features and content requirements. Features of the engine include an iron block, aluminum DOHC cylinder head, lifetime maintenance-free timing chain, centrifugal blowby separator filter for lower oil consumption, low-noise timing gears, a balancer shaft for state-of-the-art NVH and a precisely sized waste-gated turbocharger. The 1.0-liter turbo-diesel engine will be manufactured at GM India’s Talegaon plant in Maharashtra and will be launched on the Chevrolet Beat in the second half of 2011. "GM India President & Managing Director Karl Slym said, “This new state-of-the-art turbo-diesel engine will enhance the competitiveness of our Chevrolet line-up in the Indian market. The addition of diesel options to our portfolio will continue to improve our sales volume and market share,” Slym added.