GM developing new family of small-displacement Ecotec engines

Seeking to lower production costs and raise fuel efficiency, General Motors has announced that it’s working on a new generation of 1.0-liter to 1.5-liter Ecotec engines for use on a global basis. Consisting of both 3- and 4-cylinder in-line designs, this new powerplant family will feature lightweight, modular designs and sophisticated direct fuel injection along with turbocharging on higher-performance versions. The automaker says the engines have been engineered to not only deliver better mileage with slower emissions but will be significantly smoother and quieter than their current counterparts. In an effort to slash unit costs, GM also plans to greatly increase the percentage of component sharing across the entire lineup, regardless of market. “Our customers around the world agree we need to reduce our dependence on petroleum and reduce vehicle carbon emissions,” said Jim Federico, vehicle line executive for GM global small cars and electric vehicles. “We are working aggressively on vehicle electrification and other technologies, but the most immediate progress will come from continually improving the internal combustion engine.”