ECOTEC – Automobiles Review

Chevrolet Cruze And the Ecotech Powerplant In-Depth

2016 Chevrolet Cruze will be geared with General Motor’s latest and greatest Ecotech small-displacement engine lineup. The new engines offer easier to build parts and of course some wonderful performance features, along with improved efficiency.

And now, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze will be offered in North America with the Ecotec 1.4-liter unit with direct injection. The powerplant offers GM-estimated 40 mpg on the highway and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. And the stop/start technology is included as a standard feature. In fact, there is an optional Hydra-Matic6T3 six-speed automatic transmission. It offers smooth and fast shifts. And it also boosts the efficiency of the vehicle. Cool, isn’t it?

Furthermore, the Ecotec 1.4 has a total output of 153 hp (113 kW) and 240 Nm of torque. It will be offered along with the 1.5-Liter naturally aspirated model, that brings 113 hp (84 kW) and 146 Nm of torque. And it will be matched with a five-speed manual transmission.

And it is expected, that Chevrolet will add a completely redesigned engine in 2017. it will include the B20-capable 1.6 diesel unit, that is already proven in Europe.

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

2016 Chevrolet Cruze and the engine in-depth

The first thing a technician will notice about the engine is the lightweight. The unit is built with aluminum blocks, matched with an aluminum bedplate, which not only enhances the strength, but also lowers the vibrations of the vehicle. Furthermore the powerplant of 2016 Chevrolet Cruze the block has cast-in-place iron cylinder liners.

And every unit from the Ecotech family will feature a 74 mm cylinder bores and long piston stroke lengths. These parts will help the engine to achieve higher levels of torque. And the 1.4L model has an 81.3 mm stroke, while the 1.5L has 86 mm stroke.

It looks like 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is geared with not just an engine, but some kind of engineering wonder. Hopefully, GM will continue the strategy for delivering even better and even more advanced technology gadgets.

So, what do you think of the new Ecotech?

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

Source: Chevrolet

June 25, 2015

GMC announces 2015 Sierra Elevation Edition

The US auto maker GMC has announced the 2015 Sierra Elevation Edition, which is the company’s new entry into the sport pickup truck market. The new vehicle bets on a unique combination of style and content that cannot be found in other auto makers.

“Much in the same way the Sierra Denali and Sierra HD Denali models raised the standard for premium pickup trucks, the Sierra Elevation Edition will surprise and excite customers shopping for a sport pickup,” said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, Buick and GMC. “With its striking looks, sophisticated connectivity features and legendary capability, the Elevation Edition raises the standard of what a sport pickup truck can be.”

The new 2015 Sierra Elevation Edition is based on the standard 2015 Sierra 1500 double-cap pickup and includes a body-colored grille surround, color-keyed door handles, mirror caps, side moldings and front and rear bumpers designed to give Elevation a sporty monochromatic appearance. Elevation models also feature premium headlamps with distinctive light-emitting diode, or LED lighting, fog lamps, and black-painted 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

The new GMC vehicle includes a number of features and functions that are designed to make your life easier. Thus the pickup truck is equipped with remote keyless entry, power mirrors, a 110-volt AC power outlet, and LED cargo box lighting. There’s advanced connectivity in the car in case you need it and it is represented by OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity, which provides an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot for up to seven devices and Bluetooth phone connectivity. A 4.2-inch Intellilink color touchscreen audio system will satisfy your sound needs.

We now come to the most interesting part – engines. The 2015 Sierra Elevation Edition will have two engines – the 4.3-liter EcoTec V6 engine is standard and it outputs 285 horsepower (210 kW) and 305 lb-ft (414 Nm) of torque and has an EPA highway rating of 24 MPG (9.8 liters per 100 km). The other engine is optional and it is a 5.3-liter EcoTec 3 V8 unit with 355 horsepower (261 kW).

The 2015 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition will be available at GMC dealerships by the end of 2014. The price of the new vehicle will be announced later.

Source: GMC

September 19, 2014

Opel Adam S – 150HP and 220Nm

Opel is going to showcase the range-topping Adam S at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show in few days. The German manufacturer will also exhibit Adam Rocks as well as the super-efficient three-cylinder Adam powered by 1.0 liter ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo gasoline engine.

The Adam S is powered by a 1.4 liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol with 150HP (110 kW) and 220Nm (162 lb-ft) of torque. This means 0-100 km/h in less than 8.0 seconds and a to pspeed of 220 km/h (137 mph). The engine is connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox sending the power to the front wheels. Compared to the naturally-aspirated engine, the turbo unit offers 50% more HP and 70% more torque.

Other highlights include a set of 18” alloy wheels fitted with 225/35 R18 tires. Behind them, there is braking system including OPC S brakes with 16” front and 15” rear discs equipped with red brake calipers. There is a complete aerodynamics package together with an aggressive exhaust. Last, but not least are the LED DRLs and taillights.

The interior boasts leather Recaro performance seats, IntelliLink infotainment system, electronic climate control and a black privacy glass. The leather package consists of a red leather-trimmed steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake as well as distinctive red and white flashes on the instrument and door panels.

Source: Opel

March 3, 2014

Vauxhall Astra GTC Hitting 200 PS With Ecotec 1.6

Vauxhall-Astra-GTC-shadow Vauxhall-Astra-GTC-medium The Vauxhall Astra GTC line will now be available with a 1.6 Ecotec power plant. This engine might just be the biggest cause of headaches at Volkswagen.

That’s right, the GTC now pulls off 200 PS and 300 Nm. Yikes! That’s 30 percent more power than the previous equivalent. If we translate that to 0-to-60-time, it means 7.3 seconds or the fastest non-VXR Astra. At the same time, the GTC returns 51 mpg and 154 g/km of CO2 emissions (13 percent less).

Just because its a new model anyway, they’ve decided to throw in an optional extra as well – an Intellilink infotainment system that’s supposed to be user-friendly and intuitive. It comprises of a satelite navigation, voice control, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a picture viewer some reason and Gracenote album art for some reason. All gets mediated to you through a 7-inch screen.

The new GTC hasn’t hit the streets yet, but it is available for ordering. Arrival should be around Spring this year. Your move, other companies that make really good hatchbacks and rival each other. Vauxhall-Astra-GTC-medium-2

Source: Vauxhall

January 7, 2014

2013 Buick Verano Turbo Debut

The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo is going on sale later this year as a representative of the company’s efforts to downsize it’s engine fleet without sacrificing power output. The Verano will get 250 hp from a 2.0-liter engine.

“The 2.0L turbo engine was designed for refinement, higher output capabilities and reduced noise,” said Amy Joss, Ecotec 2.0L assistant chief engineer. “The way it sounds, the power delivery and the refined character are all fitting of a luxury sedan with a fun side.”

The power plant inside is no stranger to fame and acclaim. It’s a Buick 2.0 liter turbocharged Ecotec engine which last year, was named one of WardsAuto World’s 2012 10 Best Engines for North America. It’s sort of clever because of the eAssist tech used along side it, which helps boost performance and fuel-economy through the use of an electric motor and a battery. The Buick Regal luxury sport sedan will also get the same engine bits as standard.

The popularity of 4-cylinder engine in the US is not widespread to say the least, but with car makers struggling to deal with emission restrictions etc. change might be on the way. According to his Automotive, their use in North America will grow by 74 percent from 6.9 million to 12.2 million over the next 10 years.

The transmission choice is between a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The fuel figures however have not been disclosed yet nor the price.

Source: Buick

June 12, 2012

Green Tech With The Chevy Malibu Eco

Recent gas prices causing you headache? The trip between the petrol stations seems too short? Well, if you insist to sticking to a mid-sized saloon, the Chevrolet Malibu Eco might be the car for you. They say it can do 965 km of highway on a single tank of fuel. This is just another example of how a combination of simple yet clever technologies can help bring noticeable relief to your wallet.

Let’s not beat around the bush – The Malibu Eco achieves an EPA-estimated 25 miles per gallon city and 37 mpg highway fuel economy. Numbers would not have been so high if it wasn’t for the all-electric power steering. It’s cleaner, more efficient and smarter than any other hydraulic setup in the world. Thanks to it, Malibu owners can save up to 12 gallons annually, or about 120 gallons in a 10-year life. At $4 per gallon, that saves about $50 per year or $500 in 10 years say Chevrolet.

The Malibu’s power steering is not constantly operational. Instead, it kicks in only when you need it to do so. If you are going down the highway, the only thing it does is to slightly compensate outside factors that may cause directional shifts (think of uneven roads or crosswinds). Wherever you are, the feedback comes with reduced vibrations and, in some of the cars, responsiveness can be adjusted trough two settings – “comfort” and “sport”.

But an electric power steering is not something groundbreaking and it’s going to take more than that for the Eco, to stand up to its name. This is where GM’s fuel-saving eAssist technology comes into place. It shuts of fuel supply to the engine when the car is decelerating. While in fuel shut-off mode, the motor-generator unit continues spinning along with the engine should the accelerator pedal be pressed again. Thus, a smooth and immediate response is ensured. The system also manages to salvage up to 15kW of power that would normally be lost upon breaking, and recharges the Li-ion battery of the Malibu.

At the moment, the Eco version of it is priced at $25,595 but, with a little more patience, we will see the arrival of an all-new, greener 2.5L Ecotec engine to all Malibu models. Not before summer this. Then, sometime later, a new turbo model will be available.

Source: Chevrolet

April 10, 2012

Chevy Sonic Turbo Now With 6-speed Automatic

Good news for those who have always fancied the Cehvy Sonic Turbo but were never too keen about the idea of a stick-shift. The Ecotec 1.4L Sonic will now be available also with an automatic.

“Providing the option of a turbocharged engine to our non-stick driving Chevy customers allows us to offer everyone the thrill and power of a fuel-efficient Ecotec 1.4L powerplant,” said Jim Danahy, vehicle line director and vehicle chief engineer for North American small cars. “Both in the Sonic and Cruze, the engine enables better fuel economy without sacrificing power or performance. It’s really a winning combination.”

Yes, no sacrifice in terms of power, but a skillful person behind the wheel of a manual Sonic Turbo can get from off the line, to 62mph in 7.8 seconds whereas the automatic will make that run for “about” 8.0 and there’s nothing you can do about it. Still, it’s hardly end of the world this issue.

Here’s the funny thing however – most companies nowadays claim that their automatic transmissions return better mpg than manuals even. This is not the story here. The 6-speed automatic is said to deliver an EPA-estimated economy of 37 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg in the city. The manual fares a little bit better than that: 40 mpg highway and 29 mpg urban.

Nevertheless, all is a small price to pay for the benefits of an automatic gearbox – convenience and comfort.

2012 Hydra-Matic 6T40 (MH8) transmission unit

Source: Chevrolet

March 23, 2012

2012 Opel Insignia

Opel has announced the new 2012 Insignia coming with best-in-class new 1.4 turbo ecoFLEX engine, new 2.0 turbo petrol, Start/Stop system and added value.

The exterior remains the same, but the vehicle gets a new “Luxor” metallic paint and new alloy wheels. Still, the interior boasts “Indian Night” Nappa leather seats, new infotainment systems – Navi 600 and Navi 900 Europa, an improved front camera system with Forward Collision Alert system.

The interesting updates are the two new engines – 1.4 liter turbo ecoFLEX with 140 PS (103 kW) and 200Nm (147 lb-ft) of torque, which replaces the old 1.8 liter unit. The powerplant is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. It manages to achieve 5.7 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 134 g/km. The performance is satisfying – 0 to 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 205 km/h (128 mph).

The powerful 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol develops 250PS (185 kW) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It is mated to a 6-speed manual enabling the vehicle to accelerate to 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). Average fuel consumption – 8.4 liters per 100 km and 197 g/km of CO2.

The 220PS 2.0 turbo with FWD and 6-speed manual transmission will soon be available with the intelligent fuel-saving technology – including aerodynamic underbody paneling and rolling-resistance-optimized tires.

2012 Opel Insignia Engine - Ecotec — 2012 Opel Insignia Engine – Ecotec

Source: Opel

August 9, 2011

Tag: ECOTEC

2016 Chevrolet Cruze and the engine in-depth