New Family of Ecotec Engines Coming to 2016 Chevy Cruze
The recently debuted 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
In addition to offering brand new, #Emojitastic smartphone integration in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the new 2016 Chevy Cruze also features General Motors’ new, global family of Ecotec small-displacement engines. Along with providing greater efficiency and durability, the new motors utilize a modular architecture that the automaker says is easier to build and adapt to global markets.
Here in North America, the Cruze will launch with a direct-injected Ecotec 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, which GM estimates will yield an impressive 40 mpg on the highway, when mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The new powertrain is SAE-certified at 153 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, and will be offered in additional markets alongside a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated variant rated at 113 hp and 146 lb-ft. The 1.5-liter variant will be paired with a five-speed manual.
“The new Ecotec family is a globally designed and manufactured engine designed to offer class-leading performance, efficiency and refinement in a wide variety of applications around the world,” said GM Global Powertrain Vice President Dan Nicholson. “Each variant is designed for a specific application or local market, but all share design, performance and refinement traits that make the new architecture one of the most adaptable in the industry.”
2016 Ecotec 1.4L I-4 VVT DI Turbo
In addition to the standard six-speed manual, the Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo can be matched with GM’s new Hydra-Matic 6T35 six-speed automatic transmission, which provides the strength of the larger 6T40 transmission but in a lighter, smaller, and more efficient package.
In 2017, Chevrolet will add a new clean diesel engine to the lineup, featuring a B20-capable 1.6-liter diesel engine that’s already been sold in Europe and other worldwide markets. GM says that more information about the Cruze diesel will be made available closer to the start of production.
“The current Cruze diesel has garnered a loyal following among customers seeking strong, clean and efficient diesel,” Nicholson said. “The next Cruze diesel will take those attributes to the next level with the very latest technology, offering what we expect will be the premier small-car diesel package in North America. It affirms GM’s commitment to offer diesel engines as an alternative propulsion choice for cars in North America and specifically targets the German dominance in the segment.”
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