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Report: GM struggling to market turbo technology

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Pontiac, Saturn

In the automotive realm, marketing can sometimes prove just as important as the actual product. Take, for instance, Ford's well regarded EcoBoost technology, which couples turbocharging with direct injection to produce more horsepower and reduce fuel consumption. Would it surprise you to hear that General Motors has had similar technology on the market for over three years?

It's true. GM's first turbocharged, direct injected powerplants hit the market for the 2007 model. The 2.0-liter Ecotec mills put down an impressive 260 horsepower and a matching 260 pound-feet of torque, and they were lauded by the press in the engine bays of the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Chevrolet Cobalt SS and Chevrolet HHR SS. But few people outside a core group of enthusiasts actually remember this fact.

Says Uwe Grebe, executive director of GM's global advanced engineering, "We didn't have a badge and say, 'This is the most important thing we will put on all our brochures.'" Ford, however, did just that, and it's EcoBoost engines are right at the tips of all our tongues when we discuss today's most advanced powerplants. So, how does The General fix its mistake?

Well, that's a tad complicated. "It would not be good to say, 'This is EcoBoost, only better,'" explains Grebe. "People need to know what it is," but "people don't want to know every detail of the technology."

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Report: GM struggling to market turbo technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM investing $500 million in next-gen Ecotec engines

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Earnings/Financials

Building cars is expensive, and many of the priciest bits of technology driving research and development costs are wrapped up in the powertrain. Therefore it's not particularly surprising to hear that General Motors has just announced a $494 million investment to build the next generation of Ecotec engines.

The biggest chunk by far - to the tune of $425 million, to be exact, bringing along with it 470 new jobs - will go towards GM's Tonawanda, N.Y., engine plant, which is where the aforementioned Ecotec engines will be manufactured. The rest of it will be divided up between GM's plants in Defiance, Ohio ($59 million) and Bay City, Michigan ($10.5 million).

GM hasn't yet announced what new forms the Ecotec will take. At present, the four-cylinder powerplant is available in 2.0-, 2.2- and 2.4-liter sizes and comes standard in a wide range of products from The General, including the new Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain in its 2.4-liter guise and fitted with direct injection and variable valve timing. Feel free to click on past the break for the complete press release.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM investing $500 million in next-gen Ecotec engines

GM investing $500 million in next-gen Ecotec engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker Karma to use GM's 2.0-liter turbo'd four

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, I.C.E., GM

Click above for high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma

Fisker Automotive has apparently decided that 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque should be plenty of power to recharge some batteries. Those 260 galloping ponies will come courtesy of the General in the form of its 2.0L direct injected and turbocharged Ecotec four banger, an engine that we've sampled ourselves plenty of times. We feel well qualified, therefore, to suggest that this is an excellent motor, but it really sounds like a major case of overkill for this particular application. Perhaps that's better than "underkill" (if such a word actually existed) as that powerful engine ought to be able to recharge the Fisker Karma's on-board lithium ion batteries at an extremely brisk pace. The faster the internal combustion engine can charge up the battery pack, the quicker the car can revert back to its native electric-only operation. Plus, that engine is a relatively light chunk of alloy, so the Karma's motor shouldn't be burdened by the gasoline-fed boat anchor too horribly under electric power.

We also find it a bit interesting that Fisker chose GM as its powertrain supplier, which means that the Karma and GM's own Chevy Volt are now even closer cousins than before. Both vehicles will sport four doors, lithium ion batteries and an extended-range electric vehicle drivetrain; and with this announcement, both are now slated to share four cylinder engines from GM. This kinda makes 'em second-cousins through marriage, no?

Gallery: Fisker Karma

Continue reading Fisker Karma to use GM's 2.0-liter turbo'd four

Fisker Karma to use GM's 2.0-liter turbo'd four originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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