September 20, 2004

GM announces plans for 50 new powertrain variants

Le Castellet, France - General Motors announced the company will introduce more than 50 new engine and transmission variants around the world by the end of the decade.

Included in the 50 plus variants are plans for more than 40 new engine variants over the next three years and 10 new 6-speed automatic transmission variants within the next five years.

"If you average the number of new engine variants we're bringing to market during the next three years, we'd average more than one new engine variant per month," said Tom Stephens, GM Powertrain group vice president.

Among the more than 40 new engines, Stephens announced the planned introduction of a new turbo global V-6 variant and a front-wheel-drive Gen IV V-8 with displacement on demand.

The 2.8L V-6 Turbo is a new variant of GM's advanced global V-6 engine family, which features all aluminum construction, dual overhead cams, variable valve timing and a host of additional technologies and refinements.

First to be introduced in the 2006 model year Saab 9-3, the 2.8L V-6 Turbo will produce 250 hp of power and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The new engine will be produced at Holden's Port Melbourne engine plant, where a 3.6L version of the global V-6 is currently produced.

Stephens said turbo charging is just one of many ways GM is increasing engine performance and efficiency. Another method is displacement on demand, which improves engine efficiency by seamlessly deactivating half the engine cylinders when they're not needed.

In 2004, GM launched displacement on demand on the new Gen IV Vortec 5300 V-8 used in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL and XUV. In 2005, Stephens said GM plans to introduce displacement on demand technology on a new, front-wheel-drive 5.3L Gen IV V-8.

This new V-8 is the first engine in the 50-year history of GM's famed small block V-8 that has been designed and produced for front-wheel drive, transverse mounted application. It is expected to deliver 290 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.

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