General Motors has confirmed plans to bring a new global family of small displacement Ecotec engines to the market within the next three years.
The development program calls for the reduction of manufacturing complexity by consolidating three engine families into one and increasing the interchangeable global components.
The new family of gasoline engines will comprise of both three- and four-cylinder units in displacements from 1.0-liters to 1.5-liters, and will feature a lightweight design and technologies such as direct injection, turbocharging and alternative fuel compatibility.
“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,” added Federico.
GM is developing the next generation of small displacement Ecotec engines in partnership with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC), Shanghai General Motors (SGM) and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC).
The Detroit carmaker said that engines will be used in multiple vehicle architectures in various regions around the world through the end of the decade.