Opel reveals new engine lines

GM premium brand Opel will commence the process of replacing its core engine line-up with three all-new petrol and diesel powertrains due inside the next twelve months.

The first of these engines to emerge is a 1.6-litre SIDI direct injection turbo-petrol unit that produces 147kW of power at 4700rpm and 300Nm of torque from a low 1700rpm.

This engine will soon be followed by a diesel unit and a small petrol engine, with the latter possibly being the three-cylinder powertrain reportedly set to power the car-maker’s forthcoming Adam micro-car.

Opel director of gasoline engines Thomas Johnsen said the new 1.6-litre engine is “a real giant in terms of torque – power builds up very smoothly and quietly”.

Opel claims the specific torque output of 187Nm per litre of displacement is a benchmark for engines produced in high volumes, although the relatively low-volume 2.0-litre unit in its own Astra OPC hot hatch achieves a superior 200Nm per litre.

The new engine will also be produced with lower power outputs for entry-level models.

From top: Opel Astra GTC, Mokka and Adam.

The addition of an idle-stop function helps reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by about 13 per cent over the previous 1.6-litre unit used in models including the Astra GTC.

Opel also claims the new engine reduces engine noise and offers improved levels of refinement.

It has not revealed which models will get this new engine, but the Astra GTC hot hatch – currently powered by a 132kW version of the soon-to-be-superseded 1.6T engine – would seem a likely candidate for the high-performance version.

The new engine will be produced at Opel’s Hungarian plant in Szentgotthardt from the end of 2012.

The Opel brand will launch in Australia in September this year with the Corsa light car, Astra small hatch and wagon, Astra GTC, and Insignia medium-size sedan and wagon.

While the Opel Australia line-up is said to be “pretty firm” for the next two years, it is believed the flagship Astra OPC, Adam micro-car and Mokka small SUV are on the company’s shopping list.