Vauxhall readies new 1.0-litre engine
Downsizing is all the rage in the automotive world, we have had Ford’s impressive 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine for a couple of years now and we have also seen The Volkswagen Group use its 1.0-litre engine on the up!, Citigo and Mii city cars. Even at the other end of the market, downsizing is still happening, with Bentley launching a 4.0-litre V8 in contrast to its usual mighty 6.0-litre W12.
So it should come as no surprise that Vauxhall is joining the downsizing party with the imminent launch of its new, punchy 115PS 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder, set to debut in the ADAM city car next year.
The new engine will set a new benchmark in noise and refinement for a three-cylinder engine, beating many four cylinder units. Developing an impressive 115PS, the engine also produces generous low-end torque of 166Nm all the way from 1,800 to 4,700rpm, with fuel efficiency improved by 20 per cent compared to Vauxhall’s current 1.6-litre petrol engine. This improved fuel efficiency will mean that the ADAM drop belows the 100g/km barrier for the first time.
According to Matthias Alt, Chief Engineer, Small Gasoline Engines at Vauxhall/Opel the manufacturer set out to develop a small engine which would not only minimise fuel consumption and CO2 but also be as refined as a four cylinder engine, as he explained: "We tackled at source the balance, noise and vibration issues typical of conventional three-cylinder engines, and we're confident customers will be pleasantly surprised by the results. This is a very lively and refined three-cylinder engine which doesn't compromise driving fun."
Developed in conjunction with the pint sized engine is a new, lightweight six-speed manual gearbox. With a dry weight of only 37kg, it is about 30 per cent lighter than its current counterpart. It is also extremely compact, measuring just 375mm along its axis.