May 15, 2008Print this page
· General Motors Powertrain Europe opens its doors for Tech Show
· A variety of concepts for upcoming propulsion needs
· 9,000 employees develop and produce engines and transmissions
· Focus on reducing fuel consumption and increasing energy diversity
GM Powertrain Europe’s comprehensive Tech Show provides answers about how cars will be propelled in the future. As part of the global GM Powertrain organization, GM Powertrain Europe has global responsibility for small diesel engines, diesel control systems, small gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Its footprint encompasses 15 facilities in 7 European countries, employing 9,000 people and producing on average more than 17,000 engines and transmissions per day.
“The top strategic priority of all development activities is to increase fuel efficiency, reduce the CO2 emissions and emphasize energy diversity“, said Mike Arcamone, Vice President GM Powertrain Europe.
The GM Powertrain Tech Show also illustrates the worldwide network within General Motors. GM Powertrain is the global leader in producing engines and transmissions, with 86 plants and development facilities in 17 countries on all continents. More than 48,000 employees develop and build 33,000 transmissions and 37,000 engines on average every day. Customers include all GM brands as well as a list of other manufacturers.
Diesel engines: Debut of the closed loop combustion process
GM has been working for 20 years on controlling diesel combustion in a closed cycle. It is also a success story for GM – concentrating on optimizing the processes inside the motor itself and thereby avoiding expansive after treatment systems wherever possible. A major breakthrough in this field is the closed loop combustion process: A sensor in the combustion chamber measures the pressure conditions in real time, and the measurements are integrated into the control system for the injection. This closed-loop process will make its market debut in 2009 in a V6 diesel that will provide 184 kW/250 hp and 550 Nm max. torque. Use of the closed loop process will not remain limited to the new V6 diesel, GM Powertrain Europe is working on a new diesel generation that will feature common technology and remarkable efficiency.
Gasoline engines: Direct injection, Turbo-charging, new HCCI process
By introducing the ECOTEC-Motor 2.2 direct in 2003 in the Opel Vectra, GM was among the leaders in bringing direct injection technology with homogenous mixture to market. A significant next step in this leading technology was the combination with camshaft phasing and turbo charging made available in the Opel GT. Its two-liter ECOTEC engine offers a remarkable peak power of 194 kW/264 hp.
Based on this technology, GM sees a major opportunity to reduce engine displacement, retain at least the same drivability and vehicle dynamics, and significantly lower gasoline consumption. This strategy, called right sizing, is particularly effective when driving under partial load.
Future developments include Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). Through controlled auto-ignition – as with diesel fuel – the gasoline/air mixture is burned more efficient. With the HCCI process, consumption declines by around 15 percent – with favorable emission data. To control the auto-ignition, pressure sensors are needed in the cylinders.
Transmissions: Intelligent all-wheel drive, more speeds, higher efficiency
More speeds, wider ratios, less friction losses: These are the development goals for both manual and automatic transmissions. At the same time, cars will be more fun to drive. An outstanding example is the new all-wheel-drive system XWD that is currently launched on the market in the Saab 9-3 series.
The intelligent integrated system is extremely fast to react, giving the driver plenty of feedback and reassuring security. XWD divides the power not only between the front and rear axles, but also between the two rear wheels. Optionally XWD can be combined with the electronically controlled limited slip differential (eLSD) - an electronically controlled hydraulic multiplate clutch with the effect of a locking differential. It is fully integrated into the XWD control system and in normal driving can send up to 40 percent of the torque to the wheel that has the most grip - in extreme situations even more.
Read more
For further information:
Press Release - GM Announces Two New Fuel Efficient Engines
Flyer Powertrain (Format / PDF)
gmeurope
· A variety of concepts for upcoming propulsion needs
· 9,000 employees develop and produce engines and transmissions
· Focus on reducing fuel consumption and increasing energy diversity
GM Powertrain Europe’s comprehensive Tech Show provides answers about how cars will be propelled in the future. As part of the global GM Powertrain organization, GM Powertrain Europe has global responsibility for small diesel engines, diesel control systems, small gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Its footprint encompasses 15 facilities in 7 European countries, employing 9,000 people and producing on average more than 17,000 engines and transmissions per day.
“The top strategic priority of all development activities is to increase fuel efficiency, reduce the CO2 emissions and emphasize energy diversity“, said Mike Arcamone, Vice President GM Powertrain Europe.
The GM Powertrain Tech Show also illustrates the worldwide network within General Motors. GM Powertrain is the global leader in producing engines and transmissions, with 86 plants and development facilities in 17 countries on all continents. More than 48,000 employees develop and build 33,000 transmissions and 37,000 engines on average every day. Customers include all GM brands as well as a list of other manufacturers.
Diesel engines: Debut of the closed loop combustion process
GM has been working for 20 years on controlling diesel combustion in a closed cycle. It is also a success story for GM – concentrating on optimizing the processes inside the motor itself and thereby avoiding expansive after treatment systems wherever possible. A major breakthrough in this field is the closed loop combustion process: A sensor in the combustion chamber measures the pressure conditions in real time, and the measurements are integrated into the control system for the injection. This closed-loop process will make its market debut in 2009 in a V6 diesel that will provide 184 kW/250 hp and 550 Nm max. torque. Use of the closed loop process will not remain limited to the new V6 diesel, GM Powertrain Europe is working on a new diesel generation that will feature common technology and remarkable efficiency.
Gasoline engines: Direct injection, Turbo-charging, new HCCI process
By introducing the ECOTEC-Motor 2.2 direct in 2003 in the Opel Vectra, GM was among the leaders in bringing direct injection technology with homogenous mixture to market. A significant next step in this leading technology was the combination with camshaft phasing and turbo charging made available in the Opel GT. Its two-liter ECOTEC engine offers a remarkable peak power of 194 kW/264 hp.
Based on this technology, GM sees a major opportunity to reduce engine displacement, retain at least the same drivability and vehicle dynamics, and significantly lower gasoline consumption. This strategy, called right sizing, is particularly effective when driving under partial load.
Future developments include Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). Through controlled auto-ignition – as with diesel fuel – the gasoline/air mixture is burned more efficient. With the HCCI process, consumption declines by around 15 percent – with favorable emission data. To control the auto-ignition, pressure sensors are needed in the cylinders.
Transmissions: Intelligent all-wheel drive, more speeds, higher efficiency
More speeds, wider ratios, less friction losses: These are the development goals for both manual and automatic transmissions. At the same time, cars will be more fun to drive. An outstanding example is the new all-wheel-drive system XWD that is currently launched on the market in the Saab 9-3 series.
The intelligent integrated system is extremely fast to react, giving the driver plenty of feedback and reassuring security. XWD divides the power not only between the front and rear axles, but also between the two rear wheels. Optionally XWD can be combined with the electronically controlled limited slip differential (eLSD) - an electronically controlled hydraulic multiplate clutch with the effect of a locking differential. It is fully integrated into the XWD control system and in normal driving can send up to 40 percent of the torque to the wheel that has the most grip - in extreme situations even more.
Read more
For further information:
Press Release - GM Announces Two New Fuel Efficient Engines
Flyer Powertrain (Format / PDF)
gmeurope
I wouldn't buy a big car like this one, maybe later, but not as my first car. Whit a first car you can practise, t [...]