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GM-Opel’s All-New 1.6 Turbo Diesel Delivers Class-Leading Performance

Joining GM-Opel’s all-new 1.6 liter turbo-charged SIDI engine as part of the Opel/GM small engine renaissance is an all-new 1.6 liter turbo diesel (CDTI) engine that delivers class-leading performance across all key engine criteria. The all-new mill is Opel’s first all-aluminum diesel engine and will replace the current 1.7-liter and lower-output 2.0-liter diesel engines in a wide range of Opel/Vauxhall and other GM models.

The Power

The new 1.6 liter oil burner packs 100 kW (136 horsepower) and 320 Nm (236 lb.-ft.) of torque, giving the engine an impressive power density of 85 horsepower per liter — a statistic that is unmatched by competitors in the class.

By comparison, the CDTI makes just 4 horsepower less than VW Group’s 2.0 liter TDI diesel engine, while matching its torque, and being 0.4 liter smaller. In addition, the new 1.6L diesel is almost as powerful as the 2.0 liter unit in the 2014 Chevy Cruze diesel, which makes 148 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.

GM-Opel New 1.6L Turbo Diesel brief comparison
Engine GM-Opel New 1.6L Turbo Diesel VW 2.0 TDI 2014 Cruze TD 2.0 Diesel
Horsepower 136 140 148
Torque (lb.-ft.) 236 236 250

Opel even says that more powerful versions of the engine are in the pipeline.

Fuel Consumption & Emissions

Opel hasn’t announced official fuel consumption figures at the time of this writing, but did say that the engine features “low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions”.

Meanwhile, Opel’s BlueInjection selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system or Lean Nox Trap (LNT) technology enables the new mill to be compliant with Euro 6 emissions standards, while being as clean as a gasoline engine in operation.

Noise, Vibration, Harshness (NVH)

When it comes to NVH, the 1.6 turbo diesel is said to be the quietest engine in the class. Like its gasoline-burning counterpart, the new 1.6 turbo diesel contains a series of sound engineering measures in its design and tuning to decrease NVH.

The engine has recorded the lowest sound ratings (compared to other vehicles using 1.6 liter turbo diesel engines) in testing with the Delta platform-based Zafira Tourer — the first GM-Opel vehicle to offer the new diesel engine.

Technical Highlights

  • Aluminum cylinder block and bedplate, saving more than 20 kilograms in weight.
  • Optimized performance with closed-loop combustion control and multiple fuel injections, up to 10 per cycle, for efficient, clean and quiet running.
  • Rapid throttle response with variable geometry, water-cooled turbocharger operating at high peak boost pressure of 1.7 bar.
  • Lowest internal engine friction rating, switchable water pump and variable displacement oil pump all contribute to fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions.

The GM Authority Take

Unlike the new 1.6 liter turbo SIDI mill, we’re not sure whether this enginewill reach North American shores. But given the downsizing trend that’s recently taken the industry by storm, we shouldn’t discount its arrival in the New World just yet.

Either way, what an awesome piece of kit!

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. I hope that this is the product advance that GM badly needs in this area. Its fallen behind badly.

    Reply
  2. This engine + small car in North America (Sonic or Spark, maybe Cruze?) = tons of win. This needs to happen.

    Reply
  3. The peak numbers always sound good but doesn`t tell you the “area under the curve”
    Diesels don`t rev high due to heavier parts inside.
    Narrow power bands.

    Reply
    1. @Joe yet since all automakers present peak figures, they provide a good apples-to-apples comparison.

      Reply
  4. I inherited my Dad`s 1980 Cutlass Supreme diesel back in the day.
    What a gutless POS. A stiff headwind towing my single CR 500 on a trailer slowed it down to a crawl.
    The head gaskets blew on me and I had it rebuilt.
    I maintenanced it a lot. It wasn’t abused.
    It had the TH-200 trans which my dad went after GM in a class-action suit , and won.
    Sure enough , it broke as I left the In `N Out drive-through window.
    I got $350 for it from a wrecking company because the rest of the car was so nice.
    Probably the worst engine/trans in GM history. Those were dark times.

    Reply
  5. We won`t get the good , latest stuff here…we will get the one that has been in Europe for years.

    Reply
  6. Can we get that in North America?

    Reply
  7. All aluminum block in diesel?. I remember the Chevy Vega with it’s aluminum block. It was fueled by gasoline but would burn oil. Having aluminum cylinder walls was not a great idea as they would wear rapidly. They would also blow head gaskets. They were Junk. I have a 2010 VW Jetta TDI and would like another diesel and had the Cruze in mind for 2018 bit now that I am reading about an aluminum block I am not so sure. Back in the mid 80’s GM had diesel cars but those motors were junk as well because the diesel was a converted gasoline engine produced by Oldsmobile. The engine would not last past 50K miles while at the same time Ford came out with a diesel built by International that would easily last 400K miles and more. I want my cruze to be the last car I have to buy and I highly doubt an aluminum block diesel engine cold go 400K without needing a rebuild. Maybe they will be like the Vega or the old diesel engine that GM made, maybe a combination of both. Either way I think the engine would be paperweight in less than 100K miles

    Maybe I should wait until VW gets it act together. Before the VW scandal VW was coming out with a 300HP 4 cylinder diesel together with a ten speed trans. a 300HP Jetta would keep tire stores happy as you could easily smoke the tires off the line with that much power.

    Reply
    1. Pretty sure I read in a detailed account of the new diesel that it will have heavy duty cast iron cylinder liners. That should take care of any durability concerns with the aluminum block.

      Reply

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