A hundred years ago, Opel developed it’s first engine utilizing four valves per cylinder for use in the 1913 Grand Prix racing car. Little did they know at the time that this innovative technology would lay the groundwork for a future series of successful Opel four-valve engines, including the new line of SIDI and CDTI turbo engines.
The four-valve, four cylinder engine used in the Grand Prix car had a displacement of 4.5 liters, a power output of 110 horsepower and had two exhaust valves and two intake valves per cylinder. This was Opel’s first attempt at a four valve per cylinder internal combustion engine, a concept they would improve on the following year.
In 1914, Opel applied four valve technology to its gargantuan “Rennwagen” racing car, the largest automobile the company has made to date. The car, known as “The Green Monster”, utilized a 12.3 liter 4-valve engine that produced 260 horsepower, capable of propelling the 4, 400 pound giant to a top speed of 142 mph.
Four-valve technology died out in the automotive industry in the 1920’s before reappearing in the late 1950’s, once again in racing applications. It wasn’t until 1979 though that Opel put the technology into the average consumers reach. In order to compete in the top class of rallying at the time, known as Group 4, Opel had to produce a road going model of it’s Ascona 400 rally car. While the rally car produced 240 horsepower from its 2.4 liter engine, the street legal version was de-tuned to 140 horsepower.
By the 1980’s four-valve technology had become extremely appealing, mostly due to providing more power while using less fuel and reducing exhaust emissions. In 1988, Opel introduced its first mass produced model with four valves per cylinder, the now iconic Kadett GSi 16V. The 2.0 liter 16v engine, which was built in cooperation with Cosworth, produced 150 horsepower and 115lb-ft of torque, 90 percent of which was available from 3100 to 6000 rpm.
The same technology was used in the Formula 3000 racing engine, where it helped Opel score 164 victories in Germany alone. This engine would later form the basis for the Opel’s first turbocharged gasoline engine, which debuted in the 1991 Calibra Turbo 4×4.
By this time, four-valve per cylinder engines had spread across Opel’s entire powertrain lineup including in the smooth 3.0 liter inline six engines offered in the top-of-the-line Senator and Omega.
Opel continued it’s tradition of innovative four-valve engines when the company became the first automaker to combine four-valve technology with direct injection and turbocharging in a diesel engine. with the Ecotec DI 16V engines.
Now, 100 years later, Opel is still using four-valve engine technology to help deliver improved power and efficiency from its engines. The German automaker is continuing its tradition of innovation too, as it says 80 percent of its power train lineup will be completely renewed by 2016.
Comments
I love when people say push rod engines are old tech! Then I love when they say ohc engine’s are better then ohv engine’s, then we all watch the corvette and camaro blow the doors off cars with 4 valve s per cylinder costing thousands more!
I’m glad GM stayed with the push rod engine’s and figured out a way to stay on top with them!
I am waiting on the 100th Anniversery of the Opel Rocket car.
It would be cool if someone could recreate one with a safer rocket engine for a nostalgia run.
And Brian there is nothing wrong with push rods in the right places but on the other hand I enjoy the 300 HP from 4V 2.0 Liters. Just imagine if I had 4 liters LOL!
You have a typo there, Sam. The Kadett GSi 16v had 156 ps (154 bhp) not 196. 154 bhp was a staggering amount for a 4 cylinder at the time, especially seeing that most 3.0L V6 engines back then had less power. Ford’s 4.0L V6 (literally twice the size of the Opel engine) made only 1 hp more!
You are absolutely right, thanks for clearing that up, its fixed. GM claims 150 horsepower for the 2.0 16v.
When you guys get done adding up all the valves and liters I’ll be at the finish line counting my money and rubbing the winners trophy!
Brian one day you will grow up and find out how much you missed in life being so narrow minded. If you don’t enjoy them all then you are the one that loses.
Enjoy inferior products! Coming in last place! Paying more for less so I can tell my friends how many valves it has!
Why don’t you grow up and maybe one day you will see the finish line like I do!
Brian thanks for being so predictable as it just proves my point. I knew I could count on you.
Grasshopper there would not be any hot with out the cold and not rich with out the poor you have proven here there is no smart with out the dumb.
You really do a great service for the rest of us here as you take an average group of people and make the rest of us look like friggin geniuses. Thanks for taken one for the team!!! keep up the good work LOL!
Since when was coming in first place a bad thing, so thanks for the compliment! Now if we can just get you to stop dreaming about little boys! I mean vavles! Dam auto correct!