Earlier this summer, we reported that the new 2016 Chevrolet Volt would offer improved fuel economy and battery range, as told by GM global product chief Mark Reuss. To do so, it’s expected that the outgoing Chevy Volt’s 1.4L generator engine will be replaced with an all-new 1.0L three-cylinder motor. In this application, Green Car Reports points out that the petite engine could produce a modest 75 horsepower to generate power for the 2016 Volt’s battery pack, which is based on GM’s official word. And while GCR predicts the motor will be produced in Spring Hill, as per the recent announcement, we believe the new 1.0L Ecotec will likely be built in GM’s Flint engine plant, per Reuss’ words.
So far, the only application that we know of for the 1.0L three-cylinder Ecotec engine is in the Opel Adam. AÂ 1.4L turbocharged and 1.5L naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engines from this all-new engine family have been announced for use in the next-generation 2015 Chevrolet Cruze in China. And we’ll probably see them in the U.S. market in some form or another.
The turbocharged three-pot that made its debut in the Opel Adam is rated at a minimum of 90 hp and up to an optional 115 hp. The generator engine for the 2016 Volt — which will debut at NAIAS 2015 — is suspected to be naturally aspirated.
Of course, there are other possible applications for the 75 hp engine; Green Car Reports suggests a 1.0L, three-cylinder, 75 hp Chevrolet Spark for non-US markets, for example. Stay tuned for more.
Comments
Interesting that this engine makes less HP than many motorcycles.
I wonder what the MPG would be with a small diesel 3 cyl?
Nope, the 2016 Volt gets a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder Atkinson cycle engine. Wonder what it’s HP will be, probably a bit shy of 100HP for efficiency’s sake. Still should be a fast car with the powerful electric motors
The 2016 Volt would be even better with an HCCI lean burn engine but apparently that is not ready yet.