“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” wonders Juliet of her star-crossed lover Romeo in Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy. The famous phrase comes from Juliet’s frustration that Romeo’s house hinders her marriage to him. He is, after all, a Montague, and she a Capulet. In Romeo and Juliet, names matter. They have meaning and history, and can conjure up anger, joy, and, in Juliet’s instance, frustration. In literature, few names conjure as many emotions as Romeo and Juliet, Montague and Capulet. But for General Motors and its slew of engines, a name has the potential to not conjure up any feelings whatsoever other than confusion. After all, GM has a lot of different engine names, but none enjoy any high levels of recognition.
Ask a regular owner of a current-generation Buick Regal Sportback, Chevy Camaro Turbo, or Cadillac ATS 2.0T if they know the name of the engine that powers their vehicle, and chances are that Ecotec, the correct answer, won’t be something they say. As we noticed in the past, this puts GM at somewhat of a disadvantage, while other automakers enjoy more recognized engine brands. Ford’s EcoBoost has skyrocketed in mind share over the past decade, and Mazda is heavily promoting its SkyActiv propulsion brand. GM currently has Ecotec for cars and crossovers, EcoTec3 for trucks (replacing Vortec), Blackwing for the new Cadillac-exclusive beast, and Duramax for diesel engines. Coincidentally, Duramax is (arguably) GM’s most well-known engine brand, but TriPower has the ability to change that for gasoline engines.
General Motors reintroduced the TriPower name in 2018 on two new engines: the 2.0L LSY I-4 Turbo and 2.7L L3B I-4 Turbo. The last time GM used the TriPower name was back in the late 1950s and 1960s, though the brand was written as Tri-Power. Back then, the name was given to an arrangement of three two-barrel carburetors on performance-oriented Pontiac V8 engines. Today, TriPower is the name given to a new GM engine architecture that is designed to make the most of the engine’s available power at all speeds.
The modern-era TriPower engine delivers continuously variable lift timing, variable valve lift heights and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) all in one engine. The goal is to maximize performance and efficiency when needed. The 2.7L L3B engine made its debut in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2019 GMC Sierra 1500, while the smaller 2.0L LSY engine powers the 2019 Cadillac XT4, and is available in the 2019 Cadillac CT6. The LSY will soon become available in the 2020 GMC Acadia, 2020 Cadillac XT5, and 2020 Cadillac CT5, among other future GM models.
Not only are these two TriPower GM engines compact, but they’re also powerful and refined. The 2.7L L3B makes 348 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque, while the 2.0L LSY produces 258 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That kind of performance prowess would be easy to market, as not only does it harken back to an iconic nameplate of yesteryear, but there’s also real, tangible technology underlining the name.
At the end of the day, Ecotec as a GM engine brand never took off, and the new TriPower name has the ability to change that. After all, it’s evocative, and it means something… because names matter, Juliet be damned.
So what do you think? Should General Motors begin using the TriPower name more broadly across its portfolio of engines? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments.
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Comments
Heck anything is better than “EcoTec” as a name. I call them “New Vortec” or “Modern Vortec” or just “Vortec”. It may sound 90’s, but it beats the alternative.
Xacly!
EcoTec sounds like the name of a Lawnmower Engine
Tri Power makes me think something like twin charged (super and turbo charged). Tri power should be gas, turbo, electric all in one.
If a name could be deceiving it’s just a marketing gimmick. Give it substance and it can be a win.
“If a name could be deceiving it’s just a marketing gimmick.”
You mean, like HEMI?
LOL don’t forget “Eco”Boost
Or Earth Dreams…
At first I thought they meant they were only going to put 3 injectors on an engine, after all Tri-Power did mean 3 deuces on the powerful V8, with everything being half as many cylinders I thought the bean counters thought up a new idea to cut cost even more by only putting 3 fuel injectors on a 4 cylinder engine. Engineering don’t design vehicles, they just submit ideas to the bean counters for their consideration as to whether it can be made cheap.
Tri-power was used already as the article mentioned. Find something new. Be original.
“GM has a lot of different engine names, but none enjoy any high levels of recognition.”
I strongly disagree, Chevy small block (aka SBC) Chevy big block (aka BBC) Rat? 409? (it is song lyrics), ZL1, LT, LS and the #1 GM engine name of all time, CORVETTE ENGINE!
Ask any motor head, man or woman and they will know most if not all of them. If you are referring to the average consumer you left out one of the most recognized engine names today, motor head or average consumer, HEMI (in name only).
Correction
“The modern-era TriPower engine allows for variable valve lift heights(1) and Active Fuel Management – cylinder deactivation(2) – all in one engine.” That’s two of the three (Active Fuel Management (is) cylinder deactivation)
You forgot continuously variable valve timing.
An innovative double overhead cam valvetrain that enables high- and low-lift valve profiles, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation).
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/general-motors-technology/general-motors-propulsion-technology/general-motors-tripower-engine-technology/
“I strongly disagree, Chevy small block (aka SBC) Chevy big block (aka BBC) Rat? 409? (it is song lyrics), ZL1, LT, LS and the #1 GM engine name of all time, CORVETTE ENGINE!”
You have just outlined the very problem being presented: there is not a clear, direct, marketable brand here.
What do you call the engine(s) you’re referring to? Chevy Small Block? GM Small Block? Corvette engine? Camaro engine? EcoTec3? CTS-V engine? LT1? LT4? LTX? L82? L83? L84? L86? L87?
There is not brand here… none whatsoever. Chrysler has done a good job creating a single, simple, memorable brand from its V8 engines – HEMI. GM has not.
GM needs a clear, concise, memorable brand for its motors – potentially done in one of the following ways:
– On a brand/division basis (Chevy gets one engine brand, Cadillac gets another engine brand, etc.)
– On GM as a whole (a single brand that gets used across various GM brands – I’m not a fan of this idea)
– By engine type (push-rod vs. DOHC I-4 vs. DOHC V-8, etc.)
A prominent engine brand might not change much in terms of sales, but it is one more differentiator that can be used (oh so much) in marketing. After all, perception is half (or more) of the battle.
As scott3 says below.
“In this day and age many folks have no clue what is under the hood and only care that it get good mpg and is reliable.”
“Look at Honda and Toyota only two percent of the public could even name the engine.”
And you.
“A prominent engine brand might not change much in terms of sales”.
“it is one more differentiator that can be used (oh so much) in marketing.”
When is the last time Mercedes, BMW or Porsche used an engine name in advertising. All three have used “M” as an engine “code”, that’s good differentiation. That alone would suggest that it doesn’t really matter.
Proof? Though I may be a little dyslexic, could I have missed the name of the engine in this presser?
https://magazine.ferrari.com/en/cars/2019/02/27/news/reveal-ferrari-f8-tributo-54421/
Heads up, “Ferrari’s most famous V8, the F40.” is referring to the car and not the engine.
The real problem is the consumer.
“perception is half (or more) of the battle.”
The bandwagoner wants to believe their team, the “Super (FAST) Sonics” is better then the “Heat”. Sure looks good on the side of the bandwagon, what happens when they re-market themselves as the “Hotter”? That’s gotta be a better team right?
The real issue is you label a 4 cylinder in a Trax and then use the same engine in the Cadillac the name follows.
Now if you leave the Chevy names of the corporate engines anonymous and then name the V8 TT at Cadillac it actually holds meaning and does not degrade the higher car using a lesser brand engine.
Back in the day when they wrote songs about engines everyone had their own engines. They also had HP and Size wars. They advertised on the fender what the engine was.
Today you get the same engine in 8 vehicles that can vary in price from $20K to $70K.
Unless the engine is unique to the brand or model leave the names off. Honda just uses engine codes and they can differ from year to year and country to country. It is a mess looking up parts as if the customer has a Japan engine the code is different and it could have a totally different ignition.
As for past names they really do not apply such as Tripower. Others like Quad 4 are damaged goods.
The V6 has just been the HF for High Feature 60 degree engine.
Iron Duke reminds people of 90 HP engines from a brand no longer with us.
If you just make it reliable and durable with good MPG most people could care less what is under that plastic cover in an average car.
Now in performance and luxury cars people want more value for what they pay and often what is under the hood is seen as part of that value. Hence the Blackwing name is appropriate. Same with Covette engines or model codes.
But an engine in a Chevy CUV no one cares what you call it.
What’s hilarious is that old small blocks and big blocks had a brand name. Small blocks were Turbo-Fire and big blocks were Turbo-Jet. But back then nobody gave a crap about a brand name because they were referred to as their displacement. Which you’ll find people still do today even for some modern makes that advertise cubic inches. Nobody in America that has a Challenger with the 6.4 call it a 6.4. They call it the 392.
And honestly there still is a brand in GM Engines. They just go by the engine series. Which I prefer. I like knowing that the LT1 in a 2014 Corvette is different than an LS3 in a 2013 Corvette. Series names are better in my opinion, not to mention the LS and LT series engines not being called “Turbo-Fire” (for example) hasn’t slowed down their popularity. Especially with hot rodders.
Not a bad idea and would probably be better than Ecotech. Problem is that GM never stays the course with anything it seems (outside the Silverado/Sierra) in terms of names. I’ve harped about this in the past and still believe 100% that GM must bring back names that matter (especially for Cadillac) and KEEP THEM!
So ya, I kind of like Tri-power.
Engine names mean little anymore. Even when they do does it make the engine better?
In this day and age many folks have no clue what is under the hood and only care that it get good mpg and is reliable.
Look at Honda and Toyota only two percent of the public could even name the engine.
If you have to do a name at least get away from the Tripower name. First off it was a performance V8 with three carbs in a Pontiac. This engine has none of these qualities.
It is a 4 cylinder so the tri is even more misleading.
Name it something that at least could be related to all the engines.
We have a Duramax
so call this one the Duratec 274 for 2.7 4 cylinder
The V6 a Duratec 366 for 3.6 V6 or 306 for the 3.0 V6 etc same for the V8 engines.
Ferrari used this number system on the cars as 3.0 V8 was a 308.
But if you don’t market the name anyways then don’t bother. Ecoboot is known because Ford marketed the hell out of it but GM did little marketing on the Ecotec as they slipped into bankruptcy.
If they want to bring back names from the past, turbo fire or turbo jet would be better. Or if you want something more modern about turbo torque.
That’d be so awesome guys! They could also come out with one that’s called Aluminum Duke. Kind of totally like the old Iron Duke but not!
A little fact checking please. Much as I wish our XT4 had 258 hp, Cadillac lists the power as 237 hp. Torque is correct at 258 lb ft.
Ecotec didnt fail, that family of engines put in work balancing horsepower with fuel economy in a host of GM vehicles. Where GM again went wrong is having ‘Ecotec’ and then ‘EcoTec3’ for their truck engines, which only shows that GM is a inept manufacturer. They should have called their new truck engines Vortec II or VorTech.
Still its good to see GM trying to leverage their storied and glorious past by using the ‘Tripower’ moniker for their new series of engines. ‘Tripower’ is a powerful sounding name and should garner interest in the vehicle market.
Most famous to me is the Mouse as in the mouse that roared. The most successful race engine in the world. That’s why a modern version still exist today. The problem with GM engine names they continue to change, just like their vehicle names. Find something good and stick with it. That will allow name recognition and money saved by not having to constantly change all the print ads.
Another Swing and a MISS from the New GM
Unless it’s 3 two barrels it isn’t Tri-Power.
Build a reliable, stylish and affordable vehicle and 99.999% of the buyers could care less what you call the engine.