The 1.4L Four Cylinder Engine Currently Found in the Chevrolet Volt
Posted on 06/11/2012 10:56:03 AM PDT by jazusamo
The 1.4L Four Cylinder Engine Currently Found in the Chevrolet Volt
All we had known for sure about the future of the Chevrolet Volt was that it will be undergoing a powertrain upgrade in about a year’s time. That is until now. A source inside the company (who did not wish to be identified) confirmed to InsideEVs that the 83 hp, 1.4L engine that is currently in use as an extended range generator for the Volt will “definitely not” be in the 2014 model year that begins production in the summer of 2013.
It is thought that the 1.4L engine found in the Volt today was never the first choice of engineers who were designing the car, but was mated to the platform strictly out of the availability of the engine. When debuting the concept Volt, GM had envisioned a specially designed engine to optimize performance for the Volt, but had to abandon any such plan because of a freeze on all research and development in the period where GM was entering bankruptcy, and the Volt was in development.
When asked about what the replacement engine might be, it was said that apparently a new 2.0L turbo has been thoroughly vetted on the platform, and will most likely see its way into production of the Volt (and upcoming Cadillac ELR). This is the same engine that GM has recently confirmed will also find a home in the Chevy Cruze Deluxe Buick Verano, a car which incidently rides on the same Delta II platfrom as the Volt. The output of the 2.0L turbo currently ranges from 220hp to 270hp.
This new engine would not only give the Volt and Ampera a more capable engine, but will allow the all new ELR (which will built on the same platform), to perform more inline with its sporty appearance, and the expectations of the Cadillac brand in general.
Mike Anderson, who is Global Chief engineer for Ecotec engines at GM said of this motor, which is found inside the Buick Regal GS, “Our continuously variable valve timing is tuned to work in tandem with direct injection and twin scroll turbocharging to achieve optimum fuel economy, lower emissions, and instant performance when needed. Having 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque available over a wide range of engine speeds makes for a very exciting driving experience.”
As for the fate of the current electric drive unit (149 hp/273 lb.-ft. of torque) that actually drives the current Volt wheels, our insider had no knowledge of any future decisions by GM. However, one assumes if the 1.4L is out for a much larger engine, that the electric motor has to go as well.
GM officials would not confirm or deny the inside information InsideEVs has obtained. “Unfortunately, we do not comment on future product details,” said GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly, “so I cannot provide any information related to your inquiry.”
The 2013 Volt will not have these engine changes, but as we reported previously the battery pack has be tweaked to squeeze out an additional 3 miles of range . There will also be an optional rear seat arm rest, a realtime energy use dashboard display, and replacement of the dark colored rear hatch door and roof panels by body paint. There will also be an additional two optional paint colors.
Looks like they are going to make the Volt a higher performance type sportscar, possibly with a larger electric motor.
If they want a serial hybrid why not use a high effencency Stiring type engine to run generators to re-charge the batteries?
They could computer control 2-3 banks of them to kick on as the battery gets lower and based off car speed, etc...
Oh well.
Ping.
The Cadillac ELR is pretty cool...and I’m not a Cadillac fan...
“InsideEVs that the 83 hp, 1.4L engine”
Wow the 40 year old aircooled Type I engine in a worn out bug I have (admittedly souped up) produced 150 hp at 1.5 litres and got 30+miles on US gallon.
Perhaps they should just go make VW bugs.
!
Many an automotive insider has said if GM would junk the electronic and battery power and put a turbo 4 or V-6 in it it would be $10,000 cheaper and sell like Obama’s a Loser bumper stickers.
GM has always had talented engineers.
It was the management and union troglodites that gave us all the loser junkmobiles that now populate our list of reasons that we’ll never again purchase their cr*p.
Too little, too late.
I’ll take my advanced engineering from Japan or Korea.
150 hp from an air-cooled VW? How are you making the other 100 hp? Nitrous?
Typical GM practice. Start production before the car is ready then put the car out there no matter how bad and try to sell some to offset development costs. After thousands of buyers have been screwed begin redeveloping the car the way it should have been in the first place. What about the early customers who bought overpriced lemons? Screw ‘em! Hey, we’re GM, we don’t care about customers!
GM and Chrysler should have been allowed to go into bankruptcy to either restructure themselves or die gracefully instead of Obama’s gift to the UAW courtesy of the taxpayers.
Welcome to the great American test fleet.
I was expecting to see four gerbils on a treadmill.Even that would run better than these battery powered green pieces of crap made by government motors.
The “new” GM is as sleazy and corrupt as the old GM, which stiffed its bondholders while violating bankruptcy law, contract law, and common law. I am boycotting GM forever, and nothing they can do, whether sensible or foolish will change that decision. I don’t deal with crooks.
Good point. Also a turbine should work just fine, as the electric drive would solve the problems with lag and torque. And a diesel would be an improvement for fuel economy.
Back in the late 60s, the Opel Kadet featured a 1.1 liter motor that was tough as nails. Tuners could get 165 horses out of it, while turning 7,000 rpm.
You can get an insane level of power from a modded bug engine. Ported dual port aftermarket heads, compression, cams, dula carbs or injection, billet crank and rods...then there’s the big bore kits.
150HP is easy sans Turbo or the sauce. With boost, the only problem is keeping the factory block together. A fully aftermarket motor will hold hundreds of HP. The off-road guys pull 150 all day long and keep it together under the pounding of Baja.
Looks like the people at InsideEVs haven’t bothered to do their homework. The electric motor is not the only source of wheel power in the volt. Above a certain speed (like 30 MPH) or under hard acceleration, the gas engine is also powering the wheels mechanically. The Volt is just a hybrid, not an electric vehicle with a built in generator.
Amen.
Better yet...
Maybe they should contact for the 1.0l 3 cylinder Eco-Boost from Ford in the 125 hp trim for the Volt for a power upgrade and weight reduction all in one shot....
Ohhhhhh !!!! bam slam kappooee!
IMHO they are gonna do this because the new Ford Fusion especially the "Energi" variant is gonna make the Volt look like the pile of merde' it is...
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