In light of the recent high gas prices, GM will start producing small four-cylinder engines with decidedly European-like displacements in the U.S. as soon as 2010. The Family Zero range will displace from 1.0- to 1.4-liters and will be assembled at the automaker’s Flint, Michigan powertrain plant.
At the beginning of the month, reports had GM building a car to slot in below the Cobalt and powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged and direct-injected engine that would be able of returning 40mpg.
One of these powerplants, the 1.4L, will power the Chevy Volt hybrid-electric plug-in, according to Motor Trend. A three-cylinder engine with a sub-1.0L displacement will power the Chevrolet Beat small car — which will not be sold in North America, though the engine will be exported — while the Chevy Aveo replacement will get a naturally aspirated version of the 1.4-liter mill.
