Just hope the kids don’t drink too much while growing up, or else they may turn into V6s or V8s.

Why the new engines? What’s wrong the engine they used in the Vega?

What is concerning in this beautiful story is that in the past 10 years GM failed to produce even a decent 4 cylinder engine of any displacement in US. They are planning to produce highly complex small engine with direct injection and turbo charging without any practical experience in developing similar or related applications. This is very reminiscent of their effort to complete with M-B diesel in late 70’s. They screwed up.

Although I’m sure you’re being sarcastic, howsmydriving, I’m still gonna say I don’t think the self-destructing Vega engine is a viable option for use in todays cars. lol

I was getting my hopes up when I first read the title of this article because it looked liked it was gonna say “small four-cylinder DIESEL engines”. damn

wait, the Beat WON’T be sold in USA? I thought it was all to be determined but propably WILL be sold here? I didn’t read any stories on that happening. oh well, the spy shots looked like the car completely went the wrong way from the concept. so no biggy. glad they’re replacing the Aveo. Though, isn’t Pontiac JUST NOW making the G3 from the Aveo? 2010 is NOT that far away, ya know…

xyunya, GM currently produces a DI Turbo fitted to the Solstice/Sky/Cobalt/HHR. It’s pretty high-tech and by most reviews a pretty good motor. They also own SAAB who has made some nice 4 bangers in the past.

xyunya,

I would not put too much stock in your statement, but I am not going to flat out dispute it either. This is a “wait and see” story. DETROIT has always had a problem with small cars but the engines have been coming along very well. the ECOTECH fours, though German OPEL in origin are the likely basis for these engines.

The weakened (wrecked some would say) dollar, makes making the engines in America a good move. American line workers are among the best in the world, especially given what they have to work with. The problem has always been the parts. But that has taken a serious correction in the last 10 or so years. GM and FORD are two of the most reliable automakers in the world giving high dollar marks like MERCEDES-BENZ and BMW real grief.

Then there is GM working with outside input from tuners and mechanics that know what breaks and what doesn’t and why. Verify in the lab and go.

There is easily much more but the in the end I would give good marks to GM and these new engines.

I just wish GM would sell the BEAT in the US… unless they are going to offer one of the other three model in the US instead. Possibly the Groove or Trax.

I still want the ULTRA WTCC

The 260 horse turbo has been well received but hasn’t been flogged out here in the real world long enough to say how it’s going to hold up. I have no doubt GM (or Ford or Chrysler) can do just about anything once they finally decide to direct enough resources at a project to do it right the first time. That unfortunately is not their strong suit and never has been. We all remember the Quad 4, although it can be hard to as you have a better chance of happening upon a Scud missile in a garbage can than actually spotting anything powered by one of these on a public road nowadays.

johnnycanuck, great memory. I forgot that turkey. Quad 4 could put epileptic to shame, except those seizures were constant. Actually it was giving Harley Davidson a good name during worst of Harley days. The bets GM came out was Iron Duke, that lasted through Citation era from Pontiac sister of Nova. GM or any other domestic had no patience to produce high compression, small engine based on high tolerances and precision. And instead of starting with something simple and progress, they going for turbo and direct injection. Turbo will generate more heat then they will know what to do with, and direct injection will require precision beyond their current ability to deliver. I expect nothing less then quad 4.

GM can’t build a small engine that doesn’t SUCK in the NVH department to save their life. Any of their engines get above 3k and they sound like they are going to self-destruct! Good luck with an even smaller one.

Yeah, bring back the Vega! And the Luv truck!

Luv was Isuzu and a darn good one!

GM has NVH issues because unlike 99% of other small engine manufacturers, GM insists on using timing chains in their engines instead of timing belts. While this creates a less smoother engine, it also greatly improves the engine’s reliability. Just ask any Porsche 924/944/928 owner what he thinks of timing belts…

GM can’t produce a good four? Not true. GM produces really good engines for Europe.

The problem is, in North America, the small cars that get powered by fours tend to have almost no profit margins. So the fours they’ve put in their American models have been built down to a price so the company can get a return on its investment.

Since that’s not the case in Europe, GM’s offerings are better there. GM is a global company. They most definitely have the ability to make a world-class four.

You naysayers are just reacting to the past, with blinders on.

inline6, please explain why Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Suzuki, Subaru can make money on small cars and GM doesn’t? Opel is not loosing money in Europe. In my opinion, the excessive bureaucracy is choking the life out of domestic automotive industry, like adolescent chocking his chicken.
When GM will make small car in US I will start believing. So far it is either Korean or European in nature and production site. And even then, it is not competing all that great with japanese. If they would – GM would have profits not loses 3-4 years in a row.

Look you punk GM defenders. GM from the past is GM today.
At what year do you want to start to call GM “today” ????
Their garbage late 80’s cars ?? 90’s ??
Are self-destruct 2000 Malibu’s too new or old for GM “today”.
People buy cars, and they don’t trust GM anymore.
Sorry.

And why wouldn’t we react that way, inline6? Most of us haven’t been to Europe and driven anything powered by one of GM’s ‘really good’ engines. I’m f*cking thrilled they have these ‘really good’ engines over there and had they brought one of them over here I for one would not have a problem ponying up a few hundred extra to get one. Maybe it would be ‘really good’ if you got off the f*cking pedestal because we’re not blind. Deaf maybe, from listening to the racket coming from the GM four banger under the hood.

hey johnnycanuck, take it easy you were suppose to be a “good cop”

You’re right xyunya, nothing stronger than beer tonight for sure.

Xyunya, Honda et al can produce cars with higher-tech engines because their low-margin small cars’ bottom lines aren’t being affected by massive union wages and legacy costs. And in Europe, the Delta platform is considered midsize, and EVERYTHING is an optional extra on it, with extra profit margin built in. Plus, with GM’s restructuring, now more than ever, GM Europe is GMNA is GM Asia Pacific. At the end of the day, the company that profits is an American company contributing to the American economy with its massive workforce and economic

Get Real and johnnycanuck,
By “GM today”, I mean “GM today”. Not their ’80s vehicles, their ’90s vehicles, or even those released in the early part of this decade. It’s true that GM built awful cars then. So buyer resistance is understandable, and it takes time to overcome. But that was then. This is now. And to continue to berate GM like they’re still building Iron Duke equipped A-body Buick Centuries is ridiculously outdated and annoying. Give credit where it’s due. GM’s improved drastically in a relatively short timeframe.

The reason I call you all blind is that nothing seems to satisfy you. You complain that all GM has given us is low-tech garbage that can’t compete. But that’s been changing about GM for a while now. And now GM is giving us high-tech engines THAT WILL BE BUILT IN AMERICA, and you’re too busy listening to your 20 year-old Quad-4. Well I’m sorry, but if that’s what’s striking you deaf, then your opinion is about as relevant to the current conversation as that engine is to today’s auto industry.

“In other news, Dex-Cool has inked a deal with GM to be the sole supplier of coolant for the new 4 cylinder engines. Sources say that the engine can go at least 150,000 before needing a coolant change. GM has not immediatley returned phone calls from the over 20 million consumers that have litigation against GM and Dex-Cool for early engine failures and costly repairs.”

LMAO, Brassmonkey!

I’m all for GM making a good I4 that works. I really hope they not only produce a good engine, but put it in an attractive and innovative car. This I4 thing is actually the best thing I’ve heard coming from GM in a long time, for me at least.

I would take the 2.2L Ecotec in my Cobalt over the crap that powers the Corolla and civic anyday. Plenty of power and torque. Its also smooth at idle although a little whiny on pickup. Good engine though.

As for the Beat, its my understanding that it will definitely be sold here. Why on earth wouldnt it be?
Beat
Aveo (wish they would call it Metro)
Cobalt
HHR
Malibu
Impala

“American line workers are among the best in the world, especially given what they have to work with. The problem has always been the parts.” What drugs are you taking? American line workers were among the best. Now most of them are over paided and lazy. Why do you think all the production jobs are being moved to china in the first place? Maybe cause it is cheaper to build the parts in China and ship them back home.

This isn’t my quote but some one else’s,

“I thought “craftsmanship” at the UAW was how many beer bottles they can hide in the quarter panels.”