Engine A Month

In the next three years, General Motors Corp. will introduce more than 40 new engine variants, a company executive says in Europe at GM's global product seminar.

The rollout includes 10 new 6-speed automatic transmission variants by 2009, says Tom Stephens, GM Powertrain group vice president.

The engine introduction schedule averages one per month over three years. Variants will be launched in every GM region, including 17 additional powerplants at GM Europe and 18 at GM North America.

Among the new engines is the planned introduction of a turbocharged global V-6 variant and a front-wheel-drive Gen IV V-8 with displacement-on- demand cylinder deactivation (DOD) technology.

The 2.8L V-6 turbo is a new variant of GM's advanced global V-6 engine family, which features all-aluminum construction, dual overhead cams and variable valve timing. It will be produced at Holden Ltd.'s Port Melbourne, Australia, engine plant and bow in the '06 Saab 9-3, producing 250 hp.

The new V-8 is the first engine in the 50-year history of GM's small-block V-8 that has been designed and produced for FWD transverse-mounted application. It is expected to deliver 290 hp, Stephens reveals.

Other forthcoming engines include a 170-hp 2.4L Ecotec 4-cyl., a 240-hp 3.9L V-6 with cam phasing and DOD, and a Duramax turbodiesel with improved power, torque and emissions.