General Motors is at last apparently getting serious about diesels for its American cars sold in Europe.
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To be fair, it does have a four-cylinder diesel option for its Europe-only BLS but that is just a rebodied Saab 9-3 and not, as some purists might argue, a ‘real Cadillac’.
So, somewhat lost amongst all the talk of Chrysler sales, CO2 emissions limits and sporty hybrids, the automaker launched a new 2.9-litre V6 turbodiesel with the latest injection and combustion technology for minimum emissions and maximum performance.
The new 184 kW/250 hp engine will be sold mainly sold in Europe and is scheduled to appear first in the 2009 Cadillac CTS.
“We expect the V6 diesel to be highly competitive in the European luxury segment,” said general manager Jim Taylor. “With its excellent low-end torque and its high power output, it is a great fit with Cadillac’s performance-oriented brand character.”
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By GlobalDataThe compact dual overhead cam, four-valve V6 belongs to a new GM family of diesel engines, featuring an innovative closed-loop combustion control system designed to meet future emissions standards. The engine can be installed in a longitudinal or transverse layout and can be adapted to a wide range of two- or four-wheel drive vehicles.
GM’s development of the new engine is being coordinated under the leadership of GM Powertrain’s European operations in Turin, Italy, in cooperation with VM Motori based in Cento, Italy.
GM ended a similar arrangement with Fiat some time ago but engines from that cooperation will be available in both automakers’ ranges for some time yet.
Under the newer deal, GM Powertrain will focus on the development of the clean combustion process, electronic engine control and exhaust gas after-treatment, as well as calibration and integration for GM vehicles.
VM Motori will build the new unit at its plant in Cento, and is responsible for the mechanical aspects of the engine’s design, development and bench testing.
“The V6 diesel integrates leading technologies and will deliver outstanding performance, fuel economy and low emissions,” said GM Powertain Europe vice president Roger Johansson.
The V6 engine management system enables optimal fuel economy as well as reduced emissions and noise by using recently developed combustion control technology.
Key to the system are high speed piezo-resistive cylinder pressure sensors that are integrated within the engine glow-plugs. These specialised sensors acquire real-time data from the combustion process, enabling instantaneous fine-tuning of the fuel injection process. In the future, this clean combustion control technology will be introduced in other GM Powertrain diesel engines.
The high-pressure, common-rail system provides up to 2000 bar (29,000 psi) injection pressure. The injectors are quick-firing piezo-electrically actuated, allowing up to eight injections per engine cycle. The after-treatment system includes an oxidation catalyst and a particulate filter that are close coupled to the engine to achieve future emissions standards.
An electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger generates boost pressure. The engine has a torque of 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) beginning at 2000 rpm, while providing effective fuel economy and reduced emissions.
The new, compact engine has aluminium cylinder heads and a 60 degree bank angle, and 83.0 mm bore and 90.4 mm stroke, for a displacement of 2,935 cubic centimetres. The engine block is made of stronger and lighter compacted graphite iron (as compared to lower strength aluminium or heavier grey cast iron) to optimise engine packaging, weight, refinement and performance.
