VAUXHALL has announced a new 1.6-litre diesel engine that should make key models such as the Astra and the Insignia a lot more appealing to company car drivers.
The new power unit meets the latest stiff Euro 6 emissions standards and will mainly replace Vauxhall’s existing 1.7-litre diesel, which is usually considered the weak link in the company’s engine range.
The 1.6, which will be badged CDI ECOTEC, will be available with several different power outputs but turns out an impressive 136 PS and 320 Nm of torque in launch form.
That means it matches the less powerful versions of Vauxhall’s 2.0-litre diesel, which it also replaces, but with a ten per cent edge in fuel consumption.
The new engine boasts such advanced features as closed-loop combustion control and an aluminium block, and will be produced at the same Hungarian factory as Vauxhall’s downsized 1.6-litre SIDI ECOTEC petrol engine.
The CDI ECOTEC is just the first announcement of what promises to be a busy year for Vauxhall with the launch of important new models such as the mid-sized Cascada convertible.
“The comprehensive renewal of our powertrain portfolio continues at full throttle,” said Dr. Thomas Sedran, Deputy Chairman of the Opel/Vauxhall Management Board. “Our new 1.6-litre diesel will set benchmarks for refinement, performance and environmental compatibility. By the end of next year we will have launched three all-new generations of petrol and diesel engines, as part of our roll-out of 23 new models and 13 new powertrains by 2016.”
