Vauxhall introduces more efficient diesel engines

Vauxhall introduces more efficient diesel engines

Vauxhall is pushing ahead with efforts to become one of the leading "green" car manufacturers with introduction of a new four cylinder 1.6-litre diesel engine.

This smaller engine will replace all 1.7-litre diesel equivalents going forward, as the company looks to "set benchmarks for refinement, performance and environmental compatibility".

It marks a new era in Vauxhall's approach to how it assembles gears and parts for generating power from an engine to a driving axle (referred to as a powertrain).

The new engine features a closed-loop combustion control mechanism, as well as a new aluminium block.

What makes it particularly noteworthy is the fact that it complies with impending Euro 6 emissions requirements.

"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."

Posted by Louise Clark