Tag Archives: ecotec

GM to Build 8-Speed Auto Trans, 3-cylinder Engines in U.S.

Posted on 4 April 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors will invest nearly $332 million in four manufacturing sites to produce more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions. The latest investments, announced today at GM plants in Flint and Bay City, MI, Toledo, OH and Bedford, IN, will support production of a new 3- and 4-cylinder Ecotec small gasoline engine, a new V6 engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and tooling for an existing 6-speed transmission. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Horses for Courses – GM’s Small Block V8 Versus Ford and Ram

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

This debatable engineering philosophy gained some credibility today when GM revealed that the 2014 Silverado and Sierra pickups with the 5.3-liter V8 engine – the most popular engine – will be rated at an EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6, an expensive approach that uses two turbochargers and intercooling, among other tweaks. Ram is using a 5.7-liter double overhead camshaft multivalve V8 linked in its best version to an 8-speed automatic, and is rated at 20 mpg. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM and UzAvtosanoat Open New Engine Plant in Asia

Posted on 18 November 2011 by Ken Zino

General Motors and a joint venture partner, state owned UzAvtosanoat, have dedicated a new engine plant in Tashkent, 400 kilometers from the automakers’ vehicle manufacturing facility in Asaka, Uzbekistan. It represents GM’s largest powertrain investment to date in Central Asia. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment