GM develops a global four

The all-aluminum engine family that debuted in Saturn's LS also sees duty in a number of upcoming worldwide applications, including the new GM Europe Astra Coupe.

Visitors to the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show witnessed the latest application of General Motors' new global four-cylinder engine in the debut of the Astra Coupe. The new 2.2-L four-valve ECOTEC engine is the first European representative of the new generation of all-aluminum engines. It follows the family's North American introduction as the Twin Cam engine in Saturn's new L-Series.

GM will eventually introduce a whole family of four-cylinder spark-ignition engines worldwide based on a common design architecture, covering the popular displacement range from 1.8 to 2.2 L. The engine family takes future developments into consideration and can be adapted for turbocharging, variable valve timing, or conversion to gasoline direct injection Production for the American market started in the beginning of 1999 at GM's largest engine plant in Tonawanda, NY. Starting in 2001, the 2.2-L unit used in the Astra Coupe will be built at Opel's engine plant in Kaiserslautern, where a new production line is under construction.