Todd Lassa from Motor Trend magazine has reported that General Motors announced last Friday the details of its new "clean diesel" 4.5-liter Duramax turbo-diesel for light-duty pickups such as the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and the Hummer H2. Production of the new engine is scheduled some time after 2009 at Tonawanda, New York.
Per Mr. Lassa's report:
GM says the 4.5 Duramax will deliver more than 310 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque.
It'll also be clean. GM claims a 13-percent CO2 reduction versus gas engines (better fuel mileage, after all), and "at least a 90-percent reduction in particulates and NOx compared with diesel vehicles today. This will be GM's first engine to use a selective catalytic reduction NOx aftertreatment system (urea) with a diesel particulate filter to help achieve the Tier 2 Bin 5 and LEV2 emissions standards."
It'll have aluminum cylinder heads with integrated manifolding, a variable-vane turbo with intercooling, a Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) block for a stronger and lighter engine base, and fracture-split main bearing caps and con rods for a precise fit, GM says. It'll have an ultra-high-pressure, common-rail fuel system that can inject fuel five times per combustion event to control noise and emissions. GM also is claiming noise, vibration and harshness approaching gas engine levels. Translation: Forget all about the Oldsmobile diesel.
"It'll meet the stringent 2010 emissions standards," says GM powertrain chief Tom Stephens, "and it'll be compliant in all 50 states, making it one of the cleanest diesel vehicles ever produced."
To read his full report, visit the MotorTrend.com blog!