2012 Chevrolet Sail

Nowadays, almost all companies have started working on green engines. Engines which are small in size; emit lesser CO2 but produce higher power. This might be the result of increasing demand for cheaper-to-own cars in all big emerging markets. Ford has come up with 1-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which has spectacular technology involved in it. This engine has many big promises to offer, which can be verified soon when it gets launched in Brazil early next week. So sensing the need of the hour, GM with SAIC has started working on smaller turbocharged petrol engines. These engines will be having capacities of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5-litres.

These engines will power the wide portfolio of GM in China and world over. Chevrolet Cruze and Aveo, Roewe 350 and MG3 are some vehicles which are targeted to get these engines across the globe. So it quite likely that GM India may bring in those engines in upcoming Sail twins. GM does not plan to launch a petrol version of the Cruze in India anytime soon but could follow Volkswagen’s steps and launch a 1.4-litre turbocharged engined Cruze. However it might not be brought in soon as GM-SAIC are still in early phase of developing turbocharged petrol engines.

These engines will be produced in an all-new factory being built in Shenyang, in the Liaoning Province and it will churn out engines at a rate of 450,000 per year, with production slated to start towards the end of 2013. We may see many more such technologies coming up. After Multijet Diesel from Fiat, now turbocharged smaller capacity petrol engines are set to come in and stir the market. Everything depends on government policies about fuels prices, levying additional taxes and many more. Healthy competition brings many good outcomes for consumers. Long live competition.