Ecotec Cruze points to local turbo

Chevrolet's announcement of a turbo-powered "Eco" version of its Cruze model at the New York Motor Show this week is the clearest indication yet that Holden has a forced induction version in the wings.

The unveiling of the 1.4-litre turbo variant, which produces more torque and virtually identical power to the 1.8-litre petrol engine used in the Australian Cruze, effectively confirms speculation that the engine will find its way into the locally-built version of the car.

Originally due for release later this year, the Aussie-built Cruze, tipped to be a five-door hatchback design, is now unlikely to go on sale until early 2011. In part that delay is linked to supply of the turbo 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine offered in Chev's Eco model.

The engine makes a lot of sense for the local variant -- not least because of the lacklustre performance of the standard 1.8-litre petrol mill.

In US spec, the small-capacity turbo engine develops 103kW/200Nm compared to the current imported local-market Cruze 1.8-litre engine's outputs of 104kW/176Nm.

The 1.4-litre Ecotec engine is used in LT and LTZ versions of the US model and shares its basic architecture with the normally aspirated, long-stroke twin-camshaft 1.8-litre engine with variable valve timing that is standard in LS versions.

US data reveals only the highway mode fuel economy for the 1.4 Ecotec engine (5.9L/100km in six-speed manual-transmission form) so it is difficult to compare any real data with the current petrol engine. The local 1.8-litre returns an extra-urban figure of 5.6L/100km and an overall figure of 7.0L/100km. It would still be reasonable though to assume the overall result would be better. Volkswagen's turbocharged 200Nm 1.4-litre Golf has an overall fuel consumption rating of 6.4L/100km.

The emergence of GM's Ecotec 1.4-litre turbo engine for the US market, and its ability to deliver improved performance, emissions and fuel consumption compared with the 1.8-litre would appear to make it a fait accompli for the Australian-built Cruze -- a suitable partner for the thrifty 110kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine currently available.

However, Holden is still tight lipped. Spokesperson Jonathan Rose was only prepared to say: "While we're always looking at new options for our existing product range, we don't have any announcements to make at this stage."

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