Chevy Cruze and Fuel Efficiency Zeigler Chevrolet Schaumburg

Chevy’s I4 Engines Are Good4 Fuel Efficiency

by Chevrolet in the News on April 19, 2011

The numbers don’t lie: In 2007, Chevrolet models with inline four-cylinder (I4) engines represented just 23 percent of the company’s sales. Through the start of 2011, that number had doubled, with 46 percent of Chevy buyers choosing a model with a high-efficiency I4 powerplant. And this trend is sure to continue if fuel prices continue to rise—but Chevrolet is well prepared for that eventuality said Rick Scheidt, the brand’s U.S. vice president.
According to Scheidt, “Chevrolet’s investment in advanced engine technology is reflected in the increased popularity of our four-cylinder models. These technologies offer the performance and refinement drivers expect from Chevy in smaller engines that deliver the fuel efficiency they want.”
Chevrolet advances are many, but three in particular stand out:

• Turbocharging—The all-new Chevrolet Cruze Eco leverages a turbocharged 1.4-liter I4 engine to deliver nearly the same power as the 2009 Chevy Cobalt, but with a smaller powerplant that gets 5 more highway mpg. The bottom line for the Cruze Eco: Best-in-class EPA ratings of 28 mpg city/42 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. In addition, the same engine will be available in the brand-new Chevrolet Sonic, slated to launch in the U.S. in the fall.

• Variable valve timing—Precisely adjusting the operation of engine valves to respond to driver demands, variable valve timing is used in four-cylinder Chevrolet engines like the 2.4-liter Ecotec mill that powers the Chey Malibu. The result is responsive power—170 hp and 160 lb.-ft. of torque—to go with an EPA line of up to 22 mpg city/33 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. This technology also is found on a dozen Chevrolet models, including the Camaro, Volt, Cruze and Silverado.

• Direct injection—The direct-injection systems used in vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox spray fuel directly into the cylinder, delivering it more precisely than a traditional fuel-injection system. This boosts performance, reduces emissions and improves fuel efficiency. In fact, the I4 engine in the Equinox makes a notable 182 hp and 172 lb.-ft. of torque, yet still achieves a better EPA highway rating than the Ford Escape Hybrid. The Equinox attains marks of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined.

“The shift in consumer preference evidenced by Chevrolet’s lineup is a great example of how much four-cylinder engines have improved across the industry,” said Bill Visnic, analyst and senior editor for Edmunds AutoObserver.com. “Four cylinders used to be something to settle for. But advances in engine design and technology have made four-cylinder engines vastly more refined, and power output has increased to where V6 engines were just a few years ago.”

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