The Power(trains) Behind the Detroit 3

"Won't Get Fueled Again" was the working title.

Fluctuating gas prices seem to catch the Detroit 3 at the most inopportune times. They are ready for the next crunch.

Highlights from the media pages of Ford, GM, and Chrysler.

At Article's End - American Iron and Cubic Inches :-)

Ford

Ford's New Ecoboost(TM) gas-turbo engines can provide up to 20% better fuel economy without sacrificing the power that drivers want.


Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, for example, can deliver upwards of 340-plus lb.-ft. of torque across a wide engine range – 2,000 to 5,000 rpm versus 270 to 310 lb.-ft of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range. At the same time, this V-6 gives customers an approximate 2 mpg improvement and emits up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions to the environment.

3.5 L Ecoboost Performance of a V8 with the Economy of a V6

Upgraded Lightweight Die Cast Aluminum Block
Improved fuel economy, performance, and lower CO2 emissions than from a V8.
Electronic Wastegate Control
4 Valves per Cylinder
Electronic Wastegate Control
High Pressure Direct Injection Fuel System
10:0:01 Compression Ratio
Variable Camshaft Timing
Dual Watercooled Turbochargers
Higher Alloyed Crankshaft and Connecting Rods
Oil-Cooled Pistons with Fully Machined Direct Injection Features

GM

GM's 'Boost' In Efficient Four-Cylinders Includes More Turbos

GM will double its global production of small four-cylinder engines (1.0L to 1.4L) by 2011, with more than half of the increase coming in North America.

One-third of GM’s North American engine volume will be four-cylinders by 2011, and 21 percent of the four-cylinder volume will be turbocharged – a seven-fold increase over today’s volume of turbo engines.

“Power-dense four-cylinders such as the 1.4L Turbo are an integral part of GM’s portfolio of advanced propulsion technologies, including cam phasing, direct injection, Active Fuel Management, clean diesels, hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles, six-speed transmissions and electric propulsion,” said Tom Stephens, executive vice president, GM Global Powertrain and Global Quality. “GM is focused on delivering vehicles that look great, are fuel efficient and fun to drive.”

At 100 horsepower per liter, the new turbocharged 1.4L has the power of a larger engine but retains the efficiency of a small-displacement four-cylinder in most driving conditions.

Chrysler LLC

“Chrysler Group will attain leadership by rapidly applying Fiat Powertrain technologies, such as Multiair, direct injection, turbocharging and transmission systems to its powertrain portfolio,” said Paolo Ferrero, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Powertrain.

New Four-cylinder Engines
Four-cylinder engine options are being expanded at Chrysler Group with the introduction of Fiat Powertrain's 1.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE) featuring Multiair.

Specifications
1.4-liter I-4 FIRE with Multiair

100 horsepower (75 kW) at 6,750 rpm
95 lb.-ft. (129 N•m) of torque at 4,250 rpm

1.4-liter I-4 FIRE Turbo with Multiair

170 horsepower (128 kW) at 6,750 rpm
170 lb.-ft. (231 N•m) of torque at 3,000 rpm

Both versions of the 1.4-liter FIRE feature four valves per cylinder and incorporate state-of-the-art technology for Fully Variable-valve Actuation (FVVA), also known as Multiair. Fiat’s Multiair technology significantly reduces emissions, while improving fuel economy and power. This sophisticated electro-hydraulic variable-valve actuation technology delivers an increase in power up to 10 percent, an improvement in low rpm torque up to 15 percent and a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions up to 10 percent when compared with similar engines without the technology. The Multiair system is based on a series of Fiat Powertrain patents related to hardware, combustion strategies and controls that allow for full control of the lift and timing of engine valves, independently on each cylinder and during each single engine stroke. Well suited for a small car application, the first North American vehicle to feature the 1.4-liter FIRE with Multiair is the Fiat 500.

All-new V-6 Pentastar Engine
Chrysler Powertrain will streamline its V-6 gas engine offerings from six options to the new fuel-efficient, state-of-the-art 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine. The first application of this engine will be in the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, due out in the second quarter this year.

The Pentastar delivers a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 8 percent on average when compared with previous Chrysler Group V-6 engines and delivers 90 percent of its available torque from 1800-6400 rpm. In the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine offers an increase of 33 percent in horsepower and an 11 percent improvement in torque over its predecessor. The Pentastar V-6 is designed to use technologies such as Multiair, direct-injection and turbocharging for future applications.

Specifications
3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar

280 horsepower (209 kW) at 6,400 rpm
260 lb.-ft. (353 N•m) of torque at 4,400 rpm

"There is no substitute for American iron and cubic inches."

Ford

2011 Mustang GT
The 2011 Mustang GT 5.0-liter will set a new
standard for high-volume production engines.
Delivering 412 hp and 390 ft.-lb. of torque on
premium fuel, this new powerhouse provides
in excess of 80 hp per liter. The objective
was offering a Mustang GT engine, at the
historically significant 5.0-liter displacement
with more than 400 hp, but without
compromises in drivability, fuel economy
and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)
control.

Specifications

5.0L 4V Ti-VCT V-8
Redline 7,000 rpm
DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake, variable camshaft timing
302 cu. in./4,951 cc
Horsepower 412 @ 6,500 rpm (est.)
Horsepower per liter 82.4
Torque 390 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 rpm (est.)

“Ti-VCT is a win-win-win technology,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, global powertrain development. “It helps our new range of engines to deliver high performance with unsurpassed projected highway fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon and reduced emissions.”

“Ti-VCT technology will continue to proliferate across the Ford powertrain portfolio,” said Samardzich. “By 2013, you can expect to see this advancement available on 90 percent of our nameplates.”

GM
2010 Camaro SS


Two 6.2L V-8 engines are offered in the Camaro SS, including the new L99 on automatic-equipped vehicles and the LS3 on manual-equipped models. Both engines are derived from the LS3 that debuted on the 2008 Corvette.

Specifications
L99

Horsepower 400 (298 kW) at 5,900 rpm
Torque 410 lb.-ft. (556 Nm) at 4,300 rpm
Compression ratio 10.4:1
The L99 is paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.

LS3

Horsepower 426 horsepower (318 kW)
Torque 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm)
Compression ratio 10.7:1

A Tremec TR 6060 six-speed manual is standard on the SS, and the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic is optional.

Chrysler
2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8®
The SRT’s exclusive and proven 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, which represents the highest naturally aspirated specific-output V-8 engine ever offered by Chrysler. Its 69.8 horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 “Street HEMI.”

Specifications

Horsepower 425 (317 kW)
Torque 420 lb.-ft. (569 N•m)

The 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is available with either a standard five-speed automatic with Auto Stick or an available Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10®. The result is a Dodge muscle car packed with modern amenities and features any enthusiast will love.


Epilogue:

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again No, no!

The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again