Opel Announces New 1.6 Diesel, Australian Timing To Be Confirmed

German carmaker Opel has revealed details on the second of three new engines, this time announcing a new 1.6 litre diesel.

Following the new 1.6 EcoTec petrol engine announced in May, the new diesel will replace existing 1.7 options and lower-powered versions of the 2.0 diesel.

Developed to comply with the coming Euro 6 emissions requirements, the new 1.6 CDTI EcoTec features an aluminium block and a closed-loop combustion system.

While a high power and torque density and low fuel consumption figures were the main objectives with the new engine, Opel says it has also focused on producing class-leading noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels.

In its basic form, the new engine delivers 101kW and 320Nm of torque. Depending on specification, the current 1.7 engine delivers between 81kW/260Nm and 96kW/280Nm.

Fuel consumption is also improved by 10 percent, compared to similarly powered versions of the current 2.0 litre diesel.

“Our new 1.6-litre diesel will set benchmarks for refinement, performance and environmental compatibility," Opel's Dr Thomas Sedran said.

"By the end of this year we will have launched three all-new generations of gasoline and diesel engines, as part of our roll-out of 23 new models and 13 new powertrains by 2016.”

The new engine was developed in-house at facilities in Turin, Ruesselsheim and the USA, and it will be manufactured alongside the new 1.6 litre petrol engine in Hungary.

Australia

Speaking with TMR, Opel Australia's Melanie Kirin said that while certain models have been confirmed for the new engine, specific details are still to be confirmed.

"Once the models the engine will be available with are confirmed, we'll be in better position to comment further on local timing," Ms Kirin said.

• Opel Cars in Australia