Opel's new GTI-rivalling 1.6 engine

Published May 14, 2012

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Opel has just announced that it will be replacing the core of its petrol and diesel engines within the next year with three brand new engine families.

While two of them still remain a mystery, the company has divulged some details on its all-new 1.6-litre turbopetrol engine.

There is no word on what exact models this engine will find its way into, Opel saying it'll feature across several car lines, but a certain bet is the latest Astra and the Insignia sedan that's not sold in South Africa.

Given that the new engine puts out 147kW at 4700rpm and 300Nm from 1700rpm, this in an Astra would mean something that at least comes close to rivalling the VW Golf GTI (155kW and 280Nm). An Astra GSI perhaps?

Compared with the current 1.6T, GM claims to have cut CO2 emissions by 13 percent, thanks to spark ignition direct injection and idle-stop technology.

Of course, the hottest future Astra comes in the form of the forthcoming Astra OPC that puts out 206kW and 400Nm.

As for the other new engines that Opel's planning, our guess is that most of them will be downsized turbo units below 1600cc in capacity and perhaps even including a three-cylinder unit. These would replace the naturally aspirated 1.4- and 1.6-litre engines in today's Corsa and Astra line-up.

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