Shanghai General Motors Co., General Motors' joint venture in China, has started producing 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter GM Ecotec engines at its Dongyue plant in east China's Shandong province.

 

The two engines will initially be mounted on the newly launched Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan in China, GM China's spokesman Henry Wong told Automotive News China.

 

"Going forward, we'll have more new products with these two engines,"Wong said, although he declined to say which other models will be fitted with the engines.

 

GM developed the four-cylinder Ecotec engines in Europe. Using Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT) and Variable Intake Manifold (VIM) technologies, the 1.6-liter engine generates 54 kW/L of power while the 1.8-liter engine produces 58 kW/L of power, according to information released by Shanghai GM.

 

The Cruze went on sale in China on April 18, on the eve of the Shanghai auto show. It sells for 108,900 - 148,900 yuan ($15,970 - 21,830).

 

Besides Ecotec engines, the Dongyue plant produces Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) engines with displacements ranging from 1.4 liters to 1.6 liters for Shanghai GM's Buick Excelle and the Chevrolet-badged Lova and Aveo models.