GM Daewoo's diesel engine under test-production

Seoul November 19, 2005; Kim So-hyun writing for the Korea Herald reporteed that GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. said yesterday it began test-operating its diesel engine plant ahead of the mass production slated for March next year.

Located near its Gunsan assembly plant, GM Daewoo's new 19,200-square-meter facility has an annual production capacity of 250,000 engines that meet the Euro IV emission standards.

The new 2-liter SOHC common rail diesel engine, joint-developed by GM Daewoo and an Italian diesel engine developer VM Motori with powertrain support by General Motors, will be fitted in the carmaker's first sport-utility vehicles which will hit showrooms early next year.

GM Daewoo spent 485 billin won in developing the diesel engine and building the factory.

The carmaker said it focused on reducing the noise and vibration of the engine, and attached a diesel particulate filter to remove particulate from the exhaust gas.

The new diesel engine will come in two versions - a fixed geometry turbo charger and a variable geometry turbo charger.