GM Family 1 engine

The Family 1 is a straight-4 piston engine that was developed by GM Powertrain, a subsidiary of Opel to replace low-displacement versions of GM Family II engine for use on mid-range cars from Opel.

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C16XE

This was the first engine in this family, featuring a Lotus-developed 16 valve cylinder head and a cast iron cylinder block which was essentially the same as in Opel's 8 valve engines. C16XE was available only in Corsa GSi, model years 1993 and 1994. C16XE was not yet badged Ecotec, and for later model Corsa's and Opel Tigra's it was replaced with X16XE Ecotec engine. The main difference between C16XE and X16XE Ecotec is emission control, C16XE lacks EGR and AIR-system, although the cylinder head is designed to enable these features. Other differences between C16XE and later versions of the engine include intake manifold, C16XE has a plastic upper intake manifold, which was replaced with a cast aluminium manifold, and fuel injection system, C16XE uses Multec fuel injection with MAF sensor and later models used Multec fuel injection with MAP sensor. Also, while C16XE had its own exhaust front section design, for X16XE it was replaced with a front section used also in Opel Astra, probably as a cost saving measure.

Family 1 C16XE engine is used in:

Ecotec

First generation Ecotec, features DOHC valvetrain driven by toothed belt and a cast-iron cylinder block with aluminum cylinder head.

Family 1 Ecotec engines are used in:

TwinPort

Updated version introduced in 2002, with lighter cast-iron cylinder block and camshaft driven by toothed belt. Features EGR valve and TwinPort variable intake geometry - twin intake ports with a choke closing one of the ports at low RPM, providing strong air swirl pattern for higher torque levels and better fuel economy. The drive belt for the camshafts is wider and stronger than before, and water pump is not driven by it anymore which improves reliability.

Ecotec TwinPort Family 1 engine is used in:

DCVCP

A variant of 1.8L Family 1 engine featuring Euro IV compliancy, DCVCP (Double Continuous Variable Cam Phasing technology, a variant of VVT) and integrated catalytic converter, entered production in Spring 2005. It was based on the lighter cast-iron block, although there's no TwinPort in this version.

An updated 1.6 L TwinPort engine with DCVCP was introduced in 2006.

These engines are manufactured at Szentgotthárd, Hungary.

Ecotec DCVCP engines are used in:

Turbo

Turbocharged versions have been available since 2007, and are produced in Szentgotthárd, Hungary.

TwinPort is not used in these engines, although DCVCP is used on the intake camshaft.

Turbocharged Family 1 engines are used in:

D-TEC

D-TEC was an older variant of Family 1 SOHC/DOHC engine licensed by Daewoo Motors for their range of Opel-derived cars such as Daewoo Espero and Daewoo Nexia. These engines are built exclusively at Bupyeong engine plant. They feature valvetrain driven by toothed belt, in a DOHC configuration for most versions, and aluminum cylinder head.

E-TEC II

Updated version of D-TEC. Most models feature Euro III-compliancy, and 1.4 L and 1.6 L (1598cc) DOHC versions employ variable intake geometry.

Higher-displacement versions of D-TEC and E-TEC II are indeed Family II engines built by Holden.

L91

This is the 1.6 L—1,598 cc (97.5 cu in)—variant of the engines, featuring a 79 mm (3.1 in) bore and 81.5 mm (3.21 in) stroke and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. Power is 103 horsepower (77 kW) at 5800 rpm and torque is 107 lb·ft (145 N·m) at 3400 rpm.

The engine is used in

LXV

This is a 1.6 L—1,598 cc (97.5 cu in)—variant of the engines, featuring a 79 mm (3.1 in) bore and 81.5 mm (3.21 in) stroke and a compression ratio of 10.8:1. The major difference from the L91 is the addition of variable valve timing. Power is 106 hp (79 kW) at 6400 rpm and torque is 105 lb·ft (142 N·m) at 3800 rpm. 6.8 L/100 km (35 mpg-US)

GM do Brasil

GM do Brasil specializes on SOHC, petrol-powered and FlexPower (powered with ethanol and/or petrol, mixed in any percentage) engines.

GM Brasil also made 16-valve versions of the 1.0, 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines.

The 1.0 L 16v was available in the Corsa line-up from 1999 to 2001. The 1.6 L 16v was available in the Corsa GSi hatchback and the Chevrolet Corsa sedán and station wagon GLS trim. Finally, the 122-hp 1.8 16v was available in the Chevrolet Meriva and Fiat Stilo.

See also