New common diesel engine

Story from Drive.com.au...


Shared engine built to 'plug and play'
First Published:
Thursday, May 24, 2001

By CHRIS GABLE

In a big week for new engine announcements the PSA Peugeot Citroën group and Ford have presented their first shared "plug and play" direct-injection diesel.

The engine - to be marketed as the HDi 1.4 by Peugeot and Citroën and Duratorq TDCi 1.4 by Ford - marks the first product of the co-operative agreement made between the French and US car makers in 1998.

In its first 18 months of production at a new facility at PSA's plant at Douvrin, France the engine will go into 23 different small and medium Fords, Peugeots and Citroëns.

The 1.4-litre common-rail diesel is, in fact 1398cc. Both car makers say it delivers advanced fuel economy, driveability and environmental benefits. At the same time, its new generation common rail combustion and fuel injection technology is said to significantly enhance performance.

The engine and the way it is built is what the designers call a "plug and play" design, with 60 percent component commonality. Air, water and fuel supply components and well as electrical and mechanical connects are the same regardless of the host vehicle its engine-spec.

"This first result of the co-operation between our two groups will lead us to achieve industry-leading economies of scale and will rapidly position us as the world’s leading manufacturers of diesel engines, benefiting our customers and the environment," PSA Peugeot Citroën’s President and CEO, Jean-Martin Folz said.

Ford’s President and CEO Jac Nasser threw his weight behind the project, too. "The advanced performance and reliability of these small diesels translates into a further reduction in fuel consumption and cost of ownership for our customers – and a reduction in CO2 emissions for our environment."

The grand plan is that further new engines will provide both partners’ small cars with average fuel consumption ranging from 3.4 to 4.1L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 90 and 110g/km respectively. Their lower-medium segment vehicles will achieve 4.5L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 120g/km.

The HDi 1.4 (Peugeot) and Duratorq TDCi 1.4 (Ford) engines will be offered in versions covering several performance levels, with power outputs from 43 to 66kW and torque ratings of 150 to 200Nm.

The family of engines, including the 1.4-litre common-rail diesel, will equip PSA Peugeot Citroën’s platform 1 and 2 vehicles and Ford’s small and medium vehicles – it will be the first cross-platform, multi-company volume engine.

The plan is to eventually build 6,000 engines/day.


Do you guys reckon there's a market for diesel small cars in Australia? I can't see one myself but what do you guys reckon??...