General Motor’s strongest selling and most popular four cylinder engine, the Ecotec is finding its way into more and more models. With the next generation 2013 Chevrolet Malibu scheduled to be the next vehicle on the long list of models using the engine, demand for the Ecotec has caused GM to invest further into its development and production. Two powertrain plants that build and produce the Ecotec, the Tonawanda, New York and Spring Hill Tennessee plants will be getting a substantial boost from the General.
Due to the Ecotec’s light weight, compact size, and wide variety of power ratings via the option of forced induction, it is finding its way under the hood of some unlikely models. A $32 million investment has been put into the Spring Hill plant for the development of the next generation Malibu that will be using the four cylinder. A all-new 2.5 liter version of the Ecotec will be in the mid size sedan which has usually always been a six cylinder exclusive.
The Tonawanda plant will also be receiving a $33 million investment for Ecotec production. The 2.4 liter found in the mid size crossovers Equinox and Terrain are manufactured in the New York plant and the new investment should create and or retain 100 jobs.
