Opel Sends Environmental Message With Its Diesel Offensive

Opel Sends Environmental Message With Its Diesel Offensive

New Astra 1.7 CDTI First Diesel to Comply with Euro 4

ECOTEC four-valve engine (59kW/80 hp) with common rail direct injection
Internal engine features significantly reduce emissions

Rüsselsheim, Dec 17, 2002 -- Higher performance, more refinement and significantly lower exhaust emissions. These are the advantages of the new Opel Astra 1.7 CDTI, the first diesel-engined car in the world that fully complies with the Euro 4 emission standard. The newly developed four-cylinder ECOTEC turbo diesel, with two overhead camshafts and common rail direct injection, has a displacement of 1,686 cm3, delivers 59 kW (80 hp) and produces a maximum torque of 170 Newton meters. This highly efficient four-cylinder engine enables a top speed of 173 km/h with the Astra hatchback and notchback and 168 km/h with the station wagon.

Fuel consumption is 4.6 liters and 4.8 liters, respectively, per 100 kilometers (MVEG combined). The aerodynamic drag and rolling-resistance-optimized Astra Eco is even more economical and has a higher top speed. It requires only 4.4 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers and achieves a top speed of 178 km/h. Deliveries of the Astra models with the new 1.7 CDTI engine begin in February, 2003.

All models meet the standards for Euro 4 emissions, which are around 50 percent lower than the currently valid Euro 3. The Astra 1.7 CDTI is the first diesel to comply fully with this norm, which becomes mandatory in all new car types from 2005. Meeting this emission standard also entitles Astra 1.7 CDTI owners in Germany to a tax advantage of up to 600 Euro. Since the Euro 4 standard requires that the emissions limits are not exceeded for 100,000 kilometers, the Astra 1.7 CDTI features an Electronic On-Board Diagnosis (EOBD) system which continuously monitors engine emissions.

Second generation Common rail direct injection from Bosch is one of the technical highlights of this new ECOTEC turbo diesel motor. This technology not only increases the injection system pressure to 1,600 bar, but it also increases the controllability of the individual injection processes and further refines fuel atomization.

This improves the engine's emission characteristics, responsiveness - at start-up for example - and acoustics. The new Astra diesel engine also has numerous technical features which underscore Opel's goal of becoming one of the leading diesel producers in Europe. These features include:

Pneumatically guided swirl valves in the intake system help bring the fuel-air mixture to a high swirl rate at low rpm. This leads to efficient combustion and high torque. At high rpm the swirl is reduced and this in turn improves power output.
Precise control of the exhaust recirculation (EGR): An electrical linear EGR valve provides precise regulation of the returning exhaust gases.
Water-cooled exhaust recirculation reduces the temperature of recycled exhaust and in so doing reduces NOx emissions.

"Via these internal functions and the optimization of the injection system, we have managed to prevent both particulates and nitrogen oxides from forming inside the 1.7 CDTI engine, thus further reducing exhaust emissions," says Rita Forst, Managing Director of Opel Powertrain GmbH. "With this technological solution, air quality will be continuously improved at a faster rate because this engine can be introduced into the market in smaller cars and in large numbers," Forst adds.

"The Astra 1.7 CDTI is the first model in our comprehensive diesel offensive. In the coming year we intend to introduce another three all-new diesel engines which, from a technological standpoint, will be at the top of their respective market segments," says Opel Chairman and Managing Director, Carl-Peter Forster.

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