GM small gasoline engine
The GM Small Gasoline Engine is a family of small-displacement, inline three- and four-cylinder gasoline engines ranging from 1.0 L to 1.5 L, developed by Adam Opel AG, Shanghai [Automotive Industry Corporation], MG Motor, Shanghai GM, and the Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center.
The new global family is designed to improve fuel economy, performance, and emissions, while reducing noise and vibrations. To achieve this, it features a lightweight design and advanced technologies like gasoline direct injection, turbocharging, variable-length intake manifolds, and alternative fuel compatibility. It uses a modular approach with interchangeable components that can be suited to specific applications.
The SGE has been available in the following displacements:
All engines share a common block design and a bore with bore spacing. The one-stage single-scroll turbocharger in turbocharged variants is supplied by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
To reduce noise, vibration, and harshness levels, the direct injection fuel rail mounts to the cylinder head and valve cover via bushings that isolate the loud ticking noise that injector pintles make. GM claims that the 1.0-liter turbo is 25 percent quieter than the Ford Fiesta's 1.0-liter turbo, and the 1.4-liter is up to 50 percent quieter than the VW/Audi 1.4-liter turbo. Other silencing measures include a bed-plate cylinder block that increases stiffness and a stiffened aluminum front cam cover. Three-cylinder variants get a balance shaft that is integrated with the oil pump and located inside the two-piece aluminum oil pan to prevent radiated noise. The shaft counter-rotates at engine speed. GM claims that the EcoTec three-cylinder idles more smoothly than Ford's three-cylinder, which does not use a shaft.
All turbocharged variants provide 90 percent of their maximum torque between 1500 and 5000 rpm, with peak power arriving between 5600 and 6000 rpm. The MHI turbochargers are sized to provide quick torque response, and are mounted very close to the cylinders, thanks to cylinder heads that incorporate the exhaust manifolds in the head.
To reduce mass, the engines are compact in all directions, made almost entirely of aluminum, and feature composite intake manifolds. This removes from the Family 0 engine#Generation III|previous 1.4-liter turbo] in the Cruze and makes it lighter than the 1.4-liter VW turbo. GM says this engine weighs, ready for installation.
The engines debuted in the 2014 Opel Adam and were first produced in Szentgotthárd, Hungary. They have also been produced in Changwon, South Korea; Toluca, Mexico; Spring Hill, Tennessee; Flint, Michigan; and Shanghai, China. By 2018, the new engine family had spread to other brands and markets, replacing three separate engine families.
The assembly lines for North American facilities were manufactured by Hirata Corporation at its powertrain facility in Kumamoto, Japan.
Non-Opel Variants
1.4
LV7
The LV7 is the multi-point fuel injection 1.4 L naturally-aspirated variant of the SGE, with a bore and stroke for a total capacity of. Compression ratio is 10.6:1 and the engine can run on regular unleaded grade gasoline. Assembly is in Changwon, South Korea.| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
| 2016–2022 | Chevrolet Spark | at 6200 rpm | at 4400 rpm |
LE2
The LE2 is the direct-injection 1.4 L turbocharged variant of the SGE, with a bore and stroke for a total capacity of. Compression ratio is 10.0:1 and the engine can run on regular grade gasoline. The LE2 is also paired with a start-stop system in some vehicles.| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
| 2016 | Buick Encore Sport Touring | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2017–2019 | Buick Encore | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2016–2019 | Chevrolet Cruze | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2021–2022 | Buick Encore | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2021–2022 | Chevrolet Trax | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
1.5
L3A
The L3A is the direct-injection 1.5 L naturally-aspirated variant of the SGE used in the second-generation Chevrolet Volt, with a bore and stroke for a total capacity of. The compression ratio is 12.5:1 and the engine can run on regular unleaded-grade gasoline. Maximum engine speed is 6000 rpm.| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
| 2016–2019 | Chevrolet Volt | at 5600 rpm | at 4300 rpm |
| 2017–2019 | Buick Velite 5 | at 5800 rpm | at 4400 rpm |
| 2024– | MG 3 | at 6000 rpm | at 4500 rpm |
| 2020– | MG 5 | at 6000 rpm | at 4500 rpm |
| 2024– | MG 3 Hybrid+ | at 6000 rpm | at 4500 rpm |
LFV
The LFV is a direct-injection 1.5 L turbocharged SGE variant, with a bore and stroke for a total capacity of. Compression ratio is 10.0:1 and the engine can run on regular unleaded-grade gasoline. Maximum engine speed is 6500 rpm. Automatic Start-Stop is available with this engine. Assembly is in Shanghai, Changwon, Toluca, Spring Hill, and Flint.| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
| 2016–2025 | Chevrolet Malibu | at 5700 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2016– | Buick LaCrosse | at 5600 rpm | at 1700–4000 rpm |
| 2016–2021 | Buick Envision | at 5600 rpm | at 1700–4000 rpm |
| 2018– | MG HS | at 5600 rpm | at 1700–4400 rpm |
| 2020– | MG 5 LE | at 5600 rpm | at 1750–4000 rpm |
| 2021– | MG 6 PRO | at 5600 rpm | at 1500–4000 rpm |
| 2022– | MG 5 Scorpio Edition | at 5600 rpm | at 1500–4000 rpm |
LYX
The LYX is a direct-injection 1.5 L turbocharged SGE variant, with a bore and stroke for a total capacity of. Compression ratio is 10.0:1 and uses regular unleaded gasoline.| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
| 2018– | MG HS FFV | at 5600 rpm | at 1700–4400 rpm |
| 2020– | MG HS PHEV | at 5500 rpm | at 1700–4300 rpm |
| 2018–2022 | Chevrolet Equinox | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2018–2022 | GMC Terrain | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
LSD
The LSD is a direct-injection 1.5 L turbocharged SGE variant, with a bore and stroke for a total capacity of. Compression ratio is 10.0:1 and uses regular unleaded gasoline. Horsepower has increased to while torque remains at. Hardware enhancements include a higher-pressure fuel system, enhanced piston design with PVD coating, and precise intake phaser positioning which optimize efficiency and contribute to overall performance.| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
| 2023– | Chevrolet Equinox | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |
| 2023– | GMC Terrain | at 5600 rpm | at 2000–4000 rpm |