AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — BorgWarner turbochargers boost the performance and fuel economy for Shanghai GM’s (SGM’s) modified 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. The turbocharged engine powers the new Buick Excelle XT, which premiered at the Guangzhou International Auto Show last November and was launched in the Chinese market in January. SGM will also install the fuel-efficient engine with BorgWarner’s turbocharger in the Chevrolet Cruze.
One of China’s largest passenger car manufacturers, the 49/51 joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) sold more than 725,000 vehicles domestically in 2009.
"China is participating in the global trend toward downsized turbocharged gasoline engines, making vehicles more fuel-efficient, more eco-friendly and more powerful," said Roger Wood, executive vice president, BorgWarner. "We believe our leadership in all aspects of turbocharging technology will help drive further growth in the Chinese auto industry and are proud to provide local production capabilities for OEMs in China."
To save weight and deliver fast turbocharger response, SGM joined forces with BorgWarner engineers in Germany and China to optimize the water-cooled K03 turbocharger. Combining the manifold and turbine casing into one component improved thermodynamics and reduced installation space. As a result, the engine provides smooth acceleration over the entire engine-speed range and complies with the China IV emission standards. The four-cylinder engine delivers 135 kW and 235 Nm of torque between 1,980 and 5,400 rpm with fuel consumption of 30 mpg (7.8 liters/100 km). A superboost function can briefly unleash up to 266 Nm torque when needed.
To optimally serve the Chinese market, BorgWarner began manufacturing turbochargers in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo in 2010, where it has been operating a production facility since 2004. With close collaboration between its manufacturing operation in Ningbo and supporting engineering expertise in Germany, OEMs like SGM are benefiting from BorgWarner’s global presence.
