does any one know the definitive powertrains (engine/trans) lineup for the Aura?

I just heard the 2.4L Ecotec is the base engine. News to me. True?
What about the rest?

I was very disapointed it was not at the Calgary Autoshow, great looking car.

 

Production announcement has not been made. The expected engines are OHV 3.5 VVT, 3.6 V6s. 2.4 Hybrid will be on the Greenline models.

So the Aura will likely have 6 speed autos and V6s standard. By using the 3.5 OHV standard GM is setting up the Aura to have something that competitors do not.

 

Yeah a crappy engine! They should have left the 3.5L in the parts bin.

I did a google search and found a few sites confirming the 2.4L Ecotec--I would guess 4 speed auto only on that one.

 

I've been critical in the past of the 3.5 HVV6, and I agree it wouldn't mesh with Saturn's intended move upmarket. But I don't think "crappy" is the right word for it.

After getting a lot of seat time in an Impy over the last couple of months I've reconsidered my position on that motor a bit. The 3.5 is torquey, very smooth, sounds nice, and revs cleanly throughout its range. However I've finally figured why I initially disliked it: First, the tall final gearing saps much of its juice. Second, and more important, GM resurrected its hoary old trick of 'tuning' the throttle to make an engine feel snappy off the line. The first 1/4 of pedal travel represents about 2/3 of the actual throttle, which, combined with the tall gearing, makes the car feel gutless once underway. If you aim for a hole in traffic and give it 1/4 throttle, then realize the hole is smaller than you thought and goose it, there's just nothing left. A linear throttle would feel much better.

 

okay crappy was the wong word. I have never even driven a 3500 car. I'd really like to to try a 3900 V6. But What you said is what I was thinking--not for a Saturn.

If they are going after Accord ect---they should have the same engines--ie, 4cll and a V6+ the hybrid. No OHV

 

I agree, that car needs only 3 powertrains. 3.6L DOHC, 2.4L 4cyl., 2.4L Hybrid. The added power from the electric engine in the hybrid will help fill the gap between the 4 cyl. and V6

 

The 3500 and 3900 need to go. Do the HF 2.8 and 3.6 across the line. Nissan dumped its OHV 3.3 two years ago and its the mighty VQ is used across the board.

It seems more simple to sell less engines, even if the OHVs are cheaper, you have to do double the training for personnel, and keep double the inventory of parts. And as econmies of scale kick in the HF's will cost less for GM to produce.

 

The 3900 does NOT need to go...that engine in the G6s is phenomenal. It is entirely different than any other GM OHV V6, and everyone who drives one agrees...

 

what gm needs to go is put all there money into research and development of there transmissions

think about it this way. honda doesnt make an engine with any power, sure its got some peaky hp sometimes but no power down low and no torque whatsoever. but there little pos civics run decent 1/4 times and have pretty good top end speed (for what they are) its because every honda has specific gears for every honda, they took into effect the weight of the car tire sizes power output at what rpm and they make there little slow cars fun to drive.

if im not totally mistaken almost every gm auto or manual has very close to the same gear ratios. with every engine they have putting out different power in different places. with different weighted cars.

maybee if they spent a little time making cars that had trannies built for them then gm would reclaim some of the market it is losing to companies that actually try to mathc some things like that

 

I'm sure the bean counters looked into this many times. Even with the volume of DOHC V6s GM sells now the HV is still $800 cheaper to build per engine.

 

$800 now, what about when you start producing 3-4 times as many. Overall, yes it will cost more. But even KIA is producing higher tech motors than the General. Put a sonata next to a malibu and compare features/engines and prices and see where the General stands.

 

Take that OHC is better/newer/God talk somewhere else. The 3900 equals or betters the 3.6 HF in every area and it costs less and is easier to package. Your argument holds no weight.

 

And how is a Kia V6 more high tech than a GM 3900? More valves? that is like saying every V8 is more high tech than V6's because they have more cyl.

The GM engine is lighter, more powerful and better on gas, most likly cheaper to build too. Plus I'll take the long term reliability of a GM enigne over a Kia.

 

I would go as far to say some the recent cam in block GM powerplants with VVT are more high tech than alot of DOHC engines . The fact that a cam in block engine is simplier in its function does not make it inferior , u cant say what GM is doing with pushrod engines is not amazing , and I applaud them .

Its hardly low tech .

Nissan has 2 divisions to spread that V6 too , Honda has 2 divisions to share its corporate V6 , Toyota has 2 divisions to share a corporate V6 as well . It makes more sense for them to have 1 do all V6 , than GM with 8 divisions in the USA .

 

90 z28ss
well put
i also applaud them