[2020 Green Mobility Award] Mobility R&D Award Korea GM

On the 16th, at the Chevrolet Trailblazer Media Showcase held at Paradise City Chroma in Jung-gu, Incheon, Executive Director Kang Shin-nam is introducing the new car. The Trailblazer is a sports utility vehicle (SUV) made by Chevrolet, equipped with a 1.2ℓ gasoline E-Turbo Prime engine and a 1.35ℓ gasoline E-Turbo engine. Photo by Kim Hyun-min, Yeongjongdo kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Trailblazer, ambitiously launched by Korea GM in the new year, features Chevrolet's proud E-Turbo engine technology. The E-Turbo engine is GM's advanced global next-generation turbo engine incorporating Rightsizing technology, characterized by a reduced size while improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Based on lightweight aluminum materials, it lowers weight and reduces unnecessary fuel consumption through a turbocharger and ultra-precise variable valve timing technology. As a result, it is designed to achieve the best performance and fuel efficiency with optimal displacement, and is regarded as a concentration of Chevrolet's advanced technology.

The E-Turbo engine has already been applied to Korea GM's flagship sedan, The New Malibu, meeting domestic customers. The 1.35ℓ gasoline E-Turbo engine equipped in the new Malibu demonstrated excellent fuel economy along with dense power and ample performance despite its small displacement. The latest 3-cylinder engine delivers a maximum output of 156 horsepower and maximum torque of 24.1 kg·m between 1500 and 4000 rpm, dispelling the common prejudice that "mid-size cars must have 2.0ℓ engines."

The strength of the E-Turbo engine goes beyond power and performance. Together with the stop & start system applied to all trims, it achieves the best-in-class combined fuel efficiency of 14.2 km/ℓ, earning the first-ever combined fuel efficiency grade 2 rating among domestic gasoline mid-size models. Moreover, based on advanced emission reduction technology, it received certification as a Type 3 low-emission vehicle, allowing E-Turbo customers to enjoy various benefits such as tax incentives due to low displacement and discounts on public parking lots, among other eco-friendly vehicle perks.

The Trailblazer is the first sport utility vehicle (SUV) to apply the E-Turbo engine. It is expected to demonstrate performance upgraded even beyond the Malibu, which showed outstanding performance. Above all, the fact that Korea's Bupyeong plant is responsible for producing the Trailblazer, handling both domestic sales and exports, adds special significance. The automotive industry anticipates that the launch of the Trailblazer will bring new vitality to the stagnant domestic automobile industry along with the normalization of Korea GM's management.