Turbocharging: Small is the new big

The all-turbo 2018 Chevrolet Equinox range is small on fuel consumption and big on performance

With growing environmental concerns and fuel efficiency demands, downsizing is the indisputable path for internal combustion engines. But, how do you reduce an engine’s size to meet those goals without compromising performance? The answer is simple: turbocharging.

Turbocharging uses the force of exhaust gases exiting the engine – otherwise wasted as exhaust emissions – to drive an air compressor, which packs more air into the engine than it would draw naturally. The denser the air in the engine, the more potent the combustion, thereby generating greater power.

Turbocharged engines essentially work as two different engines depending on driving conditions. The system generates little or no boost in light-load conditions, for small-engine efficiency. More power, however, is only a press of the accelerator pedal away, as the turbo generates boost under heavier loads to provide larger-engine performance on demand.

The highly efficient, yet powerful, turbocharged engines in the all-new 2018 Equinox are a masterclass in this technology.

The 2018 Equinox: Suited and boosted

The handsome 2018 Equinox range, which comprises of LS, LT and the top-end Premier versions, is the first Chevrolet model in the Middle East to offer an all-turbocharged, multi-engine propulsion lineup.

The option of two turbocharged engines provides customers more choices when it comes to performance, efficiency and capability in the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.

They include a 1.5L turbo, in the LS and LT variants and an available 2.0L turbo that propels the Premier model. The latter is matched with GM’s new nine-speed automatic transmission for even greater efficiency and performance.

“A choice of two turbocharged engines across three trims, allows our customers to pick an engine that best suits their driving requirements. The 1.5L turbo offers unprecedented efficiency, while the 2.0L turbo is more performance orientated,” said Ahmed Soudodi, Head of Brand at Chevrolet Middle East. “Both units deliver the power of a larger engine and the fuel economy of a smaller engine.”

1.5L turbo offers excellent fuel economy
Available in LS and LT models, the 2018 Equinox’s 1.5L turbo offers an EPA-estimated 15.0 km/L highway in FWD mode. It is SAE-certified at 170 hp and is part of GM’s new family of Ecotec small-displacement engines, featuring direct injection.

2.0L turbo raises the performance bar
An available 2.0L turbo offers a higher degree of performance, SAE-certified 252 hp and a wide torque band, for strong pulling power and acceleration. It also offers an EPA-estimated 13.6 km/L on the highway.

Ninety percent of the engine’s peak torque is available from 2,000 rpm to 5,600 rpm, along with maximum torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. That strong, sustained surge of torque helps the new Equinox offer a 1,585 kg maximum trailering capacity, which is roughly similar to models with bigger V-6 engines.

Efficient new nine-speed automatic

Paired with the 2.0L turbo in the Equinox Premier is GM’s all-new 9T50 nine-speed automatic transmission. Approximately the size of a regular six-speed automatic, the 9T50 is the result of clever engineering and packaging. The compact dimensions are achieved by an on-axis design, where all the gears are in line with the crankshaft, and GM’s first application of a selectable one-way clutch.

The nine-speed automatic features a higher 7.6:1 overall ratio to enhance efficiency and smaller steps between the gears, compared to six-speed designs, to enhance refinement.

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox range is now on sale in showrooms across the Middle East.