Chevrolet Cruze Breakdown on 1.4L ECOtec TurboCharged Engine

[Ashleigh]

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is very close to becoming the next staple GM small car for tuners to tweak, tuck and play with. With a new Delta II chassis underpinning the new Cruze, a new ECOtec was developed to properly motivate the new car. With all of the performance heritage behind the L61 though, the next-gen ECOtec had its work cut out for it. Enter the LUJ: a turbocharged, VVT, 1.4L ECOtec that puts out 138hp and 148lb.-ft of torque. Weekend warriors rejoice, there is a new top dog in town.

Staying true to ECOtec form, the new 1.4L LUJ ECOtec is quite the potent, pint-sized little package. Seemingly having two engines in one package, the low displacement and high power output of the LUJ allow the engine to deliver fuel economy of 40mpg on the highway or 148lb.-ft of torque depending on what the situation requires – groceries: 40mpg, drag strip: 148lbs of torque! This kind of multiple personality disorder is possible because of the turbocharger that comes bolted to the 1.4L ECOtec and is part of the recipe for the domination of the Cruze over its competitors.

Having a built on power-adder makes potential upgrades even easier than with prior-generation ECOtecs, coupled with a traditional port-injection system for easy tunability and the 1.4L ECOtec has the potential to usurp the LNF as the breadwinner in the ECOtec family. Pretty strong words we know but you’ll see why we’re not completely out of our minds as the new LUJ has some critical benefits that make this engine a monster waiting to be unleashed. These additions include a cast iron block with 5-bolt mains and hollow frame construction that reduces weight by 20 percent. Connecting rods that are forged, piston cooling jets to calm high boost temperatures, an on-board oil cooler, VVT in the head, and to cap it all off – a six-speed manual transmission makes gearheads around the world rejoice.

Things are looking good for the GM Sport Compact world and we can’t wait for the Cruze to get here to keep sticking it to the competition!

[LARRY01Z28]

i cant wait to turn the boost up on my car. if we can do that. i had a couple of talons and they where so much fun wth the boost up