Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance
From Free net encyclopedia
The Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance, or GEMA, is a manufacturing arm of Global Engine Alliance LLC, which is a joint venture of DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, and Hyundai Motor Company for developing a line of shared engines.
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GEMA
GEMA has two factories in Dundee, Michigan. Production began in 2005 and will continue at least through 2012 with approximately 2 million engines produced annually. 20 different automobile models from the three companies will use the engines. Each manufacturer has configured their variants of the basic GEMA design differently, so consumers will likely experience different power, fuel efficiency, and "feel" from each manufacturer.
The plan to pool resources and share risks was dealt a serious setback when DaimlerChrysler announced in 2004 that it would sell its stake in financially-troubled Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi subsequently announced that it would scale back GEMA engine purchase projections, which may affect the expected economies of scale.
The GEMA engine
GEMA will produce a single family of 4-cylinder engines with variable valve timing, marketed by Chrysler as the World Engine. The range starts with a 1.8 L unit which will principally find use in European and Asian markets, and includes 2.0 L and 2.4 L variants which will find use in the United States. Turbocharged and supercharged versions may also be produced, as in Chrysler's similar Tritec engine.
Chrysler expects to use the GEMA family of engines in nine other models and projects that it will buy up to 840,000 GEMA engines annually.
The initial design of the engine block was handled by Hyundai. It features siamesed bores, meaning that there is no coolant flow between cylinders. The aluminum block has cast iron cylinder liners, and different liners can be fitted to alter the engine's bore.
The heads feature electro-hydraulic variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust side. The system was based on that used by the recent Mercedes-Benz 24-valve V6 and is quite sophisticated and expensive for a low-end engine. A variable tumble control system restricts the intake runners at low rpms. Bucket tappets are used, another expensive feature.
1.8
Applications:
- Dodge Caliber SE and SXT, 148 hp (110 kW)
2.0
Chrysler intends to use the 2.0 L GEMA engine as the base engine, in the United States, in its new Dodge Caliber, which is a replacement for the Dodge Neon. The GEMA offers an increase in power over the 2.0 L Neon engine, from 132 to 150 hp (98 to 112 kW).
Applications:
- Dodge Caliber SE and SXT, 158 hp (118 kW)
2.4
The 2.4 L 170 hp (127 kW) variant of the GEMA engine has been scheduled by Chrysler for use in the performance-oriented R/T trim line of the Caliber. This engine will probably also become the base engine in the next-generation of the Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Sebring, since the current generation Stratus and Sebring use the 2.4 L Neon engine as their base engine offering. The Stratus and Sebring replacements are slated for introduction as 2007 models.
Applications:
- Dodge Caliber R/T, 172 hp (128 kW)
- Mitsubishi Outlander