GM announced this morning that it plans to double production of its four-cylinder engine, and the majority of the increase will come to North America.  This shift in product planning was to be expected, and so was the plant that will be built in Flint, Michigan for $370 million, which will manufacture the new 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine.  This engine will be used in the upcoming Cruze compact sedan by GM and is also the gas range extender for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

To maximize efficiency the Cruze’s engine will be turbocharged.  The Cruze is expected to have 140 hp and 148 pounds/ft of torque, which is about the same as the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.  And according to GM, the Cruze will probably be a fuel leader when compared to its class.

One problem, however, is that the factory is yet to be built.  That’s the reason that the Cruze will be available in Europe in 2009-it’ll have a diesel engine there, and then in 2010 it will come to the U.S.  So, for now Americans will have to hold onto their current cars and invest in a good auto warranty, because they will have to wait a couple of years for the Chevy Cruze to hit the U.S.