GM Epsilon platform
| GM Epsilon platform | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 2002–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Compact (C) platform Mid-size (D) platform Large car (E) platform |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive |
| Body style(s) | 2-door Convertible 4-door Sedan/Saloon 5-door Hatchback/Liftback 5-door Station wagon/Estate/Caravan 5-door Multi-purpose vehicle |
| Vehicles |
Buick Lacrosse/Alpheon Cadillac BLS Cadillac XTS Chevrolet Classic Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet/Holden Malibu Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Fiat Croma Opel Insignia/Buick Regal Opel Signum Opel Vectra Pontiac G6 Roewe 950 Saab 9-3 Saab 9-5 Saturn Aura |
| Related | GM Alpha platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine(s) |
Gasoline/Petrol engines: Ecotec I4 Ecotec Family 1 I4 54° V6 High Value V6 High Feature V6 Diesel engines: Multijet I4, I5 Family B I4 Dmax V6 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
GM N platform GM2900 platform GM W platform GM G platform |
Epsilon is General Motors' mid-size front-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was developed by Opel, and debuted in the 2002 Opel Vectra and 2003 Saab 9-3. Since this platform falls squarely in the center of the worldwide automobile market, GM plans to produce a great many Epsilon vehicles with over a dozen variations. As of 2005[update], it was GM's highest volume worldwide platform. Even after the dissolution of the GM/Fiat partnership, both companies retain the rights to continue developing Epsilon-derived models.
GM's Epsilon platform replaced the N platform in the US, and replaced the GM2900 platform elsewhere. Vehicles of this platform generally carry the symbol "Z" in the fourth digit of their VINs.
When the platform debuted, there was talk of an "Epsilon Wide" derivative, which was supposed to have provided the underpinnings for the Buick LaCrosse and Saab 9-5. However, the program was cancelled and the LaCrosse was put on the W platform, and the 9-5 was given a quick refresh for the 2006 model year.
Many of the Epsilon vehicles use the Ecotec Inline-four engines and both the High Value and High Feature V6 engines.
The refreshed 2008 SAAB 9-3 debuted with an advanced version of all-wheel-drive it dubbed XWD, finally giving a definitive answer to rumors about the platform's ability to support AWD, which had been around since the debut of the platform.
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Wikipedia