Are the improvments made to this engine specific to the Malibu or do all GM cars using this engine have the improvements too? Just wondering.

What improvements? I was under the impression that most of what made it seem more refined in the Malibu had to do with sound shielding and motor mounts...

Ok. I thought improvements were made to the engine itself. I'm not much of a mechanic so I wasn't sure.

There was some intake and exhaust sound tuning as well, but nothing really to the engine itself I think

I think the next improvement to it will be DI... in what...'10MY?

I believe there were changes to the intake and exhaust, partly for emission reduction (by exhaust volume), but which result in a loss of power and higher fuel use (and hence higher emissions [per mile], but then no-one ever said regulations were about logic).

One of those "meet the new Malibu" articles detailed quieting of the induction noise of the 2.4 via intake modifications. No details as to application to other cars using this engine.

This is what they "could" have done...

Almost like an E30 M3's S14 engine, accept it makes a little more power and it runs on Regular!

2.4l (LAU)? I've never heard of this motor.. I see the graph is dated 2009? Theoretically, when would one be able to order their Chev. Malibu with this motor? 213hp/180ft-lbs? That's about perfect for a family cruiser. Bet it gets great gas mileage to boot!

2.4l (LAU)? I've never heard of this motor.. I see the graph is dated 2009? Theoretically, when would one be able to order their Chev. Malibu with this motor? 213hp/180ft-lbs? That's about perfect for a family cruiser. Bet it gets great gas mileage to boot!

No, you won't be able to order one. This is FICTIONAL. But it is a realistic projection of what can be done with the 2.4 I4. What you do is throw in Direct Injection and Dual VVT. The 3.6 liter DI-VVT (LLT) in the CTS makes 304 hp and 273 lb-ft on Regular 87 with a 6400rpm power peak. A 2.4 liter (2/3 the displacement) should make roughly 203 hp and 182 lb-ft -- perhaps a little more given that I4s in general have less parasitic drag per cylinder than a V6 due to having half as many camshaft and a less complex camdrive. The Gen II Ecotec block (found on the 2.0 liter LNF and 2.4 liter LE5 engines) and its current internals winds out to 7000 rpm just fine (the LE5 2.4 in the base Solstice/Sky does just that). By using a set of camshafts, ports and runners biased for slightly higher RPM (by about 600 rpm) it should be plenty easy to make another 10hp. This may cost you some low end torque and perhaps a little peak torque. But I believe that be can match the port injected 2.4's low to mid range output while improving its top end dramatically. The graph reflects that. The power delivery is deliberately tuned to create the impression of an engine which wants to rev and is never out of breathe -- the power peaks at the redline and nowhere on the powercurve will the driver feel the power fade.

Regardless of the power or performance of the engine, this "never fade till you bounce of the rev limiter" feeling is quite alluring. Try driving an Audi RS4 and you'll experience such a powerplant.

Hopefully some good improvemetns will cone soon. It really needs a bit more power and ALL applications need to run on regular.

My 2.4L SS Cobalt needs premium...and I don't mind that---as long as I would get some good performance

I hate the auto/Ecotec combo---my engine feels like it cannot breathe, revs like it has a an anchor attached to it and drones like crazy.

My Dads Mazda 6 4cly with 5 speed auto--was enjoyable to drive (although it is slower)