General Motors is taking the fight to Ford's small-displacement EcoBoost engines by preparing a new family of modular three- and four-cylinder Ecotec engines.

READ THIS: 2015 Ford Mustang will get 2.3-liter EcoBoost in US

These engines represent a big bet for the world's second-largest automaker. GM has spent $200 million on their Flint, Michigan, plant to ready it for the new Ecotecs, and their production facilities in China, Hungary, Mexico, and South Korea are gearing up for the same. With an estimated annual production of 2.5 million units by 2017, these engines could end up powering up to 25 percent of GM's global sales.

GM's latest Ecotec series will eventually comprise 11 variants, ranging from a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder to a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Opel is slated to be the first recipient of the new engines, with its Adam model receiving the 1.0-liter turbo engine this spring, followed shortly thereafter by the Chinese-market Chevy Cruze.

READ THIS: Drive Notes: 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel

The engines will share common bore spacing and diameter along with other dimensions to reduce complexity and cost. They will also share direct injection, dual overhead camshaft design, and variable valve timing components, while trick technology like water-cooled exhaust manifolds and variable oil pumps will promote better operation and efficiency.

With a turbocharged three-cylinder of its own, Ford's Fiesta EcoBoost and its EPA highway rating of 45 mpg appears to be square in General Motors' sights. Raw numbers aren't the only target, however—GM is shooting for low noise and vibration levels, as well. While shredding tires is probably not at the top of the design criteria for the Ecotecs, the EcoBoost engines in the ST variants of the Fiesta and Focus are a lot of fun. Perhaps we can look forward to some hotter GM hatches utilizing the new engines in the future.

READ THIS: Chevrolet Sonic Sedan gets RS, Dusk trims in LA

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io