Vauxhall has announced its first all-new diesel as part of a large-scale overhaul of its engine line-up.

The 1.6-litre CDTI Ecotec unit will replace all of the existing 1.7s in the coming months and years, with some lower-power 2.0-litre diesel also being replaced by the new arrival.

Vauxhall says it shaves around 10% off the fuel consumption of the comparable 2.0 and it already complies with the Euro 6 emissions rules that come into force next year. In a press release the company claims "class-leading NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), high power/torque density and low fuel consumption" were the development targets.

In the state of tune that will feature most commonly across Vauxhall's mid-size and large car lines, the new 1.6 CDTI produces 134bhp and 236lb.ft; more than the 1.7-litre unit managed.

"The comprehensive renewal of our powertrain portfolio continues at full throttle," said Dr Thomas Sedran, Deputy Chairman of the Opel/Vauxhall Management Board.

"Our new 1.6-litre diesel will set benchmarks for refinement, performance and environmental compatibility. By the end of next year we will have launched three all-new generations of petrol and diesel engines as part of our roll-out of 23 new models and 13 new powertrains by 2016."

Production for the new engine begins in the spring in the same Hungarian factory that will make the new 1.6-litre SIDI turbocharged petrol.