GM Adds Two New Engines To Vortec Lineup For Future Trucks

FOR RELEASE: May 23, 2001

GM Adds Two New Engines To Vortec Lineup For Future Trucks

PONTIAC, Mich. - General Motors will add two new engines to its Vortec engine lineup - a new inline 4-cylinder and inline 5-cylinder - that will power future trucks for the North American market.

The Vortec I4 and I5 engines are derived from the Vortec 4200 I6 engine, which was recently introduced on the 2002 GMC Envoy, Chevy TrailBlazer and Oldsmobile Bravada. The engines will be manufactured at GM Powertrain's assembly plants in Tonawanda, New York and Flint, Mich.

The all-new Flint Engine South plant, which began production of the Vortec 4200 in January, 2001, will initially produce the Vortec I5 engine. Flexible manufacturing technology allows Flint Engine South to machine and assemble both I6 and I5 engines on the same lines. Likewise, the new plant at Tonawanda will feature state of the art agile manufacturing equipment, which will accommodate both the new I4 and I5 engines.

GM has committed nearly $1 billion for the two new inline engine plants.

The Vortec inline engine family shares approximately 75 percent common parts. The I5 and I4 engines provide many of the same outstanding features as the Vortec 4200 I6, including dual overhead camshafts and four-valves-per-cylinder technology. Additional engine features include a high compression ratio of 10:1, electronic throttle control, variable valve timing and coil-on-plug ignition. Multec II fuel injectors, an advanced Powertrain Control Module (PCM), direct-mount accessories and easy-maintenance features are also part of the package.

"The Vortec inline architecture was designed from the beginning to allow for three different engine configurations, which is part of our overall strategy of creating flexible architectures that can meet global customer needs," said Homi Patel, vice president and general manager, GM Powertrain Manufacturing. "Its clean and elegant design provides customers outstanding smoothness, power and fuel efficiency."