Introduces Powerful Vortec V8 Engine
March 4, 2002Award-Winning Envoy And GMC Division Continue To Set Retail Sales Records
Division Strengthens Envoy Lineup - Introduces Powerful Vortec V8 Engine To Its XL Model
DETROIT - The award-winning 2002 GMC Envoy continues to help GMC set midsize utility retail sales records with another milestone performance of 8,742 units sold in February, crushing the previous record of 6,789 set in 2000.
Since the launch in 2001, Envoy's retail sales have been on a record-setting pace. Last year, Envoy retail sales helped GMC reach new heights with total medium utilities establishing records in March (7,420 units), June (8,697 units), and October (9,936 units). Envoy sales also guided GMC to a new calendar year retail sales record of 78,816 medium utilities sold last year, versus the prior record of 74,355 in 1996. Envoy's October 2001 retail sales of 9,026 units outpaced all medium luxury utilities, even beating the number one selling Lexus RX 300 by nearly 3,000 units. In November, Envoy repeated with an impressive retail sales figure of 7,908 units, again beating all medium luxury utilities.
This fall, the segment's most powerful Vortec V8 engine will be available on the seven-passenger Envoy XL model.
The optional 5.3 liter V8 is GM's first Vortec V8 truck engine featuring an aluminum block. The quiet, powerful V8 will generate more than 280 horsepower and more than 320lb-ft of torque for customers who need added towing and hauling capability. In fact, the Vortec 5300 V8 has more horsepower and torque than the V8 engines available in the 2002 Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
"Envoy has been incredibly well-received. We're confident that the V8 option will compliment our award-winning Inline six-cylinder engine, offering customers the best of all worlds," said Craig Bierley, Envoy brand manager. "The V8 engine really adds to Envoy's unexpected Professional Grade capabilities," added Bierley.
GMC's Envoy XL, available this spring, can transport seven adults comfortably with room to spare. Its third seat, which easily accommodates two 6'2" passengers, has a full foot well. When the second and third row seats are folded to a flat load floor, Envoy XL provides a segment-leading 100.2 cubic feet of cargo carrying capacity. And, with more than 22 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third seat, there's enough room to store items such as grocery bags or golf clubs.
The GMC Envoy XL is produced at General Motors' assembly facilities in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Moriane, Ohio. Production of the Envoy XL began in February. The all-aluminum Vortec 5300 V8 engine will be assembled at the GM Powertrain Romulus engine plant in Romulus, Mich.
General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. In 2001, GM earned $1.5 billion on sales of $177.3 billion, excluding special items. It employs about 362,000 people globally.
GM has been the world's automotive sales leader since 1931. In 2001, GM set industry sales records in the United States - its largest market - for total trucks and for sport utility vehicles. GM sold more than 1 million SUVs - a first for any automaker. GM also sold more full-size pickup trucks than any other manufacturer since 1978.
GM also operates one of the world's largest and most successful financial services companies, GMAC, which offers automotive, mortgage and business financing and insurance services to customers worldwide.
More information on General Motors can be found at http://www.gm.com.