GM'S Vortec 4200 I-6 Named 2004 Ward's 10 Best Engine PONTIAC, Mich., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, General Motors' Vortec 4200 inline six-cylinder engine has been recognized as a Ward's Communications "10 Best Engine." When it was introduced in 2002 model year vehicles, the Vortec 4200 was the first inline six-cylinder engine in GM Powertrain's engine portfolio in almost 20 years. Recognized by Ward's at that time, the engine has continued to garner their praise, earning 10 Best recognition in 2003, and now again for 2004. The Vortec 4200 is a 4.2-liter, inline six-cylinder, all-aluminum, dual- overhead-cam, four-valves-per-cylinder design engine. Using a range of advanced engine technologies, like variable valve timing, electronic throttle control, and coil-on-plug ignition, the engine delivers 275 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, providing customers the power of a V-8 with the efficiency of a six-cylinder. Since its introduction, the Vortec 4200 has been a proven sales success in GM's midsize sport utility vehicles, with engine production at GM's Flint South Engine plant exceeding one million engines in August 2003. Today, it is the standard powerplant in the 2004 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy, Envoy XL and Envoy XUV. For 2004, GM engineers have updated the popular inline-six to meet federal Tier 2 Bin 5 and California LEV II exhaust emission standards in vehicles rated at less than 6,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight, making many of the SUVs it powers cleaner than most cars on the road today. In addition to advanced engine technologies, the Vortec 4200 is built using advanced manufacturing processes. The cast aluminum six-cylinder engine blocks and aluminum cylinder heads are produced using the "lost foam" casting process at GM's Saginaw Metal Casting Operation. This process allows more exact dimensional control while reducing machining efforts in oil galleries, coolant and other internal passages. "We designed the Vortec 4200 to be a benchmark engine in power, performance, and refinement," says Ron Kociba, chief engineer, Vortec inline engines. "We're honored that the judges of the Ward's 10 Best continue to recognize the engine for these characteristics." Ward's Communications publishes Ward's AutoWorld and Ward's Engine and Vehicle Technology Update. The criteria for the 10 Best Engines competition includes a range of customer driveability factors such as horsepower, torque, technical relevance to the vehicle, and low levels of noise, vibration and harshness. Ward's 10 Best Engines was created as a way to recognize superior performance and showcase the critical importance of powertrain technology and excellence in engine engineering. GM Powertrain is a global producer of engines, transmissions, castings and components for GM vehicles and other automotive, marine, and industrial OEMs. Headquartered in Pontiac, GM Powertrain has operating and coordinating responsibility for General Motors powertrain manufacturing plants and engineering centers in North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia- Pacific region. DATASOURCE: GM Powertrain CONTACT: Nick Richards of GM Powertrain Communications, +1-248-857-0163, email: Web site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/

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