"Duramax Diesel Power Tour" Travels North America To Promote GM's All-New Duramax Diesel 6600 Engine

General Motors is hitting the road with the "Duramax Diesel Power Tour," a traveling exhibit showcasing its all-new Duramax Diesel 6600 V8 engine.

The Duramax Diesel 6600 - available this fall as an optional engine in the all-new 2001 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500 Series pickups and chassis-cab models - is positioned to help GM set new industry standards for diesel power, performance, durability, reliability and quiet operation in the growing heavy-duty pickup class.

Powered by the Duramax Diesel 6600 engine, a 2001 GMC Sierra 3500 4-door extended cab Big Dooley pickup with a 50-foot triple axle enclosed trailer in tow is traveling to cities across the United States and Canada to help generate excitement and increase awareness of this powerful V8 diesel engine.

The interactive display, emblazoned with Chevrolet, GMC and Duramax graphics, features a cutaway version of the Duramax Diesel 6600 engine mounted to an all-new Allison 1000 automatic transmission on a diamond-plate turntable. Four display boards serve as an informational backdrop highlighting the features and benefits of the engine and the all-new Heavy Duty Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra. A running video demonstrates the powerful attributes of the engine, and an attention-grabbing 10-foot inflatable engine is also part of the attraction. In addition, the exhibit features a tracking map that outlines all tour stops and registers the current mileage as it travels from city to city.

The "Duramax Diesel Power Tour" will travel to approximately 24 main stops including national, regional and GM dealer events. The tour is staffed with a full-time dedicated driver and product specialist to help communicate the capabilities of the Duramax Diesel 6600 engine to the public.

The tour began the first week of March at Daytona Bike Week (Daytona Beach, Fla.), and will continue with stops at such highly anticipated events as the Indianapolis 500, Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Calgary Stampede (Calgary, Alberta), Woodward Dream Cruise (Royal Oak, Mich.), and the Texas State Fair (Dallas). The tour concludes the end of November. "The Duramax Diesel 6600 is the most powerful diesel engine ever produced for a heavy-duty pickup or chassis cab and we want the public to see first-hand this engine in action as we travel across North America," said Kevin McFadden, GM Powertrain brand manager of Duramax Diesel.

The new Duramax Diesel 6600 is the product of a joint venture (DMAX, Ltd.) between GM and Isuzu Motors, and the second in a growing family of GM-branded Duramax engines. Because of Isuzu's expertise in commercial vehicles and diesel engines, the company plays an important role in GM's global strategy. They have produced and sold more than 13 million diesel engines over the past six decades, and enjoy a solid reputation for reliable and dependable performance. Duramax Diesel engines will be sourced and manufactured at a new facility in Moraine, Ohio.

When selecting a transmission to accompany the powerful Duramax Diesel, GM turned to Allison - an industry leader in commercial and military heavy-duty truck transmissions for 50 years. The new Allison 1000 Series five-speed automatic transmission utilizes all the power it's made to produce and was specifically designed to maximize all the usable horsepower and torque offered by the new Duramax Diesel 6600 engine. This translates into impressive performance when the truck is fully loaded, and when it needs additional muscle for towing. The Duramax Diesel 6600 has outstanding power and performance with targeted ratings of 300 horsepower at 3,100 rpm and 520 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 rpm. The engine will deliver a high, flat torque curve and provide impressive power across the power band. This increased output will help the GM heavy duty pickups excel in off-the-line performance, acceleration and heavy-duty trailering and hauling. The trucks offer a best-in-class Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating of 14,000-22,000 pounds and a Gross Vehicle Weight of 8,600-12,000 pounds. In addition, the engine delivers refinement in terms of operating quietness and smoothness not typically associated with heavy-duty diesel engines.

The fuel system is the heart of the Duramax Diesel engine. To ensure that every component in the new V8 would perform with the best possible efficiency, a Bosch Common Rail Fuel System utilizing high pressure direct injection was specially designed and calibrated to meet the engine's high performance standards.

For additional information on the "Duramax Diesel Power Tour" and a complete listing of all tour stops, visit the website at www.duramaxpowertour.com