The Application --  In 2002 General Motors introduced a new family of Sport Utility Vehicles  (Chevy Trailblazer, Buick Rainier and GMC Envoy). In 2004 a family of mid-sized trucks (Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon) was introduced.

• With the higher vehicle weight and additional load capability, the engineering challenge was to upgrade the powertrain with improvements in power, torque, fuel economy, emissions, and NVH (noise, vibration, harshness ) performance, while keeping the vehicle cost affordable and the weight down.

• A comprehensive engineering study was done to select the best engine configuration, considering V-8, V-6, and Inline 6 designs. The study determined that the Inline design had the following advantages -- simplest design, lowest number of parts,  inherently balanced, lowest cost, and best manufacturing flexibility.

• The Inline 6 was designed to have the power and torque of a V-8.  The inline 5 was designed to match the performance of a V-6.  Both engines provide improved fuel economy without sacrificing performance

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