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More choices for RV owners; Turbo-diesel engine available</span>
Louisville, KY., November 29, 2005 Offering the comfort and power of a full-size SUV or pickup truck, General Motors announces the availability of the 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine for the 12,300-pound Class-C chassis. In addition to the 14,050-pound chassis, General Motors has also announced that it will co-brand its 12,300-pound and 9,600-pound GVWR chassis with Workhouse Custom Chassis. All three chassis come standard with the Vortec 6.0 V-8 engine.
"Adding the Duramax turbo-diesel engine to our chassis portfolio demonstrates GM's dedication to meeting the needs and desires of the RV customer," said Ross Hendrix, General Motors Marketing Director of Vans and Trucks. "We believe our chassis for the Chevy Express van delivers exactly what motor home customers want from their RV exceptional capability, durability and power, with the comfort and convenience they've come to appreciate from GM vehicles."
RV Equals Comfort
With the Chevrolet/Workhorse Class-C Chassis, comfort and relaxation begins with the driving experience. The independent short/long-arm (SLA) front suspension provides both ride quality and long-term durability. The chassis' sharp turning radius allows the driver to maneuver in and out of tight spots with ease, adding to driver comfort.
Inside, the chassis delivers more legroom and interior space for the driver and passenger than comparable competitive products, including larger step pads and wider footwells. There's also more functional storage, including deep and wide door storage pockets.
"We're extremely pleased to expand the Chevy/Workhorse chassis portfolio with General Motors," said Bob Wert, Workhorse Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Planning. "The partnership between Workhorse and General Motors makes perfect sense because it allows two companies who truly understand the RVers needs for comfort to collaborate and offer outstanding motor home choices."
POWERTRAIN
The Chevrolet/Workhorse Class-C 12,300 chassis can now be powered by a Duramax turbo-diesel engine that delivers a class-leading 250-hp and 460-lbs-ft. torque run through a 4L85-E heavy-duty four speed transmission. All three chassis the 14,050, the 12,300-pound and the 9,600-pound - are perfectly matched to the four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmissions with a 300-hp Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine.
With just the right ratio of power to weight, the 6.6Duramax turbo-diesel engine gets the job done.
Braking performance is provided by the standard four-wheel disc anti-lock brake system with Dynamic Rear Proportioning (DRP). DRP adjusts brake pressure toward the front or rear of the vehicle; therefore, optimizing front and rear brake performance under varying loads and road surfaces.
With the Duramax turbo-diesel engine, the 12,300-pound GVWR chassis provides the power an RV customer will need to quickly merge into traffic or climb a steep grade.
General Motors builds all of the Class-C chassis at its Wentzville Assembly Center in Missouri. Production is expected to begin in January 2006 and motor homes should arrive in dealer lots in early Spring 2006.
About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 325,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at
GM.com.
About Workhorse Custom Chassis
Specializing in the manufacture of chassis for motor homes, walk-in trucks and buses, as well as integrated walk-in trucks, Workhorse Custom Chassis is ISO 9001 certified and considered the leader in the motor home and walk-in truck industries. Its manufacturing facility is in Union City, Ind., and its corporate headquarters are in Highland Park, Ill. For more information call toll-free 877-294-6773 or visit
Workhorse.com.