WASHINGTON (Feb. 16, 2005) — General Motors has announced that the 2005 Grand Prix and the 2006 Monte Carlo and Impala will join the GMC Envoy XL, Envoy XUV and Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT in providing Active Fuel Management fuel-saving technology.

Active Fuel Management will be a standard feature in the vehicles' optional 5.3-liter V-8 engine. The more efficient engine will boost the fuel efficiency of these vehicles by about 8 percent (based on an EPA testing procedure).

By 2008, more than 2 million vehicles with the V-8 and V-6 engines will feature Active Fuel Management.

Both customers and the environment will benefit from the engines' improved fuel economy. In addition, GM owners won't have to sacrifice superior engine performance and power to go farther on a tank of gas. "Active Fuel Management will enhance fuel economy without compromising performance or the ability to carry heavy loads," said Dan Nicholson, GM Powertrain chief engineer of small-block V-8 engines. "We will be able to deliver the same top-of-the-line performance with less effort and energy. That's the essence of efficiency."

Enabled by GM's powerful electronic powertrain controls, Active Fuel Management saves fuel by using only half of the engine's cylinders during most normal driving conditions. When loads are light, the control system automatically closes both intake and exhaust valves for half of the cylinders, cutting off their air and fuel supply. The fuel supply resumes and the valves are reopened to provide all-cylinder operation when the driver needs it for quick acceleration or for hauling heavy loads.

The V-8 engine always starts on eight cylinders, and in the case of the V-6 engine, six cylinders. But once the vehicle has accelerated to speed, the engine control module activates Active Fuel Management, providing improved fuel economy through a relatively inexpensive change in displacement to meet the vehicle load requirements.