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IRL: Intrigue Paces IRL in Texas

18 September 1998

AURORA-INSPIRED TWIN CAM V6 POWERS
NEW INTRIGUE IRL PACE CAR

New Premium V6 Engine Offers Intriguing Possibilities in
Oldsmobile's Sophisticated Sports Sedan

Fort Worth, Texas - The 3.5 liter twin cam V6 that powers the new Intrigue IRL Pace Car has racing in its blood and performance in its pedigree.

Its "father" is the production Aurora V8 that set 47 speed and endurance records in 1992 . . . Its "uncle" is the IMSA Aurora V8 racing engine that won the Daytona 24-hour and Sebring 12-hour endurance races and swept the IMSA World SportsCar and GTS-1 championships in 1996 . . .

And its "cousin" is the IRL Aurora V8 that has won 17 straight Pep Boys Indy Racing League events, including back-to-back victories in the Indianapolis 500. The twin cam V6, the newest member of General Motors' "Premium V" engine family, will make its on-track debut at Texas Motor Speedway on September 20. Three-time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will lead the pack of Indy cars to the green flag for the start of the Lone Star 500 in Oldsmobile's new Intrigue IRL Pace Car. The Intrigue's twin cam V6 will be in good company, with 28 of the 30 entries for the tenth round of the 11-race IRL series powered by Oldsmobile IRL Aurora V8 engines.

The new premium V6, the latest derivative of the Aurora V8, is available exclusively in Oldsmobile's sophisticated Intrigue sports sedan. The V6 engine has the same 90-degree Vee angle and 102mm bore center spacing as its V8 siblings, and shares similar technical features such as a lightweight two-piece aluminum block assembly, chain-driven dual overhead camshafts, four-valve combustion chambers, and sequential electronic fuel injection. The twin cam V6 produces 215 horsepower and 230 lb./ft. of torque - more than enough power to pace an Indy car race without any modifications.

"This premium multi-valve V6 is our next step in making the Intrigue the best performance sedan in its class," said Ken Stewart, Intrigue brand manager. "With the engine's rich Aurora V8 racing heritage, we feel we have accomplished this."

Racing fans will have their first look at the twin cam V6 in action at Texas Motor Speedway. The new engine will be available in the Intrigue GLS at the start of 1999 production, and will become the standard powerplant for all Intrigue models by the end of the 1999 calendar year.

The Intrigue pace car is a standard production model equipped with IRL-required safety equipment and strobe lights. Unlike the sparse accommodations in an open-wheel race car, the pace car's amenities include a sunroof and leather upholstery. Goodyear Eagle RS-A P225-60R16 tires on chrome-plated alloy wheels and front and rear anti-roll bars help the Intrigue pacesetter get a grip on Texas Motor Speedway's high-banked turns. The pace car's custom "Hot Salsa Orange" paint is as spicy as Tex-Mex cuisine.

The Intrigue debuted in 1998 to accolades from the automotive press. Automobile described the Intrigue as "a revelation. . . rolling proof that GM can build high-quality cars that are a pleasure to drive . . . an E-class Mercedes for $21,500." Car and Driver called the Intrigue "a pivotal sedan proving GM can build world-class machinery." Now with the introduction of the premium V6 engine, the Intrigue becomes even more appealing to enthusiasts.

"With better performance across the entire speed range, the 3.5 liter twin cam V6 was the next logical step in making one great car even better," said Stewart.

Like Oldsmobile's undefeated IRL Aurora V8 engine, the competition may find that the Intrigue's new twin cam V6 is tough to beat.