NEW YORK – The 2004 Buick Rainier’s ability to nimbly move along serpentine highways, or quickly turn and scramble through the back country makes it clear Rainier has the qualities of a luxury touring vehicle in a capable mid-size truck.

Available with a choice of two engines that offer refinement and power, the Rainier is a cross-country athlete dressed in uptown attire. Rainier’s standard Vortec 4200 engine turns out 275 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to sprint down the highway or dart up an exigent trail. Looking for more muscle? Exclusive to Rainier on GM's short-wheel-base, mid-size SUV architecture is the optional Vortec 5300 V-8 engine, one of the most popular in GM’s dynamic stable of powerplants.

The Vortec 4200 has a 10:1 compression ratio compared to typical four-valve engines that runs in the 9:1 to 9.5:1 range, providing added power output and greater efficiency. It also uses regular unleaded gasoline instead of the more-expensive premium fuel typically required by high-compression engines.

Power is smooth and refined thanks to the natural balance of an inline engine that virtually eliminates vibration, shake and roll throughout its range. At any given speed, Rainier’s drivers and occupants will find vibration to be conspicuously absent from the steering wheel, seats, floor pan and overall passenger compartment. The Vortec 4200 delivers respectable fuel-economy ratings.

As with all Buick engines, the Vortec 4200 and Vortec 5300 engines benefit from over 100 years of design improvement dating back to 1902 when Buick initiated patent rights for the overhead valve engine, and again 50 years ago when Buick developed its first modern overhead valve V-8 engine. On both road and racetrack, GM's small block engines continuously prove that cam-in-block aluminum engines meet the performance and durability demands, as well as the increasingly stringent emissions standards of a new century.

The optional V-8 engine broadens Rainier’s market appeal, enhancing its performance and utility. The Vortec 5300 V-8 SFI (sequential fuel injection) engine provides 290 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. The Vortec 5300 V-8 delivers a commanding driving experience, giving Rainier excellent low speed and highway acceleration characteristics, as well as a 6500-pound towing capacity.

The all-aluminum 5.3-liter V-8 is now engineered with a variety of performance, durability and noise reduction improvements resulting from the innovative application of structural materials, precision calibration and advanced design components.

Cast of 319-T7 aluminum, the engine builds on the small-block tradition inspired by the 5.7-liter V-8 powerplant found in the Chevrolet Corvette. The gravity-poured, precision casting process used to produce the engine block allows cylinder liners to be cast in place, yielding exceptional dimensional stability and quality.

Lighter weight, lower mass and superior thermal properties give this modern design a number of significant advantages over its cast iron counterpart, including:

• Faster catalytic converter warm-up for cleaner emissions
• Improved V-8 fuel efficiency
• Improved performance
• Cooler piston and oil temperatures for improved durability
• Faster heater core warm-up for more immediate passenger comfort
• Weight reduction of 45.4 kilograms (100 pounds)

The aluminum Vortec 5300 also features a new oil pan design which allows the front axle on all-wheel drive (AWD) models to pass through the oil pan. This yields a savings in both weight and cost while optimizing the use of engine compartment space and enhancing serviceability, styling, visibility and noise reduction. The exhaust catalyst and emissions control system calibration have been improved so that the engine meets both federal emissions and California Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) standards without an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system.

Both Rainier engines use platinum-tipped spark plugs to extend plug life to 100,000 miles, as well as coolant that maintains its cooling, anti-freeze and corrosion-inhibiting properties for 150,000 miles. Scheduled maintenance is limited to oil changes as indicated by the engine oil life monitoring system, or at 10,000 mile intervals, whichever comes first.

Standard rear air suspension, hydroformed side rails, eight cross-members and best-in-class body stiffness together form the core of Rainier’s quiet ride quality, comparable to world-class car structures. These acoustics are the result of careful attention to detail in body-fit, component isolation, exterior aerodynamics, sealing and fine tuning of all related elements to optimize and achieve the most desirable frequency ranges.

Through these added noise reduction measures, the 2004 Rainier achieved an Articulation Index improvement of 12 percent at wide-open-throttle (WOT) and 10 percent at highway speeds.

All Rainier models come equipped with the rugged, electronically controlled, GM Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission. Renowned for its smooth operation, precise shifting and robust performance throughout a wide range of driving conditions, the 4L60-E is used in both performance sedans and light trucks.

Along with its impressive powertrain features, Rainier brings additional all-wheel-drive capability to the Buick lineup with an available on-demand system that allows owners to feel secure in a variety of driving conditions. The AWD system benefits from software upgrades designed to ensure impressively smooth automatic engagement and disengagement. Combined with its standard locking rear differential, this system is fully automatic and requires no input from the driver.

Rainier’s power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering is precise and responsive while the four-wheel vented disc brakes provide outstanding performance and world-class levels of brake feel, wear resistance and noise reduction.

A four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) is standard. Two-wheel models are also standard equipped with traction assist and locking differential, improving Rainier’s ability to handle slippery road surfaces. A standard equipment list that includes Bilstein shocks, 17-inch wheels and premium Michelin tires, also contributes to superior stability and road command characteristics.

Rainier models equipped with the Vortec 4200 engine offer a maximum towing capacity of 6,300 pounds. Models equipped with the Vortec 5300 engine offer a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

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Contact:
John Wray, Buick Communications
Phone: 313-665-1478
E-mail: john.wray@gm.com

3/28/03