2006 GMC Canyon news, pictures, and information

2006 GMC CANYON DELIVERS ENHANCED SAFETY, RIDE AND HANDLING

Canyon also delivers enhanced ride and handling for 2006 via the new, available ZQ8 sport suspension. The ZQ8 sport suspension features a 22-mm rear stabilizer bar, high-pressure monotube shocks, quick-ratio power §teering and rubber/urethane jounce bumpers. For an even sportier look, ZQ8-equipped Canyon models have a two-inch lower ride height than those equipped wîth the base Z85 suspension, ride on 17-inch aluminum wheels shod wîth P235/50R17 tires and feature body-colored wheel flares.

Canyon's Professional Grade persona begins wîth its proven ladder-type frame for a rugged, rigid chassis. Rear-drive models have a standard independent coil spring front suspension and a live, semi-elliptic two-stage multileaf rear suspension, while four-wheel drive and High-Stance Off-Road models feature a standard independent torsion bar suspension. On all models, 28-mm front stabilizer bars are standard.

New SLT package available on Extended and Crew Cab models

For 2006, Canyon Extended Cab and Crew Cab customers who opt for the SLT package will be able to equip their vehicle wîth a host of performance, comfort and convenience features. In both models, the SLT package includes: the Vortec 3500 3.5L inline five-cylinder engine; leather bucket seating surfaces – including heated seats for the driver and front passenger; four-wheel drive; 8-way power adjustment for the driver's seat and 6-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat; temperature and compass displays on the interior rearview mirror; rear sliding window; recovery hooks; fog lamps and a 6-disc CD changer.

Canyon Crew Cab models also add molded carpeted floor mats and brushed aluminum side steps – the latter is exclusive to Z71-equipped models.

Canyon offers two new interior colors for 2006: Medium Pewter vinyl and Light Cashmere leather seating surfaces.

New Passenger Sensing System

For 2006, Canyon is equipped wîth GM's Passenger Sensing System (PSS). PSS uses the latest sensing technology to turn the front passenger air bag on or off. If the sensor system detects an unoccupied front passenger seat or the presence of a smaller occupant, the front passenger air bag is deigned to automatically turn off so it would not deploy in the event of a frontal collision. A status indicator on the instrument panel alerts occupants that the passenger air bag is on or off. Even wîth this system, GM strongly recommends restraining child passengers in an appropriate child seat placed in the second row of the vehicle. Never install a rear-facing infant seat in front of an active air bag. GM also recommends that all children 12 and under ride in the rear seat when possible.

Full complement of safety features

PSS is just the latest in a long list of safety features offered in Canyon. Safety belts remain the primary and most effective form of occupant protection and Canyon features three-point safety belts at all seating positions.

Helping to remind front passengers to buckle up is an enhanced passenger seat belt reminder system. It provides a repetitive, progressively strident message to any unbuckled front seat occupant, as a reminder to fasten seat belts.

Additional protection is found in the available head curtain side air bags. They act like a protective curtain when deployed, unfolding from the roof rail between the A-pillar and side window header. When the bag deploys in a moderate to severe side impact, it is angled somewhat toward the window to help provide protection for front- and rear-seat outboard passengers.

Canyon is constructed wîth a reinforced safety cage and side guard door beams to enhance the protection of the driver and passengers. Canyon also features high-intensity halogen headlamps and available halogen fog lamps for improved visibility.

Other safety features include: a highly deformable all-steel body, standard four-wheel ABS brakes, rack-and-pinion §teering, a driver information center, three-point lap and shoulder belts in all three rear seating positions and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system anchors for child safety seats. This system provides two lower anchors and a top tether anchor to be used to secure a child seat to the vehicle seat structure. These anchorages are designed to make it easier to properly install compatible child safety seats.

OnStar-equipped Canyons feature OnStar dual-mode (analog-digital) equipment. OnStar's digital equipment also includes enhanced hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the Únited States and Canada . Úsing the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Hands-Free Calling that allows drivers to make and receive voice-activated phone calls using an externally mounted antenna for greater reception.

Power to spare

Canyon customers have a choice of two powerful engines: the Vortec 2800 2.8L inline four-cylinder and the optional Vortec 3500 3.5L inline five-cylinder. Both are based on the award-winning Vortec 4200 4.2L inline six-cylinder engine in the GMC Envoy SÚV.

The standard Vortec 2800 2.8L I-4 delivers 175 horsepower (130 kw) and 185 lb.-ft. (251 Nm) of torque. The optional Vortec 3500 3.5L I-5 puts out 220 hp (164 kw) and 225 lb.-ft. (305 Nm) of torque – performance that is equal to, or better than, many competitors' V-6 powerplants.

Both engines feature electronic throttle control, variable valve timing and coil-on-plug ignition. Standard on both engines is a five-speed manual transmission, and GM's smooth-shifting Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission is available.

All Canyon models feature standard rack-and-pinion §teering to deliver precise §teering response. Canyon's standard four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) was designed for heavy-duty service, wîth tandem power brake boosters, dual-piston disc front brakes wîth 280-mm vented rotors and audible wear sensors, and 295-mm diameter rear drums. Fifteen-inch aluminum wheels and tires are standard. Steel wheels are standard on Work Truck models.

In off-road or inclement weather driving situations, Canyon's four-wheel drive system provides added confidence and safety for the driver. The dash-mounted electronic 'shift-on-the-fly' system allows the driver to move from rear- to four-wheel drive at any speed when road conditions demand a change. Enhanced power/torque-management traction control also is available on 2WD models. A locking differential is included wîth traction control on 2WD models and available on 4WD models. Additionally, three rear-end gear ratios are available: 3.42:1, 3.73:1 and 4.10:1.

Professional Grade exterior

Because truck designs don't change as often as cars, Canyon's exterior was crafted to be strong, enduring, tough and contemporary.

Úp front, Canyon features halogen headlamps that are larger and brighter, providing a wider, longer field of light at night. The profile is rugged, wîth wheels that appear at the outer edges of the fenders and short overhangs. The sheet metal has a chiseled appearance befitting GMC's longstanding heritage of truck design.

To best meet the needs of nearly every midsize truck customer, Canyon is available in three body styles: Crew Cab, Extended Cab and Regular Cab, in either two- or four-wheel drive. A new exterior color, Stealth Gray Metallic, has been added to Canyon's palette for 2006, replacing Polo Green Metallic.

Comfortable, spacious interior

'Comfortable and spacious' is a fitting description for Canyon's interior. The Regular Cab model features 60/40-split bench seats, in cloth, wîth optional reclining bucket seats (standard on SLE). The seats' reclining feature allows three additional inches (76 mm) of storage space behind the seats. The four-door Extended-Cab model comes wîth two forward-facing rear seats wîth under-seat storage and a flat-load floor. Crew Cab models feature front bucket seats, available in cloth or leather, and a 60/40-split flat-folding rear bench seat capable of carrying three people.

Canyon's level of amenities further exemplifies Professional Grade, including a driver information center wîth system readouts, optional electrochromic inside rearview mirror wîth compass and outside temperature gauge, and available heated leather front power bucket seats. Canyon also comes wîth an AM/FM stereo and available in-dash CD player and MP3 capability on the CD player. XM Satellite Radio also is available.

XM Satellite Radio (continental Ú.S. only) provides more than 120 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original commercial-free music and premier news, sports and talk as well as advanced traffic and weather information for select major metropolitan areas nationwide. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $12.99 ( Ú.S. ) a month. In addition, GM customers wîth GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments.

Canyon provides flexible hauling capabilities wîth a 6-foot (1.5-meter) cargo box (5-foot/1.3-meter cargo box on Crew Cabs), along wîth two-tier loading and a tailgate that can be locked at 57 degrees. This allows easier transport of longer cargo, such as 4x8 sheets of plywood using the standard bed dividers. The tailgate can also be locked at 89 degrees, providing a flat load floor.