2006 GMC ENVOY LINEUP DELIVERS ENHANCED SAFETY AND FRESHENED APPEARANCE

Since its introduction in the 2002 model year, 'continuous refinement' has been the philosophy behind Envoy. Last year saw the Envoy line upgraded with a significant level of new content including side curtain air bags, Displacement on Demand engine technology, significantly upgraded seats, a number of new appearance items and the introduction of two Denali models – delivering an even higher level of style, comfort, performance and safety to owners. For 2006, the focus is on a freshened exterior appearance and a higher level of safety.

Fresh, new appearance

The appearance of Envoy and Envoy XL models is freshened for 2006 with a new chrome grille accent, new chrome bodyside molding and new side and rear badges on SLE and SLT trim levels. Envoy Denali and Envoy XL Denali also receive new rear badges for 2006.

There's no mistaking the new 18-inch high-polished, forged aluminum wheels on 2006 Envoy Denali models. These strong, durable and lightweight wheels are shod with P245/60R18 all-season steel-belted radial tires.

A single antenna for OnStar and XM Satellite Radio is now featured on all Envoy models.

Enhanced safety

To its already impressive list of safety features, 2006 Envoy models add GM's StabiliTrak electronic stability control (ESC) with Proactive Roll Avoidance as standard equipment. ESC helps drivers maintain vehicle control during certain difficult driving conditions, such as ice, snow, gravel, wet pavement and uneven road surfaces, as well as in emergency lane changes or avoidance maneuvers.

ESC uses an accelerator pedal position sensor, wheel speed sensor, yaw sensor, brake master cylinder pressure sensor and a steering wheel angle sensor as inputs to interpret the driver's desired path and whether to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle.

If the difference between the driver's desired path and the vehicle's actual path becomes great enough, ESC assists the driver with maintaining the desired path. If the vehicle begins to 'snowplow,' or understeer, ESC applies the inside rear brake to help turn the vehicle. If the vehicle begins to fishtail, or oversteer, ESC applies the outside front brake to straighten the vehicle. ESC is integrated with the traction control and anti-lock braking systems.

Along with standard StabiliTrak, available safety features include available head curtain side air bags that inflate 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 second-row outboard passengers.

In vehicles equipped with head curtain side air bags, the integral rollover protection sensing system helps protect occupants in a rollover event by triggering both the side curtain air bags and safety belt pretensioners. The rollover-sensing module, located on the center tunnel under the rear seat, uses a complex algorithm based on lateral and vertical accelerations, roll rate and vehicle speed to determine whether to deploy the safety systems.

Additional Envoy safety features include:

- Three-point safety belts in all seating positions

- Dual-stage frontal air bags

- GM's Passenger Sensing System (PSS)

- New push-pull power window switches

- LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system for child safety seats

- Enhanced passenger seat belt reminder system

- Low-drag brakes

- OnStar

Envoy and Envoy XL 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 United States and Canada . Using 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.

The OnStar service standard on the 2006 Envoy and Envoy XL also includes the Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) system, making crash data available to 911 centers to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. ACCN does not require air bag deployment.

Envoy powertrains

Powering the Envoy Denali models is the robust, all-aluminum Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8. It delivers 300 horsepower (216 kw) and 330 lb.-ft. of torque (447 Nm), for excellent step-off acceleration and a broad torque range. The result is segment-leading standard towing capability – up to 6,600 pounds (2,994 kg) in 2WD Envoy Denali models.

The Vortec 5300 engine is equipped with GM's fuel-saving Displacement on Demand (DOD) technology. DOD technology enables fuel economy gains of up to 5 percent in certain light-load driving conditions by reducing the number of cylinders engaged in the combustion process. A sophisticated, next-generation engine controller determines when to deactivate cylinders, allowing the engine to maintain vehicle speed in lighter-load conditions – such as highway cruising. When the cylinders are deactivated, the engine effectively operates as a V-4, with alternate cylinders on each cylinder bank disabled. The engine seamlessly returns to V-8 mode the instant the controller determines the vehicle speed or load requires additional power.

The standard engine on Envoy and Envoy XL is the award-winning Vortec 4200 4.2L 24-valve, dual-overhead-cam inline six-cylinder engine. Updated for 2006, it produces 291 horsepower (217 kw) and 277 lb-ft. (375 Nm) of torque* and provides the muscular yet smooth performance of many V-8 engines with the fuel efficiency of a six-cylinder engine.

Both engines are coupled to the rugged Hydra-Matic 4L60-E electronically controlled four-speed transmission.

All Envoy models are available in two-wheel drive and with Autotrac four-wheel drive.

Entertainment choices

Envoy offers a myriad of entertainment choices. In addition to the AM/FM stereo and CD players, Envoy owners may also opt for an MP3 player, XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only), a Bose premium sound system, touch screen navigation or a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

Comfortable and capable

Surprisingly roomy and comfortable, all Envoy models provide exceptional first- and second-row head, leg, shoulder and hip room. And the third-row seat in extended-length (XL) Envoy models is designed to comfortably accommodate 95 percent of all adult males.

For extra loading flexibility, all Envoy rear seats fold flat, and on extended-length Envoys, it results in 107.4 cubic feet (3,041L) of maximum cargo space.

A highly versatile rear cargo panel that features adjustable height levels is available on Envoy XL SLE and standard on Envoy XL SLT and Envoy Denali XL. It can be used to extend the flat load floor in the rear when the seats are folded, raised for privacy in concealing items stored beneath it, or simply stowed or removed to maximize cargo space.

by GM Media

by GMC