Pontiac Montana SV6 has the rugged looks of an SUV and the versatility of a mid-van. It is a crossover sport van for customers who want it all: spacious passenger room, multi-configurable interior, and a smooth, sedan-like ride all wrapped up in bold, SUV-like styling. Montana SV6 also offers segment-leading in-vehicle entertainment choices, including PhatNoise and its 40-gigabyte removable hard drive for storing and playing music, movies, video games and more.

Montana SV6 also is packed with safety features designed to protect occupants. Dual-stage frontal air bags are standard and, new for the 2006 model year, side-impact air bags are available for second-row outboard passengers with captain's chairs. Previously, side-impact air bags were available for the driver and front passenger.

With seating for up to seven, Montana SV6 can be configured into numerous passenger/cargo combinations. Available power and luxury options include leather seating surfaces, heated seats, six-way power seats, and Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist. Montana SV6 is ultra  flexible  to meet active lifestyles. An all-wheel drive model is available.

New feature packages for 2006 combine popular safety and convenience equipment into easy-to-order groups. They include:

Security Package: includes remote vehicle starter system, first-row side-imapact air bags and theft-deterrent alarm system

Convenience Package: includes driver information center, FE3 performance suspension, all-speed traction control, six-way power-adjustable driver seat, auxiliary rear air conditioner, intermittent rear wiper, universal home remote, brushed silver luggage rails, Solar-Ray deep tinted glass, power-adjustable heated outside mirrors, rear window defogger, 115-volt auxiliary power outlet and first-row folding tray

Preferred Package: inculdes passenger-side power sliding door, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, front removable overhead console, rear mesh cargo partition, rear removable convenience center, center console with CD storage, steering wheel radio controls, 17-inch aluminum wheels and Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist

Premium Seating Package: includes leather seating surfaces, driver and front passenger heated seats, six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat

Sport Package: All-new 3.9-liter V-6 engine with 235 horse power (175 kw), 17-inch Chrome Tech aluminum wheels, engine oil cooler and "Sport" badging (late availability)

The new packages enhance models that are thoughtfully equipped with many standard and available features. All Montana SV6 models have the aggressive styling and powerful stance of an SUV, but with the convenience of a van. A low step-in height and available dual power-sliding rear doors offer interior access not found in any SUV, while standard 17-inch wheels and wider tires, rugged rocker panel coverings that extend over the wheel arches and on to the lower front and rear fascias for an SUV-like skid-plate, as well as roof rails, contribute to the SUV look. Traditional Pontiac styling cues include the signature dual-port grille and interior appointments.

Standard and available equipment includes:

• Seven-passenger seating
• Foldable and removable second- and third-row seats; 50/50-split stowable third-row with fold-flat seat and rear convenience center
• Up to 136.5 cubic feet (3,865 L) of cargo space
• Seat-back storage and first- and second-row convenience trays
• Front overhead console and overhead rail system
• Available spacious and flexible rear convenience center/cargo system
• Available 110-volt household-style outlet located in rear of vehicle
• Available audio/video system with standard DVD player and flip-down screen
• Available Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
• Four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS and available traction control
• Standard 17-inch wheels and tires
• Dual-stage frontal air bags for front seat occupants
• Available side-impact air bags for first- and second-row outboard passengers
• Available StabiliTrak, GM's electronic stability control system (FWD models only)
• All-wheel drive model with Versatrack

Family-flexible interior

The Montana SV6's range of standard and available in-vehicle entertainment choices is unprecedented in the segment. A standard DVD player with flip-down screen and integrated controls provides hours of entertainment for rear-seat passengers. An AM/FM stereo with CD and MP3 player is standard. XM Satellite Radio is available and customers using GMAC financing can include the $12.99 XM subscription in their car payments.

PhatNoise, a first-in-segment Mobile Digital Media system, is available for installation in the Montana SV6's overhead rail system. PhatNoise is a compact, wallet-sized, 40-gigabyte hard drive cartridge that is capable of:

• Storing and playing back up to 10,000 songs in MP3, WMA or WAV formats
• Storing and playing up to 40 movies in MPEG format
• Storing and playing a combination of songs and movies
• Providing the software for playing classic video games
• A voice-browsing interface - if the driver wants to listen to music, the system tells him or her over the radio speakers the song's name, allowing the driver to navigate through a list of stored music using steering wheel buttons
• Listening to books, magazine or newspaper articles recorded on a PC
• Allowing simultaneous listening to two entertainment sources
• Transferring digital camera pictures through a USB port in the PhatNoise cartridge and playing them back on the DVD screen

The PhatNoise system's hard drive cartridge is easily removable, so it can be connected to a home PC or laptop to download computer files for playback in the Montana SV6, giving passengers an unprecedented level of entertainment customization.

The 2006 Montana SV6 also is loaded with clever storage options such as the overhead rail system. It contains lighting, rear HVAC and audio controls, and the standard rear-seat DVD system and fold-down screen. Snap-in storage and accessory modules are available to store things like sunglasses, CDs or cellular phones.

Both the second- and third-row seats are foldable and removable. Second-row bucket seats can be folded and tumbled up against the front seats for increased cargo space, and the third-row fold-flat bench seat has a 50/50 split for added passenger/cargo flexibility. There is also a flexible rear convenience center/cargo system, which provides covered storage. When closed, the system matches the height of the folded third-row seat. That makes a flat load floor so longer items can be carried behind the second row seats. Generous seat-back storage is standard. Second- and third-row convenience trays have built-in cupholders.

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Responsive powertrain systems

Montana SV6 is powered by the 3500 3.5L V-6, which is rated at 201 horsepower (150kw) and 216 lb.-ft. of torque (293 Nm). The engine delivers the enthusiastic performance that customers have come to expect from Pontiac.

Later in the model year a new 3900 3.9L V-6 willbe available. It delivers 240 horsepower (179kw) and 240 lb.-ft. of torque (332 Nm). Variable valve timing and variable intake technology combine to provide optimal performance and fuel economy along with a broad power brand. Ninety percent of the torque is available from 1,800 rpm to 5,800 rpm. Both V-6 engines use GM's proven Hydra-Matic 4T65-E electronically controlled automatic overdrive transaxle.

GM's exclusive Versatrak all-wheel drive system is available. The on-demand AWD system is one of the most advanced in the industry. Versatrak is a progressive system based on the amount of slippage encountered by the front wheels. As either or both front wheels lose grip, more power is progressively transferred to the rear wheels. Unlike many competitive systems, Versatrak has the ability to transfer torque from side to side.

GM's advanced electronic stability control system, StabiliTrak is available on front-wheel drive Montana SV6 models. StabiliTrak greatly improves vehicle control with a series of sophisticated sensors that maintain vehicle direction by independently applying brake force at the appropriate corners of the vehicle. StabiliTrak monitors differences between the driver's desired path and the vehicle's actual path. StabiliTrak greatly reduces the possibility of oversteer or understeer. StabiliTrak is integrated with the vehicle's ABS and traction control system. StabiliTrak is not available on models equipped with Versatrak.

Built-in safety and quality

Montana SV6 is engineered to be among the safest vehicles in its segment. Pontiac engineers made extensive use of high-strength steel and designed the frame and body to absorb energy and preserve occupant space. The chassis uses cross-rail, high-strength steel structural reinforcements that increase chassis stiffness and bolster crash protection. The long SUV style front end compartment provides a large protective crush zone. Long engine compartment side frame rails increase energy absorption in the event of a frontal impact.

A smooth, sedan-like ride comes from a rigid chassis structure, a long 121.1-inch wheelbase and a MacPherson strut independent front suspension  and a short/long arm (SLA) rear suspension. Automatic load-leveling shock absorbers increase stability and handling. They also enhance cargo-carrying capabilities. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and 17-inch wheels and tires are standard on all Montana SV6 models.

Consistent safety belt use is the primary and most effective form of occupant protection. All Montana SV6 seating positions have three-point safety belts. Front outboard retractors have built-in load limiters to reduce peak chest loads by allowing a controlled amount of belt give during "ride down" crash conditions.

The Montana SV6 has dual-stage frontal air bags for supplemental protection for front seat passengers. Dual-stage frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of air bag-induced injury. The air bag systems' control unit determines whether the severity of a crash warrants air bag deployment and if just the primary stage or the primary and secondary stages are necessary. Front safety belt pretensioners deploy at the same time as the frontal air bags to take up slack in the safety belt webbing. Pretensioners minimize occupant movement during a crash.

Standard, front dual-stage air bags for both driver and front passenger are complemented in the 2006 model year with available side-impact air bags for the first - and second-row outboard seating positions. The Montana SV6 also has GM's Passenger Sensing System, which 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 designed 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 with this system, GM strongly recommends restraining child passengers in an appropriate child seat placed in the vehicle's second or third row.

The 2006 Montana SV6 is equipped with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system anchors for child safety seats. Two lower anchors and a top tether anchor secure the child seat to the vehicle seat structure for proper installation of compatible child safety seats. A top tether anchor is also provided for the center position of the third row.