For Immediate Release

Pontiac Aztek's Bold, Fresh, and Aggressive Design

DETROIT - SUVs often look like they popped out of the same cookie cutter: two boxes riding tall on four tires. Aztek nudges that boredom into the ditch with the boldest, freshest, and most aggressive design to hit the streets so far. In fact, Pontiac has mapped out such a new dimension of driving excitement for this product that it deserves its own nomenclature. Say hello to the original Sport Recreation Vehicle (SRV).

Distinctively Pontiac
Aztek's face is distinctively Pontiac with cats-eye headlamps and combination turn signals and side marker lamps wrapping around rakishly contoured front fenders. Twin-port grilles feed air to a potent 3.4-liter V6 engine. Wide aggressive slots chiseled into the hood provide a visual link to the Ram Air models in Pontiac's lineup. Oversized foglamps define the lower corners of Aztek's bold front end and provide a unique aerodynamic "look."

At the rear, the liftgate is sharply angled to escape the boxiness that afflicts the ordinary. A hinge-down tailgate supports pre-game festivities and provides convenient access to the spacious cargo hold.

Aztek's side view flaunts protective cladding contoured to resemble the rippling muscle of a finely toned athlete. Wraparound headlamps and taillamps, aggressively canted roof pillars, and a boldly exposed fuel filler cap add visual excitement to the first entry in a whole new class.

Wide Track Design
Aztek also rattles the status quo with its distinctive proportions. Aztek is 73.7 inches wide and 66.7 inches tall. Consistent with Pontiac's wide-track philosophy, Aztek's front stance measures 62.7 inches, while its rear track comes in at a slightly wider 63.8 inches. That's a wider stance than Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer or Dodge Durango.

For an ideal blend of stability and maneuverability, Aztek rides on a 108.3-inch wheelbase. And when it comes to tight turning, Aztek also holds the upper hand with its 36.4-foot turn circle.

Fun, Functional Interior
Aztek's interior is specifically configured for serious fun. Shapes and contours in the instrument panel are reminiscent of fighter aircraft. The analog gauge cluster presents a full array of instantly legible instruments. A reconfigurable telltale module displays 23 distinct pictograph warnings and nine alpha-numeric advisories. An optional innovative dot-matrix head-up display projects road speed and sound system information directly into the driver's line of sight. An available Driver's Information Center (DIC) conveys other critical data and assists in setting personalization features by means of a two-line display located just below the speedometer.

Large round air vents are prominently positioned at the top of the instrument panel and equipped with twist-type shutoff valves. Passenger grab handles built into the door trim and the lower portion of the instrument panel provide hang-tight reassurance when the going gets tough. Exposed attachment screws reinforce the highly functional mood established by Aztek's interior design. Bold graphics splash across Aztek's cloth seat and door trim materials. Shades of Dark Gray or Dark Taupe are offered in leather or cloth upholstery.

Innovative Interior Convenience
Serious about its SRV mission, Aztek introduces several innovative interior features that are sure to set a new benchmark for the automotive industry:

• An available insulated console/cooler that latches securely between the front bucket seats by means of its carrying handle; there's room inside to accommodate a dozen 12-ounce sodas or your cassettes and CDs.
  
  
• Removable utility packs nest neatly in pockets provided in the front door trim; they're readily removable for toting cameras, CD players, cell phones or other gear.
  
  
• An available sliding rear cargo tray system that rolls onto the tailgate to facilitate loading up to 400 pounds of sports gear or home-improvement materials. Pop-up dividers help secure grocery bags or game balls and it even has hidden storage for flares, battery cables, etc.
  
  
• An optional reconfigurable cargo net system that can be configured in 22 different ways to hold up to 35 pounds of cargo in each side panel or up to 200 pounds of freight on the floor.
  
  
• A premium Pioneer 10-speaker system packaged with Aztek's top two sound systems adds a 190-watt amplifier, two six-inch-diameter subwoofers, and a pair of four-inch extended-range speakers aimed rearward toward the liftgate for excellent broadcast capability during tailgate parties.