[nsap]

GMI Exclusive: Pontiac Shakeup
November 13, 2006
Compiled By: GMInsidenews Staff
Written By: NSAP
www.gminsidenews.com

The same brand that was referred to by GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz as a “damaged brand” is in the process of a major overhaul. Rumors of Pontiac’s dismiss have surfaced off and on throughout the last year, and while Pontiac’s future may still be uncertain to some point, they have some exciting and shocking plans for their upcoming product.

Until now it was believed that the G6; like its Epsilon cousins, would be redesigned on the Epsilon II (E2) platform sometime around 2010. The E2 platform is said to be front-wheel drive and available with all-wheel drive. We’ve heard for a long while now that Pontiac wants to be a true performance niche brand at GM. Apparently they are serious, because rumor has it that the front-wheel drive G6 is cancelled. It’s important to note that the G6 is getting a replacement; what type of replacement that will be is uncertain. It is believed that Pontiac will be replacing the G6 with a similarly sized rear-wheel drive performance car; a 3-series type car if you will. Again, GM has not yet made a final decision on what to replace it with. If GMI learns when they do officially decide on what to replace the G6 with, we will run it.

To continue Pontiac’s pursuit to become a true performance division, they are also mulling the idea of bringing a rear-wheel drive compact car to the market. This would replace the current, rebadged G5 Coupe. The car would be available in sedan and coupe form, and would likely carry the “G4” name. GMI’s sources have not disclosed what vehicle architecture the G4 would ride on, but one obvious choice would be the Kappa platform that underpins the Pontiac Solstice. Back in mid-2004 GMI reported that Pontiac was pondering a second Kappa compact car; it sounds as if that plan is still on the drawing board. Like the G6 replacement, the G4 has not been “green-lighted,” but has a good chance of it.

Expect Pontiac to be one of the show-stoppers at the upcoming North American International Auto Show. A concept “Pontiac G8” will be bowing for it’s debut there.

If the two above products make it through the maze of product development and potential business cases, it should be safe to say that Pontiac is on track to become a the true performance brand it’s die-hard fans have been asking for for years.


DISCLAIMER: The above story is based on RUMORS, and is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. Product plans change on an almost daily basis.