Pontiac’s future lineup to focus small, front-wheel drive models

[Stevasaurus]

So GM's "performance division" gets neutered again? G3 based on Aveo? Cruze variant?

Would somebody please put Pontiac out of its misery once and for all? Ponchos deserve way better than this.

[mjd1001]

Originally Posted by Stevasaurus

So GM's "performance division" gets neutered again? G3 based on Aveo? Cruze variant?

Would somebody please put Pontiac out of its misery once and for all? Ponchos deserve way better than this.

People need to get out of their head that Pontiac has to be a performance division. If going forward, GM is going to have most Pontiac dealers under the same roof as Buick and GMC....then it makes sense to differentiate the cars based on styling. If a car is going to be styled in a more 'luxurious, elegant' manner, it goes to Buick. However, if it is to be of a sportier style, then it goes to Pontiac. Under the BPG roof, it makes sense to 'keep' pontiac around and offer that styling differentiation between the brands.

[zabraden]

Originally Posted by Stevasaurus

So GM's "performance division" gets neutered again? G3 based on Aveo? Cruze variant?

Would somebody please put Pontiac out of its misery once and for all? Ponchos deserve way better than this.

I would tend to agree. As much as I love Pontiac, and think it could be GM's enthusiast division, it needs to go if it's going to be nothing but rebadged Chevy's.

[jmlee0695]

what if it gets g8 solstice and kappa II sedan,rest are fwd with turbos,sportier suspensions and handling?

[vetterider19]

I guess I'll repeat my GM dream once again....

Chevrolet: Bread and Butter Family Cars and Trucks + Corvette.

Pontiac: 3-4 car mid-volume brand. RWD performance cars. Bargain BMW anyone?

Buick: SOFT Luxury market. IE Lexus, Acura. Focus on Comfort and Technology.

Cadillac: Performance Luxury Nuff Said.

GMC: Copy-cat truck outlet for Pontiac-Buick Dealers. Hello! no extra development costs here!!

Saturn: Quality import fighter. (possible AXE)

Hummer: Niche off-road luxury (land rover anyone?) (possible Axe)

Saab: Either drop their prices or AXE them. Can you imagine how great the 9-3 convertible would be for 32K instead of 40+K???

[nadepalma]

To complement the G3, two new Pontiac sedans are said to be in the works. The first would be a sedan to slot in between the G3 and G5, although it remains unclear what architecture the new model would ride on. However, the sedan hasn’t officially been given to the Pontiac brand yet – Buick is also in the running. And, since Pontiac and Buick dealers are typically housed under one roof, only one brand will be receiving the new model. Whatever division ends up with the new model, it should be ready to hit the market by 2012.

A Pontiac sedan based on the 2010 Chevrolet Cruze is still in the cards, with a simultaneous launch date possible in 2010. As with the Cruze/Cobalt, it still remains unclear how and if the new sedan and G5 will coexist.

This makes close to NO sense at all.

A sedan to be slotted between the G3 and G5? What product does GM have coming that could even possibly accomplish this?

If the G3 is successful, it will eventually be supplanted by a new G3 based on the Gamma platform (as the next Aveo will be).

The G5 will probably end up being based on DeltaII and be a clone to the Cruze.

What product (G4?) could possibly be slotted in between? And what platform would it be derived from? The article says DeltaII - but the Cruze is based on DeltaII - what sense does this make?

The only small product Buick is slated to get is the Skylark, which is supposed to be a replacement for the Excelle in China. And its still up in the air if Buick in the US will definitely get this product.

I think that the folks from Left Lane News have some of their figures screwed up. If there was such a product, GMIers would have know about it by now. Throwing Buick in the mix for possibly getting it basically means that this portion of the article my be just a bunch of confused mumblings, no?

[Rocket 88]

So Saturn gets product starved for years and experiences a rebirth with a move up market and with European influences. Now Pontiac gets turned into the original Saturn? Is it me or is this crazy?

I can't imagine Pontiac customers being excited by a line of small fwd vehilcles.

There has to be more to this.

[tollytime]

Originally Posted by ARCANGEL

pontiac=dead

Yes, please, stick a fork in it!! It's done. The management at GM blew it!! GM has twisted Pontiac into the most dubious car line in the history of automobiles. This was a business text book classic and the answer was simple!! Make a hot sleek line of cars using Chevy parts. Instead, GM management tried to make Pontiacs out of complete Chevys!!! How did they screw this up??
G3?? oh c'mon guys!! The G5 and Torrent?? The G6 needs new front clip about now, don't you think?? The G8 and Solstice won't save the divison. When they got rid of "excitement", they got rid of Pontiac.
Make the G8 the new Chevelle and turn the Solstice into the Stingray. Throw out the rest.

[camaro_freak]

fro article..."Thanks to higher gas prices and looming emissions and fuel economy standards, Pontiac will likely be limited to smaller, front-wheel drive models."

I am so sick of this whinning. GM needs to suck it up and start playing with the big boys or there won't be any divisions left to squander.

P-B-GMC should have products you can't get at Saturn or Chevy plain and simple. NO MORE OVERLAP and blatant rebadging please!

[Duramaximum]

For the the love of all things automotive!!! Heaven forbid GM rebadge the new Camaro as a Trans Am, but we can rebadge every front-drive, four-banger fifty ways to Sunday to appeal every liberal, tree-hugging, C.A.F.E. loving, S.O.B. in congress. Just so the legacy of the Big Three can go down in flames in bankruptcy court or a in monstrous government bail-out that will only delay the inevitable, all because they wouldn't let automakers build what sells.

I blame complete idiots like Al Gore for this. Bring back the free-markets that determine product development. If I want a 455 Big-Block in my Pontiac at $5/gallon gasoline, that's my business! The federal government needs to butt out and leave capitalism alone!!!! .

[PontiacBixler]

There's only one car that can save Pontiac now.......

[FearTheDodo]

I said it before, I'll say it again... go All wheel drive performance midsize... like the WRX STi

[joshls]

GM has completely lost their way. Very sad. I'm done with Pontiac if this is what they become.

[ColinOpseth]

Amazing. GM has resurrected Geo as the "new" Pontiac. Adios "Performance Car" division. Pathetic.

[Lichtronamo]

I see a trend here:

Next generation Impala, delayed.
Mid-cycle update Malibu, delayed.
Camaro convertable, delayed.
Next generation Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, delayed.
G6 replacement, delayed.
Next generation Aura, delayed.
Next generation Lucerne, delayed.
Next generation STS/DTS, delayed.
Next generation Escalade delayed.

GM's piggy bank has run dry - forget your dreams of revitalizing Pontiac with new, unique products.

As for Pontiac being "dead", its already dead on rental support with 40% of volume going to the fleets. The G8, as good as it may be, is a DOA in the market. Other than the niche Solstice, nothing the brand has builds excitement.