Pontiac: Start Making Sense

[Ghrankenstein]

Pontiac’s Performance Formula: Start Making Sense

An Editorial by Ghrankenstein


Throughout automotive forums, especially on GMI, the reaffirmation of Pontiac as a true performance brand has been a clear mandate. For fifteen years, mismanagement and corporate neglect has reduced GM’s “excitement” marque to what can justifiably be called “Chevrolet Jr.” To their credit, Pontiac’s engineers have worked overtime to produce the Solstice, the well-differentiated G6, and the highly enjoyable V-8 Grand Prix GXP, but the make has had to make do with far too many hand-me-downs.

Unfortunately, Pontiac’s brand managers seem to have put in just as much overtime as the engineers. The result has been nearly as many performance-oriented sub-brands as there are products in the stable: GT, GTP, GXP, Comp-G, and you can throw in earlier designations such as WS-6 and Formula. The result is the lack of a unified performance statement from a domestic make that direly needs one.

Standardized Message, Standardized Performance

Mazda has Mazdaspeed. Cadillac has V. BMW, Daimler-Chrysler (SRT and AMG), and many other makes have vastly more comprehensible performance brands. Even with quirky little Subaru, who has its own overabundance of designations, getting something with a GT badge means more than it does with Pontiac.

Chevrolet was headed in the same direction, in offering SS designations indiscriminately, and on vehicles with only modest performance. Fortunately, Chevy caught itself, and decided to make its sportiest Equinox simply a “Sport.” SS was dropped on the 2008 Malibu, at least until something appropriately fast could be added. Heading into the 2008 model year, Chevrolet’s SS lineup has a definite standard, with the only exception being the 2.4L Cobalt SS, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that model demoted to “Sport” status as well. If that were the case, and I suspect that it will be, SS would deliver a meaningful performance benchmark just like Cadillac’s V-Series: 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds, 6.5 at the maximum.

Pontiac doesn’t have the historical obligation that Chevrolet/SS has. Pontiac has to offer performance, period. I’ve got close to a textbook of armchair analysis working on that, but Pontiac’s high-end performance statement needs a single message, and a standard. GT has degraded to a mere trim level. GTP and GXP are getting perilously close to that, and GTP doesn’t imply much beyond its first two letters. GXP suggests something better than a GTP. Currently, GXP can mean either “top of the line,” or it can mean true high-performance.

When Pontiac started promising GXP versions of everything, most of us shook our heads, with visions of Vibes and Torrents cropping up with the same performance badges as Solstices and V-8 powered models. When I reviewed the 2007 Torrent, I proposed an improved sport model, with the 3.6 VVT engine, 6T70E, lowered ride, improved performance and handling, and no roof rack. I was spot on; I suggested “GT” as a designation, but “Sport” would have been just as good. A GXP Torrent, regardless of how good it is, doesn’t justify any type of premium performance standard when an Equinox Sport and Suzuki XL-7 are riding around with the same hardware.

Start Making Sense

I suspect that for 2008, GTP will be abandoned. At least I hope that it will be, and that the Pontiac G6 won’t further confuse people with too many letters and too few performance improvements. At least people wouldn’t be able to accuse the 2008 G6 GXP of being an appearance package, when at least the Torrent gives GXP owners better actual performance than lower models. Please, Pontiac, don’t let me be wrong.

Pontiac has enough problems with its lingering Chevrolets rebadges. Identity crises surrounding its best performing vehicles are the last thing Pontiac needs. Standardizing the GXP brand, and making it mean something, are quick and easy ways to avoid some of the unnecessary stumbling blocks on the road to the Pontiac’s recovery.

Zero to sixty in less than six seconds, comparable to Chevy’s SS vehicles, should be the minimum meaningful standard for GXP. If Chevy can do it, and we have every indication that it can, so can Pontiac. When an excited and proud owner can announce to the world that they’ve just bought a GXP and have it bring the appreciation associated with a Mazdaspeed or an SRT, Pontiac will have a reputation it can flaunt.

We all know that GM needs to decide what performance really means in the context of its performance marque. Pontiac needs to start by making sense. Making GXP mean something is the first step.

More on this in the near future. Thanks for reading. Criticisms, including those of my writing style, are humbly accepted.

Ghrankenstein

[Jkujo]

I think you about nailed it!

[Havasavana]

How much more can the BPG dealers take before they fold? I'd say that might be GM's plan, but that's giving them too much credit. How many more Aura's would be sold if Saturn had more dealers, or if that car were 'owned' by another name plate; e.g. Buick? It seems to me that the scarcity of Saturn dealers is costing GM a lot of sales, and this should be addressed at some point.

[WishIhadatruck]

I agree with all that you said. The new G6 GXP is a real disappointment since it offers nothing over the GTP, why the change in letters? For too big a wing and a questionable improvment in the front end? Where is the manual transmission? I thought GM would improve and simplify the Pontiac brand by making them ALL sporty and offering another level of performance that goes above and beyond all other competing vehicles on the road. The G6 GXP looks faster than a '07 Altima but I'm sure it ain't and it doesn't have a manual trans available either.

[Driveshaft]

Hear hear!

The Titanic begins to turn...

[GotAWD]

no doubt, i was wondering about the Torrent getting more power than the G6 GXP. kinda seems like a wierd combo to me. why not have both vehicles with the same amount of power. i mean at least the GXPs are getting more power but why does the "sporty" car not have a "sporty" engine. thats my only concern of the current GXP's. oh and what about the manuals? is their going to be one available?

[ByTheLake]

Even with quirky little Subaru, who has its own overabundance of designations, getting something with a GT badge means more than it does with Pontiac.

Exactly. If you're looking at a G6 coupe (not sedan), the GT is the base.

[Ming]

I agree Ghrank, well said. Pontiac has let me down more times than it has surprised and impressed me, and this was really the last straw. My next vehicle will not be a Pontiac. Zarella-style management of the brand -- a "Car version of GMC / Chevy Clone" with cosmetic "performance" (and an ugly grille) is exactly what the G6 GXP turned out to be. Yes, it has a great engine and a great transmission, but other than the appearance its no different than what you can buy now (and from Saturn as well). At least its not a complete Chevy clone like the Torrent and G5.

Even if my car choices aren't always performance oriented, I can't stand behind a brand that repeats the same old tired method year after year of dressing up a car that is mechanically identical to a Chevy in "exciting sheetmetal", or just a grille change, and tries to convince us that its somehow supposed to be a performance brand. GM has proven to us that it is unwilling to invest in Pontiac, so why should I buy a Pontiac? I guess I'll leave that to the people who Zarella once targeted with Pontiac - "less educated / affluent" buyers.

Hello new brand.

[kenman923]

If Pontiac is planning to go all RWD, how do they intend to do that?

[iluvcamaros]

Originally Posted by Jkujo

I think you about nailed it!

Yes you did. I am a Chevy fan, but I have a soft spot for Pontiac and it is almost physically painful to see the shape that it is in. The Grand Prix is amazing considering it is a FWD W-body, but no one other than a die hard GM fan is gonna give it any credit for "being good considering". The same goes for the G6 which is good "considering it replaced the Grand Am". Then there is also the Aztek/Torrent and Sunfire/G5.

The time has come for Pontiacs to be GREAT performance cars on top of being all around GOOD cars and not "good considering".


______________________________________
P.S.
How does the G6 deserve the GTP or GXP badges anyway? The new GXP is nothing more than a Malibu LTZ with ugly body work (my opinion maybe you like the "retarded ricer look"). So how does it merit the GXP badge when the Malibu wears just an LTZ and not an SS? The 3.6 should be available on all trim levels like the Malibu. The GXP should be no less than 270-280hp plus a Manual transmission and other goodies (SPOILERS AND GRILLS DON'T COUNT AS "GOODIES"). I fear Pontiac is sinking back into its old ways again. Chevys plus spoilers and cladding . GXP=SS not GXP=LTZ

[GMFreak8]

Hopefully, shortly Pontiac will get the same treatment that Cadillac, and Saturn have gotten. GM needs to give Chevy and Buick the treatment first though. Buick shouldn't be too hard to fix. Update the Lacrosse, the Lucerne, and give them a RWD Velite like vehicle, and Buick will have an excellent lineup. Chevy needs more work, but not nearly as much as Pontiac. Pontiac's whole lineup needs to be replaced sans the Solstice.

[EldoFan]

Well said.......

I hope when the RWD wave hits in full force, Pontiac has come to it's senses......Chevrolet has and really, Pontiac should've straightened this mess out first....then Chevy, but whatever.....

Base, GT and then GXP is all you need.....

Back in the day, Ford had it down.......There was the base Torino, the Torino GT (which added much of the visual appeal, but little under the hood) and the Torino Cobra (which combined the visual and under-hood appeal into a real muscle machine)

If you strain to understand what Pontiac is doing, consider my Buick analogy.......

Back in the day, at one time Buick had the Skylark, GS350, GS400 and GSX......they each built on each other in various mechanical and/or cosmetic ways.....much as Pontiac does with the base, GT, GTP and GXP versions of the G6.

True, the GSX was more of an option package than a full fledged model, but you get the idea (hopefully).......

[WildGMFan]

Good write up Ghrankenstein...

One word...Saturn

One thing that bugs me is that Saturn is given more support and money than Pontiac who has been demoted over and over making them the **************************** child of GM. I have never been a fan of Saturns and wished that GM would have paid more attention to Pontiac and let Saturn die like Oldsmobile. Unfortunately, instead I see Pontiac dying a slow death with GM's mismangement and neglect to blame for this.

My family has always supported Pontiac through the years and now I have too in the past few years with a G6 and now my Torrent. Unless they make a complete turnaround from what they are now and start making products worthy of a "Excitement" "Performance" brand, I don't forsee myself supporting them in the future. They have let us down.

I welcome the engine upgrade in the '08 Torrent but not the GXP designation. It would have been much better with the "GT" just like the Equinox got the "Sport" instead of "SS." They need to do better than just slapping on a badge. Just like the G6 GXP, give it more HP (300 is a good start), AWD, a better interior, do away with the rice wing and you may have a winner.

If Cadillac can do it with the CTS (AWD and all), then I may change my mind about my future Pontiac purchase change. Sadly, I don't see that happening. Saturn is given a higher priority

[Sinner]

I said it before in another thread, Pontiac shouldn't be 0-60 in less than 6 seconds, Pontiac should be everybase model comes with 300+hp.

Drop every model that doesn't live up to that and go from there. Bump the horsepower on the Solstice GXP to 300, shouldn't be that hard. Same with the G6, base engine 3.6L with DI, 300+. The G8, base engine 6.0L. Opt. 7.0. GTO, 2 door version of the G8, base 6.2L V8, option 1: 7.0L, option 2: LS9.

No trim levels just options. Forget being proud of owning a SRT or M or V, you own a Pontiac. The brand that is only performance. Pontiac doesn't need a performance arm, they are the performance arm.

[jbernie]

Can't disagree with you unfortunately. As we compare the Pontiac naming convention to Audi's, We should look at how simple it can be.
A4 - standard car
S4 - sports model
RS4 - hello officer, no i did not realize I was 75 mph over the limit.

The 4 stays the same.

Pontiac
G6 - standard
G6 GTP - above standard
G6 GXP - i should be going faster and what happened to the alphabet?

The G6 stays the same but the jumble of letters afterwards are a mess.

I admit I have never been sold on the G6 style naming and even if Pontiac has a bad rep, the right car with the old style names would not be an issue as people know more often than not what to expect from a Grand Am, Grand Prix or a Bonneville. Good or bad, at least you won't need to explain to every person what you have.

Also, the G6 I would associate in size to a BMW 3 series or an Audi 4 series. The 6 is confusing as it doesn't relate back to any of the competitions numbering (true competitors or not). Audi's numbers are just one higher than BMW 3 to 4, 5 to 6, 7 to 8.

As much as I love the current GTO (biased being an Aussie), it didn't really help, but at least GTO means 2 door, V8 coupe in old and new language.

If nothing else, the two door v6 Zeta can be the Le Mans again, the V8 performance can be the GTO, the Commodore rebadge can be the Bonneville etc. Though the styling is different was the Bonneville more of a luxury Grand Prix? Holden does well in Australia with the Commodore, Berlina & Calais names even if they are the same basic shape just different luxury levels. Maybe the Commodore can be the Grand Prix and a true luxury model can be the Bonneville.