GMI's Revitalization in Action | The Dream Pontiac Lineup

[NOS2006]

Originally Posted by KingElvis

Toronado: I disagree. These are all fresher and much more varied designs.

Don't get me wrong, I liked reading all the myriad descriptions of models - l love doing this sort of thing myself. I liked the idea of illustrating an "xtreme" budget Chevelle and so forth, but the C&G Chevelle project got overblown. They started creating a zillion different cars all with the same basic styling - they had a 'crossover' 4x4 wagon etc but all with the same front clip. The made a classic rookie design mistake: they got married to one look and ran amok with it - even 2 years later, it looks quite dated and wasn't all that striking to begin with.

There are rare exceptions (like the multiple bodied G6), but for the most part cars are getting to be more 'niche' oriented, so that you only have a sedan "series" of the Impala, not a wagon, a 'ute' a coupe, a 'crossover' etc.

Also the engines were ridiculously implausible - a 427cid Chevelle? Gimmee a break - what does Cadillac do if Chevy has a 500hp bread 'n butter car?

I had plenty of criticism for this round, but at least they tried offering distinct different designs - and if CandG had done the whole lineup it would be different, but so far as I know, it's just the Chevelle and its practically infinite variants - not the whole lineup.

I don't know who that Toronado dude is above, but I'm gonna agree with him. Maybe the Chevelle Project didn't have the extreme styling this Pontiac RIA has, but it was obviously much better thought out and manipulated than RIA. I'm not saying this as a loyal C&G member at all, either.. I'm saying it as a loyal GM fan. I agree with the Chevelle they created having many variations.. this makes it versatile and anybody can buy it for their own use. Some parts of the project, like the LS7 they alluded to, are impractical.. but you've got to admit it was a much more thorough effort than this Pontiac RIA..

[GMT2006]

Great job on the GTO. It's stylish and contemporary, but the firebird is too odd to become production. The front end is wayyyyyyyyyy to boring.

[hotrod747]

As a diehard Pontiac enthusiast, the renderings are okay at best. The Firebird, oh God, the Firebird! I want a new Firebird waaay more than a new GTO, but not the one rendered. About the closest one to reality is the G8. I hope GM is not planning to simply graph a new nose on a Holden and try to sell it as a Pontiac here in the U.S. It didn't work with the GTO and it won't work until the product is a Pontiac brand specific design. Where is the orange GTO teaser we've been seeing for the last 3 or 4 months? That rendering had a lot of promise.

[hq308]

Originally Posted by salbracht

Prices are still way too high. V6 powered G8 should be in the low $20s. (Like cars sell for much higher in Aussieland compared to America (after dollar conversion). It is just a different market here. Low sales of current GTO are the number one indicator that they screwed up the price. They won't make the same mistake again.)

That was my point, a car that is sold here for around $35K AUD could easily be produced and sold there for around $20K USD. Again using my GTO example the straight dollar conversion makes it a $40K USD price (The Monaro sold here for around $55K AUD +) but the prices start at only $33K . And making it locally should help to keep costs down. You would also have a much higher volume of cars sold than the current GTO which would help bring costs down as well.

[Xenon]

I like the GTO. BTW who designed the veichles?

[vtecdaddy2000]

The GTO is amazing save for the hideaway headlights, a little too retro though the look in general brings back memories of my '65, but that's my only cavil on that one. A great entry level 4 place coupe maybe based on Kappa components slotted below the Solstice is about the only thing I see missing from this lineup which is 200% better than what's in the showroom now.

[FBODYRULES]

Originally Posted by Xenon

I like the GTO. BTW who designed the veichles?

I did all the images

Originally Posted by vtecdaddy2000

The GTO is amazing save for the hideaway headlights, a little too retro though the look in general brings back memories of my '65, but that's my only cavil on that one. A great entry level 4 place coupe maybe based on Kappa components slotted below the Solstice is about the only thing I see missing from this lineup which is 200% better than what's in the showroom now.

yeah thats exactly it, as long as they/some are better than whats in the showrooms now then its all good!

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by NOS2006

You said it perfect: less is more. Every line has to count, not just be there. If the line doesn't really count, why is it being used?

I agree 100%. Clean and simple doesn't automatically equate to dull and boring. Elwood Engel's 1961 Lincoln Continental was a masterpiece of styling.

I'm also glad the GTO draws such polarised opinions (i'm firmly in the YAY camp). That love-it-or-hate-it styling is exactly what keeps up from having to suffer the one-styling-fits-all blandness. And some carmakers are realising that polarising effect to be beneficial to sales (i.e. Renault Megane being Europes top-selling car).

[FBODYRULES]

Originally Posted by t-rex

I agree 100%. Clean and simple doesn't automatically equate to dull and boring. Elwood Engel's 1961 Lincoln Continental was a masterpiece of styling.

I'm also glad the GTO draws such polarised opinions (i'm firmly in the YAY camp). That love-it-or-hate-it styling is exactly what keeps up from having to suffer the one-styling-fits-all blandness. And some carmakers are realising that polarising effect to be beneficial to sales (i.e. Renault Megane being Europes top-selling car).

I couldn't agree with you more

[eb110americana]

Originally Posted by NOS2006

Gotcha. However, remember that when they add DI to the 3.6 V6, it'll reportedly boost power by at least 15%. So that'll easily put it at 315+ HP, which is 55 over the turbo'd 2.0 DI. But, I do see what you're saying... and good thinking with various levels of the same engines (torque-induced tune, regular tune, 3-valve heads).

Glad to see that someone appreciates the idea here! The 3.6 HF DI V6 will be an awesome engine that should pull out all the stops. Direct injection is expensive and adds weight, so the person willing to pay for it will likely want the most advanced V6 available. Meaning it should have variable valve timing separate on both intake and exhaust cams, variable lift, coil-on-plug ignition, variable intake plumbing, AFM, aluminum or magnesium block/heads, high compression, etc. This probably will relegate it to a Cadillac-only engine, though I could see it in limited production models like an Aura RedLine/Vectra OPC/VXR and Saab Aeros. I'm sure it will be a fantastic motor that would put a 4500 to shame on smoothness. The 4500 would be muscle-car-lopey and fun in it's 300+ horsepower form. Therefore you'd only see that in Pontiacs and the occasional Chevy.

[Gm786]

The picture of the 2010 Pontiac G6 looks sweet! Nice.

[CharlotteFirebird]

Great job! Here are my thougts, for what they're worth:

1. I seem to be in the minority, but I like the Firebird
2. Solstice is missing. It should not only be kept, but a coupe should be added.
3. The G8, shouldn't be called "G8", even though it probably will be. As others have said, it's too bland, even though that is likely to be what it looks like.
4. I don't think there is room for a Firebird and a GTO. One or the other.
5. There should not be any V8-only cars. The production would be too low and with gas prices going up, there should be V6 options for all cars except Corvette.
6. The G6 looks good, but if possible it should be RWD on the SWB Zeta. If that's not possible, AWD would be a good option.
7. There should be 5 total Pontiacs. Four is not enough IMO: 1. Solstice 2. G6, renamed Grand Am 3. Firebird 4. Kappa Sedan 5. G8/Grand Prix

[lightbrotha2004]

I don't know what you people are talking about gas going up. Out here it is going down steadlily. And that GTO is a work of art the only one that i'm not totally feeling is the G6

[Xenon]

Whats going to be worked on next? Chevorlet?

[Jimmy Jive]

The more I see it, the more I dislike that Firebird. As well as the more I think about it, the more I can't see a business case for the 'Bird.

But, I really think there should be a Firebird, built on KappaII, with a AWD option, styled like an evolution of the Solstice (basically replacing the Solstice), 2+2 seating, with small rear suicide doors (a'la: the Mazda RX-8)

That would be a mean car, and distance itself enough from the Camaro, that it could stand and fight on it's own. Actually, with the right engine, and smaller size, I could see a Firebird like that out-lasting the Camaro.

But, I'm getting horribly off-topic. Cheers once again to the people involved. This is an amazing line up.