Automotive News, Media & Press - Pontiac will get entry-level coupe

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Pontiac will get entry-level coupe

Jamie LaReau
Automotive News / February 13, 2006 - 6:00 am


DETROIT -- General Motors will give Pontiac an entry-level coupe as a stopgap measure until the division gets more brand-focused products, sources close to Pontiac say. In the process, Pontiac dealers will lose the Montana SV6 minivan.

The coupe will be a high-performance relative of the Chevrolet Cobalt coupe with some Pontiac influences. The vehicle will give the Buick-Pontiac-GMC channel a shot at the small-car market, a source close to GM says. GM is still considering names for it. One option might be the G5, sources say.

Pontiac intends to launch the coupe as a 2007 model and likely will start production this fall in Lordstown, Ohio.

The car will be priced similarly to the Chevrolet Cobalt SS supercharged coupe, which starts at $20,490, including shipping.

Pontiac eventually will lose the Montana SV6 minivan, which has seen sluggish sales and does not fit Pontiac's performance-brand image, sources say. U.S. sales of the SV6 for January fell to 1,450 units, an 11.5 percent drop from 1,638 in the year-ago period.

Pontiac has lacked an entry-level car since the Sunfire died last year.

In Canada, GM sells a Cobalt sibling called the Pontiac Pursuit.

Pontiac's performance-brand image
I say not to even bother what the fuck is the point of another GM coupe, we already have 2 the Cobalt and the Ion. Bring back the fucking Trans Am that has performance written all over it. The Trans Am looks, sounds, and feels fast. GM is wasting their fucking time an effort. Either spend more time and money on the Camaro or build us a Trans Am, but not another car that shares everything with 2 other ones.
-Joel

:stupid:

Geez another version of the Colbolt for Pontiac?????

It's no wonder GM is in trouble!!!!!!!!

"We're going to cut back on badge engineering... right after we build both the Solstice and the Sky (although I must admit that personally I see a market for both cars and do like both of them quite a bit)... oops, we mean right after the Torrent which is a less good looking still underpowered Equinox clone... actually, we meant right after we give Pontiac a Cobalt clone which we promised we wouldn't do when the Cobalt debuted.

FWIW GM sells the Pontiac Pursuit in Canada which technically is just a Cobalt with a Poncho badge. They do this because the General doesn't sell Chevy's up north in Canada. In fact back in the day you could order up Pontiacs with Chevy 427s IIRC. Just a bit of useless trivia.

As for this entry level coupe. Well since there is likely no way around it, I'm going to not go into denial and venture a guess that this "G5" will most likely get a slightly detuned version of the Solstice GXPs turbo 2.0L Ecotec. I'm guessing it will be rated at around 240hp. If you ask me, they should design the car in the vein of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra VXR which already packs a 240hp turbo ecotec, and looks sharp as shit. Replace the hatch with a trunk or hatchglass and they're there.

FWIW the Astra is what Saturn needs to replace the Ion With.



240hp Opel/Vauxhall Astra VXR: This thing could go toe to toe with an SRT-4 unlike the weak ass Cobalt SS Supercharged



http://cars.msn.co.uk/pidl/101866791/vauxhall_astra_vxr_023.jpg

http://cars.msn.co.uk/pidl/101866791/vauxhall_astra_vxr_063.jpg

http://cars.msn.co.uk/pidl/101866791/vauxhall_astra_vxr_091.jpg

http://cars.msn.co.uk/pidl/101866791/vauxhall_astra_vxr_031.jpg



See, GM does know how to build em... OVERSEAS. Their Holden/Middle Eastern Chevrolet and Opel/Vauxhall lineups kick ass.

I agree, yet again, GM is Fucking Clueless

They should make something to compete with the Acura RSX or the Si.