Rageous

[DrkPhynx]

This is just a flight of fancy, but the other day I saw a Vibe pull into the parking lot of the convience store I was leaving, and I had just been talking to someone about the Magnum, and I got to thinking....

If Pontiac could produce the Rageous, that would be a good fit. Dealers wanted the mini-van, and mini-SUVs are becoming the rage (no pun intended), so the Rageous could be a good fit there, part "cross-over" (like a big brother to the Vibe), and part cross between a mini-van and a mini-sport ute.

Actually, I've wanted one ever since I saw the concept and I hate both mini-vans *and* sport-utes, personally.

I dunno, just thought it would be a good fit in the lineup -
G8 for sedan performance (compete against the 300C, and even the 5 Series and Audi's and such)
(I still really feel that "G8" should be dropped in favor of Bonneville, personally)
G6 for FWD performance coupe or hard top 'vert
(no real need for the G6 sedan, and teh G5 could be dropped, or kept for the Civic Type R market, since the G6 is bigger and more expensive)
Solstice for roadster
The Vibe should be offered in ramped up AWD, then it could shoot for a variety of markets, including drawing in import buyers, and more specifically, the Evo/STi crowd

Then dump the Torrent and replace it with the Rageous. Then replace the all-important Firebird, and you have one bitchin' lineup.

[DrkPhynx]

I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea but I love it. I really dig that interior too. And it's certainly moder/futuristic.

(shades of RX8 too with the half-doors, so it could add even *more* practicality, beyond it's cargo room, to it's selling points)

[Captainofiron]

They should have built that instead of the Aztec. BLAH


But yea I always liked the way that looked too, Maybe Pontiac should put it in production to fight the WRX and Evos hmm

[LT1wannabe]

It would be cool. I just don't think America's ready for that car yet. lol.

About dropping the other cars, I think dropping the Bonneville was a good move. I'd keep the Grand Prix for the full size sedan.

As for the G series, DEFINITELY keep the G8. It could be the BMW killer if people knew that BMW's were pieces of shit (nobody cares though, cuz they want the world to think they're God's gift to greatness because of the price tag). I also think they should drop the G6 and keep the G5, but make 3 trim packages for it. 1 would be the basic G5 to contend with all the entry ricers. The other 2 would share the same, hyped-up engine. One would be a coupe, and the other a hard-top vert. Then bring back the Firebird, and you've got yourself a killer line-up with 1 SUV and 1 crossover.

I'd also do some R&D for a pick-up. It could share the Silverado's engines. Maybe a sportier pick-up than what other companies offer. Not too gay though.

[Dan]

I like the Rageous..Looks like it would take some balls to build that car, and we know GM doesn't have any.

[DrkPhynx]

LT1wannabe - I think the G6 is more important than the G5. The performance division doesn't really need more than 1 FWD platform, and the hardtop 'vert is just slick, not to mention the G6 coupe is really cool looking (and when widened and flared like the GXP.R, it's just bad ass). The G5 would only really find a place in the Cobalt SS/old Sunfire/Civic/etc area. And as noted, there is the Cobalt SS (which is what it is anyway) already.

The Grand Prix is/ought to be a 2-door. The G6 makes a good Grand Prix replacement. A performance sedan is what the Bonneville SSEi was. And that is what makes sense to put up against the 300C and Audi sedans (as well as the lower cost M-B's and possibly even 5-series, though that's getting into CTS-V terrirtory).

The G8 *vehicle* should stay, just as it's gonna be. I just think they should change the name to Bonneville is all I was saying.

I also think that Pontiac should stay out of the truck market. Yeah, on one hand it can be argued that performance trucks are a viable market and the performance division ought to massage a truck, but.... Pontiac is not a truck company. That would be a mistake. Leave that to the Z-71 and whatever GMC wants to do (should bring back the Syclone ).

[DrkPhynx]

Originally Posted by Captainofiron

They should have built that instead of the Aztec. BLAH


But yea I always liked the way that looked too, Maybe Pontiac should put it in production to fight the WRX and Evos hmm

Ya know... I actually was glad the Aztek looked the way it did. lol I won't argue that is should have been produced over the Rageous, and I will say that I thought it was ugly. But.... it was different. And in that, it was actually kinda cool. It looked like nothing else out there, plus had some neat utility as well. It was just TOO out there for the market it seems.

You're right too, the Rageous could be good in the Evo/STi area, but, what about this? We already have the Vibe, and for the import buyers, the fact that it's a Toyota gives it some credibility (although that also means they are like to just buy the Matrix instead, which is bad, but nevermind...). That car is great in the Scion Xb/Tc/Subaru Outback/Dodge Avenger / 20-something first car market. It should be AWD though (I hear the Matrix is available in AWD, but the Vibe apparently is not). Now, if you do that... all ya gotta do is drop the Solstice GXP engine in it, and then the power can be dialed up and suddenly it's a viable player in the Impreza market, with enough power, possible even the lower end Evo and WRX.

That would make the Rageous redundant there. Plus it would need to be AWD to compete (not that that would be a bad thing). It's already set up to accept the LT1 (and thereby, LS2 and 3), and is RWD. It's a Hemi Magnum competitor, and since it can swallow a full sheet of plywood, it's also a mini-SUV/"cross over" competitor as well, perfect for people shopping for the Outlander and all over similar small, performance oriented road only SUVs. Hell, might even play in the Cayenne space, for people who don't care about off-roading (though it might be a bit of a stretch to go that far).

And like I said before, toss the Torrent (push those buyers toward the Rageous or Vibe), and the G6 sedan (push those buyers into the G8, v6 model if necessary), and then add the Firebird to sit in between the Solstice and Rageous, and you have the ultimate Pontiac lineup.

[Mustang5.Ohater]

one of my all time favorite concepts!!

[Formula350]

There's a thread floating around the bottom with the guy saying the Firebird should've been that. It's an interesting car, but... a bit too outRageous for me (yea, bad funny I know heh)

[Louie83]

I remember when that first came out.

The front of it should basically be the front of a new Firebird. The rear and sides....not so much.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by DrkPhynx

It should be AWD though (I hear the Matrix is available in AWD, but the Vibe apparently is not).

Actually it is available in AWD. I almost bought one while I was looking for a daily driver. But when I realized it only got 28 mpg on the highway I passed up on it.

[Formula350]

The Aztec had a V8 AWD option too. I think it only was able to get a 4800 (4.8L), but could've been the 5300 (5.3)

[DrkPhynx]

Originally Posted by Formula350

The Aztec had a V8 AWD option too. I think it only was able to get a 4800 (4.8L), but could've been the 5300 (5.3)

That's sick.

See, this is the problem - no damned advertising. Why is the crappy tundra selling so well? People see it on TV every 10 minutes and think it's the toughest truck ever built.

V8 or not, the Aztek is still ugly, sure, but.... V8+AWD... guarentee they could have sold more.

And the Vibe AWD, again, why no advertising? I went to the web site and could not find anything about AWD. FWD only, which is why I said what I did earlier. And... why don't they drop the Solstice GXP engine in it? I'm tellin' ya, that cranked up to 300hp with a big wing on the back, it could play in Evo/WRX territory (in the market).

[Captainofiron]

geez, I cant imagine an Aztec with a V8, I thought they just came with 4 bangers and 6s

[Formula350]

My ex's boss has (or had, dunno if he has it still, been 6 years since I talked to either of them) an Aztec and he got it decked out, but didn't want the V8 or AWD due to gas and living in Chicago (no need for either). I trust his word though. I'll google and see what I can find. Wiki should have info.

EDIT: Bummer seems like no dice. AWD, 2WD, all powered by the 3.4L. Shucks. Would've been hilarious taking an AWD V8 Aztek to the track and having the pipes rumble and pull 12s in the 1/4 lol

[DixieDevil]

Originally Posted by Formula350

The Aztec had a V8 AWD option too. I think it only was able to get a 4800 (4.8L), but could've been the 5300 (5.3)

Would not be a hard switch there, same block

[Formula350]

Originally Posted by DixieDevil

Would not be a hard switch there, same block

Should've read the rest of the thread. They ONLY came with a 3.4L which, I know you didn't mean the 3.4, isn't the same block We all know a SBC is a SBC though (with in the same generation).

[DixieDevil]

yea I seen that I just meant that it would have been an easy fix if it would have come with the 4.8

[DrkPhynx]

Originally Posted by Formula350

Should've read the rest of the thread. They ONLY came with a 3.4L which, I know you didn't mean the 3.4, isn't the same block We all know a SBC is a SBC though (with in the same generation).

All engines have been GM Powertrain, or "corporate" engines for decades now. The Aztek couldn't have gotten a "chevy" engine, as they no longer exist.

(guess that's 1 good thing going for the Aztek )

[SCRWS6]

something like the Mercedes R class? the whole inbetweensportsuteandminivan (made up a word)