Just spent 20 minutes jabbering with Jim R. Hopson, the Communications Manager for Pontiac. You remember Pontiac don't you? It's GM's excitment division...
Anyway, with all the buzz around the Chevrolet Camaro and the Hugger Orange Camaro Convertible, the subject of the next Pontiac Firebird came up. Well fans of the Screaming Chicken, we're sorry it did. Turns out the Firebird, once the signature machine of the Pontiac Division, is officially a dead duck.
"Right now there are no plans for a Firebird," Hopson told us while leaning on a silver Solstice. "But there will be an emphasis on rear-wheel drive performance for Pontiac. That's the direction we're heading. "In fact," he added, "we're looking at developing a vehicle on the architecture that's under the Camaro, it just won't be called a Firebird."
Looking at devoloping? Where's Burt Reynolds when you need him?--Scott Oldham, Editor-in-Chief, Inside Line
billt9 says:
01:16 PM, 01/ 7/07
Uh, in other words, there WILL be a Firebird. It just won't be called the Firebird.
Like Ford's 4-door Mustang that is not called a Mustang.
gmguy111 says:
01:45 PM, 01/ 7/07
I always liked the firebird but it makes sense though it would compete with the camaro. But Important news Pontiac has annouced plans to launch GXP models of the Torrent and G6 as reported in the Detroit News pontiac is planning to produce a GXP G6 and Torrent. The torrent will have 263 horses and the G6 wil have 252 horses. Both cars are expected to be out this fall heres a pic of the G6 GXP from Google
http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/04/g6gxp06_inter1600.jpg
gmguy111 says:
01:45 PM, 01/ 7/07
oh and try the link you'll see the pics
gmguy111 says:
01:49 PM, 01/ 7/07
and some exterior shots
http://nouvelles.autonet.ca/FR/SalonAuto/NewYork/2006/04/05/Pontiac_G6_1_big.jpg
http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/article/702/702151/pontiac-g6-gxp-concept-20060418115225198.jpg
But back to the firebird post Firebird is alegendary name for pontiac but im hoping pontiac will come out with a new GTO the current one had the hosepower but it was bland in styling
estreka says:
10:07 PM, 01/ 7/07
I think Pontiac and performance have become antonyms. Even the GTO was a disappointment to Pontiac enthusiasts.
gmguy111 says:
11:24 PM, 01/ 7/07
not necessarily while yes the current GTO was a dissapoinment lets remember that Pontiacs golden days in performance were in the 60's and 70's now they are over run with sedans that do not fit the raw perfromance part of a pontiac. There are exceptions the GXP series and the GTO itself but other than that the rest of their lineup comes from some form of badge engineering the G5 a perfect example of this. Pontiac really needs to come out with unique products and to switch to rear wheel drive soon in order to get the sportiness back in pontiac.
estreka says:
12:57 PM, 01/ 8/07
Actually the GTO was discontinued, the GXP is still FWD, and the GTO was badge engineered, though not from a North American counterpart.
gmguy111 says:
10:38 PM, 01/ 8/07
im aware the GTO is discontinued but I just happened to bring it up because both the GXP models and the discontinued GTO Brought performance i a otherwise badge engineered platform. and the GXPS still bring performance in the pontiac division. Its just that pontiac really needs to switch to rear wheel drive but Pontiac knows that making a rear wheel drive model wil be more expensive than a FWD or AWD model because they would have to change several key components in the drivetrain and other parts to make it RWD. and I know the pics i posted before edmunds posted it themselves of the G6 GXP distorted my text alittle but right now pontiac is overrun with badge engineered models the G5 a shining example of this. Pontiac really needs to dig back into its roots as a performance based brand and make unique products the solstice was a great start but they really need to create a few consistent hit products in order to attract more customers