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Pontiac to get Cobalt-based econobox
It's
another example of the dreaded "platform sharing" concept, but don't fret, GM says it's temporary.
According to AutoWeek, the Chevy Cobalt will be revisited as a high-performance Pontiac model
possibly called the G5. The model will be a temporary thing until a more Pontiac-like small car is
developed. AutoWeek's source says we'll probably see the vehicle in 2007 out of the Lordstown,
Ohio plant. Pricing will be close to that of the Chevy Cobalt SS, which starts at just over $20,000. There is already a
Cobalt-based Pontiac currently sold in Canada under the name Pursuit (pictured).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Rastus 3:11PM (2/13/2006)
Absolutely NOTHING has changed:
http://img.2dehands.be/f/normal/9564389.jpg
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Jason 3:11PM (2/13/2006)
This post is pretty funny if you're Canadian.
I didn't even know the Persuit was Canadian-only. I'm reading this going "wtf? Pontiac has had the Persuit all year alrea.....oh."
And what could be more Pontiac-like then a rebadged Chevy? Slap on some red dash lights and you're good to go. Built For Drivers!
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RossL 3:18PM (2/13/2006)
Unbelievable ... just unbelievable. They just don't get it. After three frigging decades they just ... don't ... get it. They don't care about cars. They only care about channels.
I want GM to succeed. I really do. I want to be proud of what we can do here in North America. But how lame can you get? And to top it off, before they even launch the car they're telling us that it's just a temporary thing. Oh, wow - that REALLY makes me want one. A limited edition Pontiac Crapola!!!! Ack. Bleh.
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Adam 3:25PM (2/13/2006)
Why don't they just come out with the Solstice coupe instead? More driver oriented and in the same price range. Friggin morons.
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Finished.Law.School 3:26PM (2/13/2006)
Temporary?
Bullshit.
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BT 3:31PM (2/13/2006)
I agree, Guys. This absolutely pisses me off. Tell the dealers to go f' themselves. More "appease the dealers and the UAW at the expense of doing what's right for the business" BS. What's your explanation for this, LaNeve? Jackass.
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Tim UF 3:44PM (2/13/2006)
So... Small pontiac for around 20-22k... sounds a lot like the g6 (which has a coupe and sedan, already)... at least ford's brands have some (not a whole lot) identity besides the badge...
add this to the torrent vs equinox post earlier today... GM must believe quantity over quality.
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Mark R 3:49PM (2/13/2006)
Does this mean the end of the Pontiac Vibe?
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radioflier 3:52PM (2/13/2006)
So when do we see the Cadillac version? You know, CIMMARON-II.
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jim3480 4:02PM (2/13/2006)
No...don't deep six the Montana minivan. Please...don't!! Don't they listen to Bob Lutz? It's all about product. Product, product, product.
And don't ask him to take any cuts in pay...he already "gave at the office".
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JH 4:04PM (2/13/2006)
Just what everybody wants. A Cobalt with a "butterfly" grill. Nice. Seriously GM needs to decide on Pontiac's reason for existance... If GM expects people to believe that Pontiac is their "excitement" division, they need to back up their hype with some unique product. And if the Solstice is exciting, well then I guess Saturn is also their "excitement" division, cause they've got the exact same flippin' car. These brands are so diluted, if it's not already a lost cause, it will be soon.
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J T 4:05PM (2/13/2006)
Well at least they didn't call this one Sunfire...
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Carlos 4:12PM (2/13/2006)
This is almost as bad for Pontiac as the Chevy Camaro will be.
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JH 4:20PM (2/13/2006)
That Camero will be a Pontiac Firebird before you can even blink, and we all know it. Just cross your fingers that it doesn't also end up a Cadillac and a Saturn somehow.
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Tim Danner 4:21PM (2/13/2006)
Clearly the next step is a Pontiac version of the Aveo.
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Mad Anthony 4:25PM (2/13/2006)
GM is still considering names for it. One option might be the G5, sources say.
Apple should sue them.
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Micah 4:25PM (2/13/2006)
Lets go SAAB Camero!
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astute 4:27PM (2/13/2006)
When the Chrysler 300 was built in an old E-class platform, I'm sure you all lined up to crap on it.
New Mercedes GL being a stretch ML? Can't sleep at night, right?
My Audi A6 is the same as an A4, a VW Passat and a Skoda Octavia. Unmentionable?
Acura TL is on the same platform as the Honda Accord. Inexcuseable?
Why don't all you whiners just go complain about another company for a while? Go bitch about the Aston-Martin DB7 and the Jaguar XK8 or something.
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Big Daddy 4:29PM (2/13/2006)
Let's see, one of the original econo-models from POntiac was the Sunbird. Then came the Sunfire. Why not name this one the Sunset since it will be temporary and any buyer in their right mind will walk off into the sunset after seeing the pricetag on this rebadged Cobalt. I thought the Solstice would mean a future of good products. Even the G6 is a step in the right direction, but the Torrent and now this just make me wish they'd give Pontiac the axe (along with Buick) so we can quickly get away from crappy badge engineering.
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Bill 4:31PM (2/13/2006)
Ugh. Sad. I hate Pontiacs, but at least their ditching all that ribbed, glued-on cladding they were using for all those years.
I'm too young to admit this publically, but I was sorta sad to see Oldsmobile bite the dust. I thought that their final years were their best (styling wise anyway). Handsome, tasteful, American. I still think Aleros are nice, and it's hard to believe it's the same as a ghastly Grand Am. Of course, I never actually drove any of them, and every time I *hoped* for a rental car Alero, I got stuck with a Grand Am instead.
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