Rumor Mill: Next gen Pontiac G6 will be RWD
by Scott Davis on Nov 15th 2006 at 11:51AM 
Rumors abound within the hallowed halls of General Motors as it prepares to go through a major transformation that will include products designed to make the world take notice. For a brand that was once deemed "damaged" by car guy Bob Lutz, Pontiac is destined to make a huge splash at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
An interesting rumor is that the next G6 replacement will be a rear-wheel drive vehicle on a yet-to-be determined platform. Could this be a viable contender to the 3-series?
Yet another possibility is a rear-drive compact car replacing the current badge-engineered G5 under the G4 name. Speculation has this vehicle riding on the Kappa platform that underpins the Solstice and being available in both coupe and sedan models. GM has been mulling a second Kappa car for a while, and it sounds like it still is.
Last but not least, there has been talk of a Grand Prix replacement called the G8 that will be built on the Zeta platform. From what we hear this car will definitely appear at the Chicago Auto Show in February, if not sooner at the Detroit show in January Aren't rumors great?
[Source: GM Inside News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tim 12:02PM (11/15/2006)
"Could this be a viable contender to the 3-series?"
Uh, no. A viable alternative to the 3-series is a Lexus IS or an Infinity G35. The G6 is an underpowered econobox of questionable build quality, and will never challenge the 3-series.
It can't even challenge the Camry, for pete's sake.
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olddavid 1:39PM (11/17/2006)
You know that I am a fervent backer of the domestics. However, the jarring THUD from the lack of GTO sales should give the numbers guys ammo in their perpetual battle with the car guys. With margins non-existent, even I would pause before introducing such a niche car as a rear-drive G6. Enthusiasts don't buy a new car every 24 months. If the buzz before the Holden/GTO intro translated to sales, the car would be selling in the 100k+ annually, instead of languishing the way it is currently. Too bad, as my own personal test drive revealed that while it is heavy, it's still a damn fine car for the transaction prices.
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Jeff 12:12PM (11/15/2006)
I have the G6 Convertible and it's actually a pretty nice ride. With the 3.9L engine,it has enough power for what I use it for, handles reasonably well for a touring car, and with the retractable hard top, is quiet, warm, and dry when the top is up, and a fun to drive 'vert when the top is down.
Build quality is actually better than the Camry Solara Convertible's I test drove and a whole bunch better than the Mazda MX-5's I test drove.
Not up to BMW 3 status, but at over 10K difference in price, and the BMW does not have the hard top option, and over 20K less than the Mercedes, it's still a great bang for the buck car.
I've had no troubles with mine.
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dave 12:15PM (11/15/2006)
Well, if this trickles up to the next-Gen Saab 9-3, and the interior gets a boost upscale (haha), maybe that could be a legit contender in the battle for the 3-Series' crown.
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Martin 12:20PM (11/15/2006)
I'm a Pontiac guy so I really hope Pontiac experiences a revitalization such as this. The only thing I'd like more is if they ditched the stupid alphanumeric names and used actual names.
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Jared 12:35PM (11/15/2006)
What does the "G" stand for anyways?
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RZ 12:37PM (11/15/2006)
Duhhhhh G Spot, and 6 stads for a G spot on a six pound Puzzzaaaaayyy
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Sean Flanagan 12:38PM (11/15/2006)
Jared,
It rhymes with "larbage"
:-D
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Erik 12:41PM (11/15/2006)
"Could this be a viable contender to the 3-series?"
Uh, no. The Ponitac simply can't provide the driver with the same feeling of pompous superiority and wealth as the Bimmer, and therefore will never challenge the 3-series.
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RZ 12:54PM (11/15/2006)
#9 People just do not get it that those who buy BMW's and Benzes do not do so for the engine, they do so to say....look at me, i am rich, i made it, and F you.
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steven 12:48PM (11/15/2006)
To: Jeff. Your quote: "Build quality is actually better than the Camry Solara Convertible's I test drove..."
First of all, comparing a ragtop Solora to a hardtop G6 are two different convertible types. Of course you gonna see a difference but doesn't mean the quality sucks in a Solora. I never heard any issues with Solora convertible and it's been around longer than a G6 convertible.
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Steve S 4:47PM (11/15/2006)
You need a lot more than RWD and some power to come up to BMW quality. Not that any would cross shop BMW with Pontiaic anyway. Subaru is trying to do the same with the Legacy and it’s not working well. Once you get up into the mid 30’s for a car people are looking at BMW, AUDI, Infiniti, Acura, Lexus and MB. Not Subaru or Pontiac.
Pontiac should be the go fast division for GM or similar to how Mazda is for Ford. The focus is performance on the cheap with distinctive style. No way is anyone going to confuse Pontiac for a performance luxury division, GM already has Cadi for that as well as the sedate luxury of Buick.
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Jim 12:58PM (11/15/2006)
No, a RWD G6 won't be a 3 series contender, but it would make for an economical option.
How about we stop the rumors and actually make some of these cars!
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Jeff 1:09PM (11/15/2006)
#10 -
Steven, I never said the Camry Solara sucked. I just said the Pontiac was better. The paint on the Solara had a lot of eggshell and the Pontiac did not. The body gaps were more even on the Pontiac. The Pontiac had a better stereo system and the Pontiac felt more solid and had much less cowl shake than the Toyota when the tops were down.
The Camry far from sucked. It was a nice car. I just thought the Pontiac had an edge. Again, not to knock the Camry.
J
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D. 1:07PM (11/15/2006)
#11 This is just your perception, perhaps, because you do not own one. BMW owners (or most of them) really like their cars and the engines do matter. That's why thy don't buy a G6 or a Solara, they look at the IS, G35, A4, etc..
It's probably also true that there are some out there who think the way you do, otherwise you would not write that.
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leo 1:19PM (11/15/2006)
I hope they keep the Solstice exterior styling and bring a 4 door G6 with that style - wow what a thought huh -- GM listen up
But the interior needs to be upgraded badly - the current G6 interior is horrid, when compared to new cars like the 2007 Camry, and what will be the 2008 Accord
I can see the G6 RWD go for $25k, loaded $28k and while it will not be as good as a 3-series - GM will leave that up to the CTS - it will be a better option than a FWD car
But, if Pontiac goes all RWD i don't expect them to be in any sales lead, as most people that see snow in the winter will go for the FWD, and also insurance costs will be higher with RWD, so some people will stick with FWD to avoid that cost
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Greg 1:22PM (11/15/2006)
I'd like to see some mid 60's retro...
Catalina...
GTO...
Lemans...
All nice cars.
I pray that will the introduction of the Rear Wheel Drive Impala... and now 'rumors' of Rear Wheel Drive Pontiacs... that they will have a model for 'Tall' people being that basically everything on the showroom floors these days have hood that give the 'BaseBall Cap' effect... you know, where it's like you are wearing a Baseball cap and have to alter your head to see 'up'.
Also: Regarding the 'Impala' for 09.. again, a 60's retro would be much better than another bubble of gum.
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jg 1:52PM (11/15/2006)
'11. #9 People just do not get it that those who buy BMW's and Benzes do not do so for the engine, they do so to say....look at me, i am rich, i made it, and F you.
'
I bought my 3 used, I'm not rich. I also have a pontiac in my garage. A 99 Grand Prix. Its a nice car but its also why I went german instead of getting a new pontiac.
' The Ponitac simply can't provide the driver with the same feeling of pompous superiority and wealth as the Bimmer, and therefore will never challenge the 3-series.
'
You mean it can't deliver the level of build quality or be anywhere near as fun to drive.
I've always been a fan of pontiac but they seem to be more concerned with appealing to a large audience and meeting low price points that they end up lacking in comparison with companies that don't have those concerns. They can definately build a car that competes with BMW but management won't let it happen.
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iQuack 1:53PM (11/15/2006)
I hope the upcoming RWD Pontiac doesn't have the Audi look suggestive of the latest Holdens. I'm so sick of Audi's look I could puke.
Don't know why I dislike the Audi style--BMW and Mercedes designs don't bother me the way Audi's sedans do.
The architect of that arched, 3 window style works for Ford now, I think. No wonder the Ford 500 is so horrible looking (though surely a comfortable car).
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Michael Karesh 2:11PM (11/15/2006)
To get a good sense of what Jeff is talking about, all you have to do is find a Solara convertible in a showroom and open and shut a door. There hasn't been a car less solid since the 1980s domestic chop top convertibles. I haven't driven one, but based on the time I drove a Celica convertible Toyota has a long history of underengineering the things.
As for Tim #1, a 252-horsepower DOHC V6 is hardly underpowered, and since no hatch is offered and the curb weight is 3,500+ pounds I'd hesitate to call the G6 an econobox.
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