Rumors of Our Demise...Part II

Every few months, it seems that another rumor hits the Internet that Pontiac is throwing in the towel.  Given the craziness that is the automotive industry right now, we guess it's not surprising that some folks want to write us off, but that doesn't make it true.

The latest is that we're cancelling the G8.  Interesting idea...just launch what most people think is one of the best cars we've ever built, bring two more models (G8 GXP and G8 ST) to the market over the next year...then cancel it.

Here's the straight scoop.  The G8 is a solid part of the Pontiac portfolio...period.  We've just started building the G8 GXP in Australia and the first cars should be here right around the end of the year.  The G8 ST is still on target to start production about mid-summer 2009 and arrive in North America in the fall.  And, even in the current state of the automotive market, the G8 sedan and G8 GT continue to perform well.

Interestingly, the Solstice was the target of the "cancellation" rumor here a couple of months ago, yet the Solstice Coupe starts production in January.  Sense a pattern here?

Look, we all know that the auto industry is under a lot of pressure right now.  But, we are a car company, pure and simple, so our plan is to keep building great cars, like the G8 and Solstice, today, tomorrow, and the next day.   

We'll leave the predictions for the future to the folks at the Psychic Friends Network.

Comments

[BillMcNiesh]

I just purchased a G8GT I absolutley am amazed at the performance. I believe thatGM should eliminate the Buick because there are more Pontiac's on the road than Buick's. I also belive they are better built than Buick.

[MARKMALLARD]

I HAVE WORKED IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS,FROM DEALERSHIPS TO THE AFTERMARKET, I GET A VERY GOOD FEEL OF WHAT PEOPLE WANT. BUICK AND PONTIAC BOTH NEED TO BE RETAINED. THE 3 CURRENT BUICK MODELS, FOR THE 55 and over people, and pontiac to lure in the younger audience. the g8, g6, soltice, and the vibe (the ladies like these vehicles. )A PONTIAC VERSION OF THE CHEVY KRUZE IS A NICE NEW WAY TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE INTO AND BUYING FROM THE BUICK,PONTIAC,GMC DEALERS. A SPLIT GRILLE, DIFFERENT TAILIGHTS, MAYBE OPTIONAL HOOD SCOOPS, PUT PONTIAC ARROWHEADS IN THE INTERIOR. THE PONTIAC NAMEPLATE MUST BE PRESERVED EVEN IF SOME BADGE ENGINEERING IS REQUIRED. A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE I ENCOUNTER LIKE THE PONTIACS FOR THEIR EXPRESSIVE SYLING AND SPORTINESS. PONTIACS LOOK GOOD, WE AS PONTIAC ENTHUSIASTS NEED TO SUPPORT PONTIAC AND THE PONTIAC NAME. I FOR ONE WILL NEVER BUY A BRAND NEW CHEVY, CADILLAC, LINCOLN ETC...TO ME THEY ARE CARS AND SOME QUITE GOOD, HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT PONTIACS AND HENCE HAVE NO EMOTIONAL APPEAL TO ME. MY NEXT NEW CAR WILL BE A PONTIAC, IF PONTIAC NO LONGER EXISTS, I WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER WALKING IN TO ANY GM DEALERSHIP. PONTIACS ARE FOR CAR PEOPLE, STYLE, SPORTINESS, MORE INDIVIDUAL, AND ARE SIMPLY MORE EXPRESSIVE. THE G8 CAN HANDLE THE MONSTER HORSEPOWER END. KEEP THE REST OF THE LINE SPORTY, AND QUICK IN THEIR CLASS WITH GOOD HANDLING AND GOOD LOOKS.
IF THE CORPORATE EXECS KILL OF PONTIAC OR EVEN RUMOR OF ITS DEMISE, THEN EACH OF THEM SHOULD BE SMART INFORMED LEADERS, LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND NOT CUT OFF A LARGE LOYAL GROUP OF PONTIAC FANS, LOSE PONTIAC AND I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT BUICK DEALERS WILL JUST ADD ANOTHER IMPORT BRAND TO INCREASE SHOWROON TRAFFIC, OR FALL BY THE WAYSIDE IN DROVES.

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[chiefpontiac]

To be precise, the rumors actually were not teh imminent demise of G8 and Solstice but that there would be no replacement for them at end of life in about 5 years, that there would not be the proposed Alpha roadster replacement of Kappa, that there would not be an importation of the currently being designed and developed next generation VE COmmodore (which is the G8) Excuse the cynical skepticism, but that's just because we've finished a long drawn-out political process and as from the mouths of candidates we may not have gotten the actual answer to the question asked.

[chiefpontiac]

Jkujo, the Aveo is a rebadge to start with so G3 is its equal, not knock-off.

Ronny, CAFE is corporate, not brand, that's why it is called Corporate Average Fuel Economy.

MCS, Pontiac outsells Cadillac in US market, outsells Buicl in US market - and almost outsells both combined. Want to kill a brand - start with Saturn and then replcae it with Opel (which will be providing 75% of its product shortly)

[PontiacSpeed]

Heck if they do do the merger, bring the Challenger over to Pontiac! NEW FIREBIRD!!!!

[MCS]

Pontiac lost it's brand identity long ago. The "performance" divisions of GM are Cadillac and Chevy. There is no equivalent of either the Camaro or Corvette at Pontiac - without those you can't claim the "performance division" mantle. Over the past several years, Pontiac has not been a car company, but a tacky fake hood scoop styling option for some mediocre front drive Chevys. Most people that remember the rear drive performance Pontiacs are carrying AARP cards.

On the plus side, I just rented a G6 and it's far superior to a Camry (although it still suffers because of the front wheel drive.) The Solstice styling is a great improvement over cheap looking cheesy styling that is Pontiac's trademark and it should be extended to other vehicles in the line. The G8 and Solstice are great cars and Pontiac needs more like them.

That being said, Pontiac will be gone within 90 days of the GM/Chrysler merger. Too many brands and Pontiac has lost it's brand identity. Time to euthanize the brand to allow Cadillac and Chevy move forward. There's not enough money left at GM to continue the division.

Good bye and good look.

[Ronny I]

I for one hope that GM will keep Pontiac going and still make it the performance division of GM. I wish there was a way to offset CAFE standards to GM as a whole....not each brand. That will pretty much kill anything performance oriented unless you go to turbocharged diesel 4 & 6 cyl models in the US like in Europe. I think the GTO was a start to a good idea, the G8 is the continuation of the best thing going for Pontiac now, I hope we will see the Zeta platform evolve on the G8. This is the 3rd Pontiac I've owned in 10 years, and only brand I've more than one of the 27 cars I have had. I've done my part, I own a 2009 G8 GT, now GM go out and market the heck out of this thing. America needs driving excitement again, and both the G8 and the Solstice DO DELIVER that for the price compared to its competitors. Not everyone is satisfied with cookie cutter looks FWD cars. Get rid of the G3 & G5 for the sake of lack of appeal and performance.

[Jkujo]

G8,

There is a good reason why this rumor is out there. Let me list them:
1. G5 - Ok, I get it, you misjudged the US market by only having the Chevy Cobalt. You had to do something so that B-P-G had at least one entry-level model. I actually think that the Pontiac version is sportier. Here's the problem, why is the "Performance/Sporty/Excitement" Division denied the Turbo Charged Ecotec that the Cobalt gets? That makes no sense. From what I have gathered there are no plans to change this.

2. G3 - Again a rebadged Chevy. Bob Lutz (Your boss) said that Buick and Pontiac would no longer get rebadged Chevys. They would get something uniquely theirs. This is just another example of the Hypocracy.

3. G6 - I own a 2008 G6 GXP, LOVE the car. Here's the problem. You haven't refreshed the G6 since it came out in 2005! Yes, I am aware of the "mild refresh" coming for MY 2010, but according to everything out there the one thing that is SCREAMING for a refresh isn't getting touched. And what I speak of is the interior. Malibu, Aura both have FANTASTIC and CLASS LEADING new interiors. Yet G6 will stay the same (Except it FINALLY gets the new corporate radio). The Aura is supposed to get a brand new interior by MY 2011. So the Aura gets two new interiors and the G6 stays with what it started with from 2005? Surely you can understand why we may be upset about this.

4. CAFE Standards killed your plans to pull Pontiac into an all RWD or AWD brand. There were probably a lot of plans to get Pontiac some unique models like a RWD G6 (God that would be awesome even with today's styling) or RWD G5. Now with the Economy in the toilet and GM struggling with funds, we know that GM cannot afford to do this. Hence that is why we in the US get a G3/G5 rebadge. It also helps your division get the MPG requirements.

I love Pontiacs, I have only owned Pontacs (I've owned 5). It is all I ever do want to buy. Please prove us wrong with something that wows us instead of Chevy Rebadges.

[Derek Washington]

First time I've seen your blg. Cool!

I do underground PR, I'll be sure to pub it.

[PontiacSpeed]

People think Pontiac...images of sleek performance cars like Firebird's racing against Mustangs and GTO's beating up Challengers and even Fiero's and their Lotus tuned suspension...No one walks into a Pontiac dealership thinking "i wounder if they have anything to compete against BMW?"

Common Pontiac, give up the whole" there is no market for a Firebird" People that love Chevy want a Camaro, people that love Pontiac want a car that its been known for 35 years and thats a Firebird...

[fiream773]

I had heard about the Solstice as well - was glad it was unfounded. Normally, I dismiss such rumors, but Fiero was killed in its 4th model year only months after it finally got a good suspension, so it does happen. What Pontiac needs to kill before it's born is the ST. Sorry guys, if Pontiac is CAR, why is G8 becoming TRUCK? G8 Coupe, sure. Wagon - hell, yes! El Camino - nope. This is a mistake - gutsy move to be sure, but mistake. I've driven Pontiac products exclusively for 20 years and want to see the division survive. The Aztek did lots of damage - the ST will do more and may ultimately signal the beginning of the end...