Pontiac Blog
Pontiac Sunbird racing lobster boat warps our fragile little mindsFiled under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Etc., Pontiac, Humor, Off-Road, Racing 
It's been said that any time two individuals are headed to the same location at the same time, a race is likely to ensue. If you need proof, look no further than Maine's lobster boat races. What began as a friendly tradition among returning fisherman has evolved into the NASCAR of the seas - where high-dollar fiberglass drag boats reign supreme and the little guys are left to try to hold their own on sea-borne Pontiac Sunbird convertibles. Or something. You see, in New Harbor, Maine, one man has established himself as the force to be reckoned with. Lobster man Galen Alley decided to plop a hefty supercharged V8 into the back of a 2,000-pound fiberglass craft once upon a time and has been grand poobah of lobster waters ever since.
That just doesn't quite sit well with Stevie Johnson - a boat builder who has vowed to knock Alley off of his high horse, so to speak. Since showmanship is next to godliness in these lobster boat races, Johnson snapped up a cabin cruiser, cut the craft down to its hull and bolted a Pontiac Sunbird Convertible to the deck. How'd he fare? After doing demonstration passes for the crowd all day, Johnson forgot to top off the tanks on his craft and ran out of fuel before crossing the finish line. He says he'll be back next year, possibly with an ocean-going Oscar Meyer Weinermobile.
[Source: The Wall Street Journal via Jalopnik]Pontiac Sunbird racing lobster boat warps our fragile little minds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsLegendary Pontiac ad-man Jim Wangers selling off his collectionFiled under: Classics, Performance, Pontiac, Specialty 
Jim Wangers' 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge - Click above for high-res image gallery
Got a hankering for a new Pontiac? Well, we've got bad news, then... you can't get one. But today we can offer up something even better: a new-to-you classic Pontiac GTO, Firebird, Trans Am, or even a Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R. Now we're talking.
The cars in question come from the personal collection of Jim Wangers, who famously served as Pontiac chief marketing manager during the brand's halcyon days of muscle cars, sportscars and a favored position right behind Chevrolet in General Motors' brand index. As such, we'd expect these 10 machines to be excellent examples of the breed.
Now, on to the actual cars. First up is a 1965 GTO Sport Coupe, a car that represents the second year of the model's existence and stands as a tribute to the classically warmed-over Royal Bobcat cars. If wind-in-your-hair motoring is more your style, may we direct you to the droptop 1966 Goat behind door number two. Also available are two Carousel Red (a.k.a. 'orange') GTO Judges from 1969.
Perhaps you prefer the F-body? Choose from a first-year Firebird from 1967, a real 1969 Trans Am (super rare, very expensive), a 1979 Trans Am 10th Anniversary car with less than 100 miles on the odometer, a 20th Anniversary Trans Am with the turbocharged V6 engine from the Buick Grand National from 1989 or, finally, a white and blue 30th Anniversary Trans Am convertible.
Still not caught your fancy? Well, there's one more option: the aforementioned year 2000 Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R, which Wangers describes as "the very car that inspired Bob Lutz to seek from Holden (GM's Australian car maker) a car for U.S. buyers - the '04 Pontiac GTO." Interested? Peep at the gallery below and then click here for the rest of the details.
[Source: GeeTO Tiger via Motorator]Legendary Pontiac ad-man Jim Wangers selling off his collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: Vintage Pontiac film teaches Americans to fear foreign carsFiled under: Classics, Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Pontiac, UAW/Unions 
Pontiac's throwback appeal to its workers - Click above to watch videos after the jump
"What Americans want to know is you are doing your job." That's what Pontiac had to say to its plant workers with two videos made in the Seventies, when the brand that once built excitement was building up concern over foreign car sales. The message is a simple pep talk at the highest level, but with a riptide of martial tones: if Americans know "you're fussy about installing wiring," then they'll keep buying Pontiacs and we can, essentially, repel the menace.
Obviously, it didn't work. You can have a look at the failed (and at times, somewhat xenophobic) calls-to-action in the videos after the jump.
[Source: YouTube via Sympatico via Jalopnik]Continue reading Video: Vintage Pontiac film teaches Americans to fear foreign cars Video: Vintage Pontiac film teaches Americans to fear foreign cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: GM struggling to market turbo technologyFiled under: Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Pontiac, Saturn 
In the automotive realm, marketing can sometimes prove just as important as the actual product. Take, for instance, Ford's well regarded EcoBoost technology, which couples turbocharging with direct injection to produce more horsepower and reduce fuel consumption. Would it surprise you to hear that General Motors has had similar technology on the market for over three years?
It's true. GM's first turbocharged, direct injected powerplants hit the market for the 2007 model. The 2.0-liter Ecotec mills put down an impressive 260 horsepower and a matching 260 pound-feet of torque, and they were lauded by the press in the engine bays of the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Chevrolet Cobalt SS and Chevrolet HHR SS. But few people outside a core group of enthusiasts actually remember this fact.
Says Uwe Grebe, executive director of GM's global advanced engineering, "We didn't have a badge and say, 'This is the most important thing we will put on all our brochures.'" Ford, however, did just that, and it's EcoBoost engines are right at the tips of all our tongues when we discuss today's most advanced powerplants. So, how does The General fix its mistake?
Well, that's a tad complicated. "It would not be good to say, 'This is EcoBoost, only better,'" explains Grebe. "People need to know what it is," but "people don't want to know every detail of the technology."
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]Report: GM struggling to market turbo technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsNUMMI Goes Numb: Last vehicle rolls off the line at storied CA joint-venture plantFiled under: Budget, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Pontiac, Toyota, Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions 
This morning saw the very last car roll off of the NUMMI assembly line. At 9:40 a.m., a red Toyota Corolla drove off under the watchful eyes of workers, white-collars and union leaders. Toyota and General Motors have been cranking out cars and trucks at the facility since 1984, but GM backed out of the partnership in June of last year as part of its restructuring program. Toyota announced it would be closing down operations soon after, and, true to its word, things shut down this morning.
Mercury News is reporting that worker reactions were varied, with some heading off to local bowling allies alleys [Thanks, Wobbly_ears!] while others fought to hold back tears. And what of that last car? Word has it the Corolla will eventually find its way to a museum somewhere in Japan.
[Source: Mercury News | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]NUMMI Goes Numb: Last vehicle rolls off the line at storied CA joint-venture plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsEight vehicles you can still buy new... seriouslyFiled under: Car Buying, Convertible, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Etc., Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GM, GMC, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, Saab 
Eight vehicles you can still buy new - Click above for high-res image gallery
Was your heart crushed when vehicles like the Mercury Sable, Pontiac Grand Prix or Dodge Durango got the axe? Well, fear not - these hot little numbers (and many more!) are still available from dealerships all across the country.
Automobile magazine has detailed a list of eight cars that are still on sale - brand new - even though they aren't 2010 models. And while these vehicles don't necessarily represent the sexiest cars currently sitting on dealer lots, it's probably safe to assume that they're all being offered with substantial incentive packages, not to mention full warranties (we hope).
Click through the gallery below to see high-res shots of all eight rides, and head over to Automobile to read the full details.
[Source: Automobile]Eight vehicles you can still buy new... seriously originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: How did that Pontiac Grand Prix end up in a tree?Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Pontiac 
Click above to watch the video after the jump
We see a lot of weird, sometimes funny stuff on our nation's streets and highways, but we usually don't feel compelled to share any of it with you. Until today. Wednesday, March 3 was a cool, dry day in southeast Michigan, so we weren't expecting any significant traffic backups on our way home. But sometimes that's precisely when the most interesting situations unfold.
Hit the jump to see the end-game of what had to be a really odd incident. It involves a 15-foot hill, a Herculean pine tree and a very determined "Wide Track" Pontiac Grand Prix going all "Dukes of Hazard" on unsuspecting passers-by. We have no idea how this happened and we're hoping nobody was injured, but at the same time we're showing this video to any teenagers who think texting and driving is a good idea. Please forgive us for the iPhone-quality video and the AM soundtrack, but we feel this is definitely worth your time. Continue reading Video: How did that Pontiac Grand Prix end up in a tree? Video: How did that Pontiac Grand Prix end up in a tree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGM recalls 1.3 million Cobalts, G5s for power steering problemFiled under: Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac 
2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE - Click above for high-res image gallery
Communications professionals know that the best time to release bad news about a company is at 5:15 pm on a Friday afternoon before a long weekend. By the time everyone comes back to work the following week, so much other stuff has happened that the story often gets lost in the shuffle. In the auto industry, another good time would be late in the evening just hours before a major overseas auto show while at the same time your biggest competitor is mired in a crisis of its own.
As many of the world's automotive journalists were converging in Switzerland for the Geneva Motor Show late Monday night, General Motors announced it would recall 1.3 million Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s built between 2005 and 2010. GM will replace the motors on their electric power assisted steering (EPAS). Over time the motors can reportedly fail and lead to a loss of steering assist.
When the EPAS fails, the result is similar to a belt breaking on a hydraulic power steering pump. The car is still drivable and controllable, but the steering effort at low speeds rises significantly, making it difficult to maneuver at parking lot speeds. At higher speeds, relatively little steering assist is needed and drivers should be able to make it safely to the side of the road if the warning lamp comes on.
[Source: General Motors]Continue reading GM recalls 1.3 million Cobalts, G5s for power steering problem GM recalls 1.3 million Cobalts, G5s for power steering problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGM tests Pontiac Vibe brakes against unintended acceleration in wake of Matrix recallFiled under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, GM, Pontiac, Toyota 
2010 Pontiac Vibe - Click above for high-res image gallery
Determined to allay any concerns that the Pontiac Vibe - a clone of the recalled Toyota Matrix - has safety issues with its brakes, General Motors conducted its own vehicle tests over the weekend at its Milford Proving Grounds. "We ran the Vibe wide open at 60 miles an hour and the brakes were able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop within 169 meters, consistent with our internal requirement for brake performance," said Martin Hogan, GM director of brake systems.
While the tests may have successfully exonerated the Vibe's braking capability in a controlled unintended acceleration scenario, they did shed some light on the increased distances required to bring run-away vehicles to a stop. According to a recent Edmunds road test of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT, their test vehicle panic-stopped from 60 mph in just 127 feet. Converted, GM's quoted stopping distance is 507 feet - meaning the full-throttle Vibe took four times the distance to come to a safe stop when fighting both inertia and engine power.
Nevertheless, prior to the Toyota recall announcements, GM says it had not received any relevant customer complaints on its 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe models (although the Vibe is currently included in two Toyota recalls). The recent actions against Toyota did send a few Vibe customers to GM's hotline, but none have reported any crashes or injury. Even then, GM is quick to reiterate, "In the rare case of a sticking throttle, a driver should apply the brakes firmly and steadily until you come to a stop. Do not pump the brakes, which can deplete the available vacuum boost from the brake system." Park the vehicle, and then have it towed to a GM dealer for inspection.
[Source: General Motors]
 GM tests Pontiac Vibe brakes against unintended acceleration in wake of Matrix recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsThe Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools editionFiled under: Motorsports, Videos, Dodge, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Misc. Auto Shows, Peugeot, Canada, Skoda 
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
This week's bag of news is all about cars, cars and cars. Was anyone else aware that the Canadians know a thing or two about tuning Lamborghinis? That's a new one on us. Peugeot and Dodge have new logos, and the Pugs have a new, Ratatouille-esque commercial that involves a blender, a bicycle and a three-wheeled car. The as-yet-unveiled Nissan Patrol Safari gets caught with its doors open, and a bespoke Ferrari, the P450 Superfast Aperta, gets introduced in Florida. It's a little odd. And when some Mercedes engineers get a prototype SL Coupe stuck in the snow and it takes two other Mercedes' to rescue it, let's just say a good time was had by all. Except the Mercedes engineers. Finally, back to those Canadians, while those first lads will get crazy money for their wares, another Canuck wants crazy money for a 1975 Pontiac. Must be the weather. Follow the jump for the feast.Continue reading The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Toyota was legally required to stop selling recalled modelsFiled under: Recalls, Safety, Pontiac, Toyota 
Toyota has quite the PR nightmare on its hands. The boiling cauldron of complaints surrounding unintended acceleration issues bubbled over this month with two separate but giant recalls. The latest involves eight Toyota models that contain defective accelerator pedal mechanisms that could stick over time due to wear.
There is no fix available for the pedal mechanisms yet and dealers have continued to sell new models affected by the recall, so Toyota announced yesterday that it's suspending the sale and production of these eight models for the week of February 1. It was a bold move that made headlines, as Toyota stands to lose a lot of money. On the other hand, the Japanese automaker got some pats on the back for doing the right thing.
Turns out, the decision to stop producing these vehicles wasn't made by Toyota alone. The Detroit News reports that Toyota is required by law to stop selling the vehicles since there is no fix available yet. David Strickland, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that Toyota consulted with his agency, which informed the automaker of its obligations and it complied. That still doesn't answer why these recalled vehicles were being sold five days after the recall was announced.
Nevertheless, Toyota spokesman Mike Michels is reported saying that the company's decision to stop selling the recalled vehicles was voluntary, but that they also had a legal requirement to do so. How do you voluntary do something that you're obligated to do?
In related news, General Motors has confirmed to Autoblog's sister site, AOL Autos, that it is putting a hold on all remaining Pontiac Vibe sales, as the model is under recall for the same throttle issue that afflicts its mechanical twin, the Toyota Matrix. Fortunately for GM, there are apparently only six Vibe units left in stock nationwide as the brand's shutdown continues.
[Sources: The Detroit News, AOL Autos | Image: David McNew/Getty]Report: Toyota was legally required to stop selling recalled models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsDon't Forget Me! Pontiac Vibe also included in Toyota recallFiled under: Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, GM, Pontiac, Toyota 
Pontiac Vibe - Click above for high-res image gallery
It is easy to forget that among the debris swirling in the tornado of claims against Toyota, the Pontiac Vibe is really a Toyota Matrix. Hence, the Vibe is also included in Toyota's recent recall of 2.3 million vehicles to repair accelerator pedal mechanisms that could stick and cause unintended acceleration.
The Vibe was built at the NUMMI plant in a California. The joint venture between Toyota and General Motors became a victim of last year's industry turmoil. GM pulled out of the partnership last June, and Toyota is reportedly ending production there in March.
GM doesn't yet know how many 2009 and 2010 model Vibes are included in the recall. When it receives details on numbers and the fix from Toyota, customers will be notified and they can get their hatches repaired at Buick-GMC dealerships.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]Don't Forget Me! Pontiac Vibe also included in Toyota recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsGearhead Performance Group plans another Camaro-based Trans Am replicaFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Specialty 
Gearhead Performance Group 2010 Pontiac Trans Am - Click above for high-res image gallery
How many Chevrolet Camaro-based Pontiac Trans Am replicas can what we assume to be a rather small market support? We've already seen Kevin Morgan's Phoenix T/A revival as well as our personal favorite, the Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept that we saw last November at the annual SEMA Show in Vegas, and now it seems that we can add a third Trans Am to the growing list of replicas, this one from Gearhead Performance Group.
One thing that certainly caught our attention that the Gearhead T/A will supposedly offer as an option is a 900 horsepower 6.2 liter twin turbo LS9 V8 engine. Besides that, we see the typical and fully expected split front grille, fender vents, ducktail spoiler and snowflake wheels. There will also be a gaud gold-accented interior option for the ultimate in 1970s style. Just add a CB radio and you'll be good to go.
[Source: Gearhead Performance Group via Jalopnik]Gearhead Performance Group plans another Camaro-based Trans Am replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsGM wooing current Pontiac owners with free serviceFiled under: Car Buying, Buick, GM, GMC, Pontiac 
When General Motors put Oldsmobile out to pasture, many owners defected from GM brands all-together. In an effort to make sure history doesn't repeat itself with soon to be displaced Pontiac owners, the General is extending an olive branch in the form of a year of free maintenance.
Automotive News reports that GM is offering four years of free service visits - including oil changes and tire rotations - to specific Buick-GMC dealerships for owners of 1999 and newer Pontiac vehicles. Brian Sweeney, general manager of Buick-GMC, told AN that the plan is to "to keep the relationship with the Buick-GMC dealer." Customers will be given specific Buick-GMC dealers to utilize for the free service in order to help the dealers develop a relationship with said customer in hopes that they will use that dealership to purchase future products.
A potential problem with the plan is that Pontiac and Buick/GMC models aren't exactly in the same price range, though (potential) future products like the Buick Excelle and the GMC Granite concept could be priced competitively enough to keep some Pontiac owners in the GM family.
With new service customers on the way, we're sure the Buick-GMC dealers are excited about this program. Many Buick-GMC dealers used to sell Pontiacs as well, so many of the brand's former customers won't even have to go to a new dealer to cash in on the free maintenance.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]GM wooing current Pontiac owners with free service originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsAustralian "Pontiac" G8 given extended run?Filed under: Sedan, Truck, Wagon, Pontiac, Holden, Australia 
Holden VE Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery
We kind of have the Aussies to thank for it, so we guess it's all right that they get to keep it... but we can still be jealous. Four months ago General Motors' Down-Under division unveiled the Holden VE Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition, essentially a Commodore with the front end from the late Pontiac G8, minus the Pontiac badges.
The old company line was that they would be made until the parts ran out. Then buyers started tripping over themselves to buy the sedan at a $1,000 Australian premium ($923 U.S.). The new company line is that Holden will offer the G8 look "indefinitely," for the same premium. Dealers have also been ordering Pontiac and G8 badges to make the no-longer-limited-edition sedans closer to the real Yankee thing. The package will remain available on the three models in the line: Pontiac G8 SS-V ute, sedan, and wagon, all of which come with a manual transmission. Have a look at Australian fortune in the high-res gallery below, and excuse us while we drown our frustrations with the nearest hammer.
[Source: CarPoint]Australian "Pontiac" G8 given extended run? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVIDEO: Mythbusters tests skipping Lambo from Speed Zone, a.k.a. Cannonball Run 3Filed under: Etc., Videos, Lamborghini, Pontiac 
In the movie Speed Zone, familiarly known as Cannonball Run 3 and ripe for an award for one of the most incredible ensemble casts ever, the opening sequence ends with a Lamborghini Countach eluding the police by skipping over a lake. You know, like a rock.
Mythbusters' new gearhead Kari Byron wanted to see if that could really be done, so they tested the stunt out on a scale model Lamborghini over an appropriately scaled body of water. Then they tested the stunt again with a full-sized car - Pontiac Fiero, not a Countach - over a real pond, and the results made us go something along the lines of "That's awesome."
Follow the jump for the videos, which are broken up into a couple of segments. The scale model Lamborghini segment is cut short - they want you to watch the show - but the final test of the Pontiac Fiero Water Skimmer Edition is at Mythbusters.
[Source: Mythbusters]Continue reading VIDEO: Mythbusters tests skipping Lambo from Speed Zone, a.k.a. Cannonball Run 3 VIDEO: Mythbusters tests skipping Lambo from Speed Zone, a.k.a. Cannonball Run 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsREPORT: GM may let dealers sell remaining "non-core" vehicles as used with big discountsFiled under: Car Buying, Pontiac, Saturn 
You've seen the dealer commercials before. "Now is the time to buy.... year end sale!" Well, if you want the Pontiac or Saturn of your dreams, this really is the best ever time to deal because it's literally the last chance to get a new vehicle from these brands. The Wall Street Journal reports that General Motors is offering dealers $7,000 in cash for each new Saturn or Pontiac model sold until the deal ends January 4. Edmunds reportedly told the WSJ that it expects GM will have about 4,200 Saturn and Pontiac models by January 1.
That $7,000 in cash goes straight to dealers, meaning that a dealer can give you all or only some of the $7,000 off the vehicle if they so choose. But if you do get the entire $7,000 rebate, it could amount to 46 percent off the price of a new Pontiac G3 - you know, if driving a rebadged Chevrolet Aveo is your idea of excitement. But hey, how many new cars can you buy for $8,000 outside of India? A more compelling deal could be $7,000 off the price of a Saturn Astra. Getting a brand-new Astra with tons of options and a $13,000 price tag could be considered a steal.
The catch to the sale is that the vehicle will be sold as used since dealers will officially be the first owners of the vehicle. That could effect customers' ability to purchase a new vehicle with a GM employee or supplier discount, but in the majority of cases, the $7,000 would likely be the better deal. Hat tip to Keerthi!
[Source: The Wall Street Journal | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]REPORT: GM may let dealers sell remaining "non-core" vehicles as used with big discounts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsWhile Supplies Last: Pontiac says only 16 G8 GXPs left at U.S. dealers (among other things)Filed under: Car Buying, Pontiac 
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you're looking to get your hands on a Pontiac before the General Motors division shuts its doors for good, you'd better act fast, because stocks are dangerously depleted.
According to Pontiac's Twitter page, there are only some 3600 units left of some of the brand's most desirable products left at dealers across the United States. If the G8 sedan is what you fancy, there are only 570 GT trims left, and only 16 examples of the top-tier G8 GXP. We'll have to assume any remaining parts stock is will remain in Australia.
The Solstice is similarly low on stock, with only 139 base coupes and 160 GXP coupes left on dealer lots. Pontiac also reports there are only 1500 G5s, 530 G6 GXPs and 350 Vibes left in stock. If that kind of announcement doesn't spur some sort of driving excitement among prospective Pontiac buyers, nothing will.
[Source: Pontiac via Twitter]While Supplies Last: Pontiac says only 16 G8 GXPs left at U.S. dealers (among other things) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsSEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac FirebirdFiled under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Pontiac
1977 Pontiac FireBird by Pinkee's Rod Shop - Click above for high-res image gallery
This year's SEMA show might have been a bit smaller than in years past, but there were certainly some heavy hitters in the crowd that proved the old "quality, not quantity" adage. Take, for instance, this super-clean, super-fine 1977 Pontiac Firebird. Like the Ringbrothers "Afterburner" Fairlane and the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year 1962 Corvette C1-RS, the look is modern, yet definitely retro. Dreamed up by hot rod artist Jimmy Smith, it was crafted to life by Pinkee's Rod Shop of Windsor, Colorado.
It has a smooth-as-glass appearance with its gloss black paint dripping off its shaved and streamlined form. Elegantly simple billet wheels, naked headlamps and a restyled rear complete the exterior look. The interior hasn't been forgotten either, as it is fully custom and equally straightforward. The same can be said for the engine bay, which looks like a surgical O.R., with its LS7 engine resting neatly in a fully customized bay. It was easily one of our favorite cars at this year's show.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
SEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac Firebird originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concernFiled under: Coupe, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac, Saturn
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - Click above to view high-res image gallery
General Motors may have shed itself of much of its pre-bankruptcy problems, but the automaker still has to tend to its warranty and recall duties. As such, GM is recalling 53,000 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion models for a potential fuel leak problem that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says could lead to a fire. The problem involves 2006 Cobalt and Ion model models sold or registered in Arizona and Nevada and 2007 Cobalt, G5 and Ion models sold or registered in Arizona, California, Texas, Florida and Nevada.
NHTSA says the plastic supply or return port on the cars' modular reservoir assembly may crack, potentially leading to a fuel leak that could cause cause decreased efficiency and performance. Worse, if that leaking gasoline comes into contact with an ignition source of any kind, you could be looking at a Delta platform car-b-que.
To fix the fuel leak problem, company dealers will replace the fuel pump module of affected vehicles free of charge. GM is also providing a special coverage for 2006 and 2007 Cobalt, G5 and Ion models in other warm weather states, and you can hit the jump to read over the NHTSA press release to see if you live in a participating location. GM hasn't yet provided a time frame for owner notification, but if you have questions you can read the official press release after the jump or call 1-800-630-2438 (Cobalt), 1-800-972-8876 (Ion) or 1-800-620-7668 (G5).
[Source: NHTSA]
Continue reading GM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concern GM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concern originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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