I understand where you are coming from, Darth. But just for devil's advocate's sake, let's take the position of the guy or gal on the street & how they'd see this:

Solstice isn't out yet.

Torrent has been on sale in Chevy dealers for nearly 2 years as the Equinox.

G6 has been nothing more than a quasi-euro sedan.

Montana is simply a new nose and dash on a vehicle that's been out for many years.

GTO, as much as you & I LOVE it, is a victim of Pontiac Motor Divisions "dull" design trend.

Grand Prix is still fairly new, but the Vibe isn't. Overall, the GP doesn't seem to have been as popular as it's previous version was.

The "gaudy" Grand Am was still one of the top 3 selling cars in the US when it was replaced and the Sunfire had what is without a doubt the ugliest restyling in automotive history. Aztek's problem has been beaten to the ground.

Bonneville was the worse case of marketing misdirection and foolishness I can think of in recent years (an excitement division car that handled worse than a base Regal, was slower than base Grand Prix, and wasn't half as entertaining as a base Impala). Putting in a V8 & the handling it should have had in the 1st place, then charging the same price as the already overpriced Lincoln LS wasn't the brightest move (sorry for the Bonne rant...I still really despise the car).

One more thing that I think is being missed is that car design tends to get old quicker today. If a car doesn't have a major restyling every 3 or 4 years, it becomes old news unless it's sold as a high value appliance.

 

The GTO could fit perfectly into this strategy. I saw a vintage Pontiac ad for one of their lower models (Ventura maybe?) and it read something to the effect of, "There's a little bit of GTO in every car we make." Indeed, the GTO could be the aspirational model that gets kids in the showroom. Look at the way import tuners obsess over the Nissan Skyline and even the lame NSX. I can easily imagine a world in which you have a bunch of dumb kids riding around in souped up G6's Solstice's and some Sunfire replacement trying to look like they own a GTO.

I'm also confounded by Saturn. I also can't understand why GM seems willing to sandbag there second largest brand for one that's never turned a profit.

 

I think that strategy worked when you had a GTO and a Tempest/ LeMans or a Bonneville and Catalina. But I just don't quite see how the current GTO will inspire anyone to buy a G6 or Vibe....I just don't.

If GTO was one version from a wide family of cars, I think it would make a fantastic aspirational model. The way it is now - imported, limited volume, no model variations, unrelated to any other Pontiac in any way - GTO is simply the outlying boutique car available at Pontiac dealers.

That's why I keep getting back to G6 (wish it had a real name). A really cool, high perf , yet affordable version , would be aspirational and would have a trickle down effect on the rest of the line. This tagline would then mean something...."There's alittle bit of GTO (or whatever the name), in every car we make".

 

Oh, and here's a bright spot for G6...

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/s...threadid=17619

 

I think I'm gonna be proven wrong on the G6, and I have no problem with it.

I feel the G6 lacks personality, but I'll be the 1st to say it does look and feel like a quality piece. I haven't seen a G6 coupe in the flesh yet, and haven't been the least impressed with it in pictures (looks too much like a Solara in body). But I haven't read a bad word about the coupe's appearence yet, and look forward to seeing one soon.

Don't expect me to change about the name though. I think a car named G6 GXP (or whatever alphabet subname it has) is pretty silly and confusing.

BTW: I agree 150% on your GTO strategy, Z284ever. Very logical on all fronts.

 

It's good to read that the G6 is selling well, and considering olny one model has been out is striking. I've actually seen quite a few G6's on the road, and I must say it actually looks real nice out in the real world streets. Now hopefully with the GXP, coupe, and covertible models coming out, G6 will continue to do well and help keep Pontiac afloat.

 

You mean GTP..........

 

GTP, GXP, whatever.

Like I mentioned in another thread, if I make this mistake and I'm a car enthusiast, other enthusiasts and the general public are going to make this same mistake. LOAB just proved that.


Pontiac initially made that GTP line because they didn't want the name GTO on FWD vehicles. Now that they actually have the GTO, they can probally rename their other performance versions unless they are copying the "Z**" Chevrolet stuck on everything in the 80s (ie: Z24 Cavalier, Z26 Baretta...).

 

Yeah, no kidding...

 

Yeah so what is going on with the GTP and GXP nomenclature?
Is the Solstice going to have both a GTP and GXP version? Because I've seen both bandied about foe the Solstice.

And the G6, is only going to have a GTP version?

Please, someone clarify this for us all. It is kind of sad that most of us here are confused, never mind the buying public.

 

GXP for Solstice.

GTP for G6. I'm not even sure if we're going to see a G6 GXP.

 

^ why pontiac isn't considered a performance brand by most people.

 

Although I think there is room for improvement, Pontiac does have some performance highlights in it's line up.
It's just not organized in any sort of cogent manner that the buying public can understand.

I think Solstice will draw some much needed attention from enthusiasts though. Hopefully Pontiac can build off of that.

 

when you have the most powerfull engine thats in a car(aura) thats similer to a pontiac(G6) then how can they consider pontiac an performace division.

 

While the 92 Hawk was awesome, it was not done by Pontiac.

1989 was the last year, and it was ONE car.
My point is when was the last time Pontiac had all thier cars in some sort of performance group? Right now with the GXP and GTP models, along with GTO, NOW is the best time for Pontiac.
Its not a youth brand, never has been. Its a excitement brand. It needs to build more excitement like Infinity and Acrua do for young people who want to buy it. People should be going to G6's, not TSX's. People should be in G8's and GTO's, not G35's, got me?
Youth is the market, but if you dont have a car for youth to want, then you wont get thier attention. I dont think 17 year olds should be driving 32k, 400hp GTO's, but if they see thier neighbor drive one home from work every day, and hear the exhaust rumbling, and see the lines, and the awesome interior, and hear him take off when he gets onto the main drag....Im sure that the car will leave an imprint when it comes to buying thier first car, and seeing a G6 or a Vibe, carring the same design and performance.
Pontiac needs to stand for performance and near luxury across the boad, but Saturn is slowly taking away Pontiac's thunder.

And to be honest, if Saturn were to get a Camaro sister car...and with thier present design's on the Aura and Sky, along with the Opel Astra...I might be in a Saturn Camaro instead of a Chevy version.