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Official: GM shrinking to four brands; Pontiac to four models

Filed under: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, HUMMER, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn

In an interview Sunday with Automotive News (sub. req'd), Troy Clarke, GM's North American president, said that General Motors will be able to make good on its promise to Congress to drastically cut costs. Clarke said that GM will now focus its "product and marketing resources" on Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. That would leave Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and HUMMER in automotive limbo. As part of that same plan presented to lawmakers, GM said it would sell or close Saturn. And since no one has yet stepped forward with cash, the future is not at all certain for the unique brand despite what GM's marketing VP Mark LaNeve says.

In a separate interview, Bob Lutz told AN that Pontiac will also have to get by with only four models: the G8, G5, Vibe and Solstice. Or five models if you count the Solstice coupe separately as Lutz does. Shrinking the brand would complete yet another promise GM made to Congress to make Pontiac a niche brand.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Official: GM shrinking to four brands; Pontiac to four models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supersized Pontiac Solstice

Pontiac Solstice-Mallet "Pitbull Edition"

Perhaps more frustrating than any of the financial troubles at the world’s biggest automaker are its ho-hum production of loads of unappealing vehicles (Insert anything made by Buick here). Which along with nagging questions of build quality is a big reason for that financial trouble. However, one bright spot has been the Pontiac Solstice, the 2-seater convertible that has sold well since it was introduced in 2004. Even as successful as the Solstice has been, is there still room for improvement? The folks at Mallet Cars thinks so. The more important question at Mallet is whether there is room for a bigger engine.

A stock Solstice is powered by a fuel efficient 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder 177 horsepower engine and features four-wheel independent suspension and nearly 50:50 weight distribution for an inspiring level of handling.

Solstice Pitbull from Mallet

Enter Mallett cars, who took the Solstice and swapped a GM LS2 engine 400 horsepower V8 engine (along with alot of other performance parts) for the 4-cylinder. A spin around the Mallet website www.malletcars.com, will find alot of rather violent car speak such as, “All the horsepower of the Corvette slammed into the Pontiac Solstice.” More aptly is how the engine itself is slammed, crammed and…..jammed into the rather diminutive space of the Solstice’s engine bay.

As you might expect, the added weight of an engine that is double the size of stock Solstice changes the driving dynamics, which are not completely offset by the addition of alot of Corvette suspension and transmission parts. The conversions at Mallett are “only” $21,285.75 (they should just round that up) + a donor car and are backed with a 2-year, 24,000 mile warranty.

Next for Mallet was adding a fiberglass widebody kit, the “Pitbull Edition” that allows owners to add ultra-wide wheels and tires as well as give the car a much tougher look. I’m not a big fan of the name but the larger air-intakes up front improve airflow to the engine, while the increased traction of wider tires provides superior grip especially at the drag-strip. This adds roughly another $18,000 to the price. (Carbon fiber version extra of course)

Only 100 of these are going to be made to increase their desirebility. So maybe the most important question is whether a supersized Solstice is in the same league as the Corvette?

The What-If Game

Some folks are fortunate enough in life that money really is no object: you buy what you want, when you want it. The rest of us are left to dream, and it’s the dreamers I’m speaking to right now. With dirt-cheap car prices, massive dealer and manufacturer incentives, Cash for Clunkers, and the credit market finally starting to open up again, right now really is the best time in our generation’s life to buy a new car. So I’m asking you this “what if” question: if you had the money to purchase any realistic new car on the market right now, what would you choose? My vote is for the Pontiac G8 GXP with a six-speed stick–and hey, maybe I can still get one before the remaining inventory of Pontiacs dries up.

How about you? What new car do you have your eye on?

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Official: GM shrinking to four brands; Pontiac to four models

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