Every day we receive letters from readers asking us to write stories about things that, frankly, we do not know anything about. Recently, referring to the return of his famous endurance platform mate, Chevrolet Camaro, some of you are already screaming as chicken, even some rock muscle car from our past, good ol 'Pontiac Firebird. After all, it would be easy to take the route of Camaro and send its sales Pontiac. So we made some calls.
Our first fact : GM public relations people not to return phone calls when one leaves the machines say things like, "Could you give us back what you know about the future of Firebird? Crickets. Tumbleweeds. And here we thought we were friends.
But later rather than sooner, our friend Jim Hobson from Pontiac communications, and called for the urgent lost time to shed some light on what they are looking for more as a choice between raising goats or chickens, rather than goats and chickens, for Pontiac in muscle cars farm.
Pontiac Muscle Car Must Be Distinct
While it is still unconfirmed at the moment, and Pontiac is guaranteed to receive at least one muscle car from the prolific rear-wheel drive Zeta platform (formally Global Rear-wheel Drive Architecture) by 2010.
The first fruit of Zeta woman to Pontiac in the 2008 Group of Eight sedans, which will replace the two long left Bonneville and the current Grand Prix at the beginning of next year. "Group of Eight" will be exported from Australia, where the Aussies are manufactured Road family.
For the second Zeta for Pontiac, Hopson confirmed the brand was kicked around "heritage" names, including Firebird and GTO muscle car in the future. Although neither "can be" relatively easy, we do not expect to do so Pontiac. Moreover, while seemingly Firebird will be cheaper to produce, if it is shared, as he did, his body stampings and many internal components with Camara, we suspect is inclined to Pontiac GTO.
Thank (or blame) Bob Lutz, GM product guru living for that. He claimed that the days of the exchange of products and engineering passes more or less over, and stated categorically that no copy Camaro would in any other GM-brand salon. The goal, Hopson said, is the outcome of the new muscle car unique to appease Lutz and the market in general, not too unique to Bud-guzzlin ', mullet-creative traditionalists who believe their mission in life to ensure any future chicken shouted back as Pontiac in Camaro.
“Heritage” Names: 50-Percent Risk, 50-Percent Opportunity
This problem underscores the double-edged sword of resurrecting heritage names to be competitive and relevant today, while meeting the expectations of the nature and type of nostalgia fans. Attempts to buy nostalgia can have as Hobson knows all too well. "We are very careful to get the names of heritage," he said, referring to the lessons learned during the Pontiac struggle to convince buyers that Australian built Holden Monaro 2004-2006 GPO case that is worthy of its sacred behalf.
Two Performance Coupes Unlikely
Nevertheless, according to Hobson, in whether there is merit in this day and age to sell two muscle cars on the same brand umbrella, or even three under two brands. "The market in the 60 th can support more than one muscle car to do the same, but today the market might not. I do not think that anything is off the table ", he said," but there's a very small chance you will see two indicators coupes . "I have c e, because Zeta is flexible enough to spawn all kinds of options, including the Group of Eight major coupe. Must.
If it before Hobson, in which he will choose? "Personally, another GPO will be the most attractive. Firebird and Camaro are expected to be very similar, and we can do more with the GPO. "Wonderful PR-speak, but we believe this is good advice for the planning of the product, too.
Under the Skin
So, what would be the future under the skin Pontiac muscle car? It would, of course, both share the upcoming Group of Eight sedan engines, including 261 litres. With. , 3.6-litre DOHC V-6 and 362 litres. With. , Richard LS2 6.0-litre V-8 are invited with five-and six-speed automatic, respectively, for the six-speed manual ( "Eight is only autoboxes at least the first). Like most big GM V MI-8 is 6.0 liters will be off cylinder or "active fuel, as GM now refers to the technology.
At the drag strip, where we expect that this machine will lead, look for 0 to 60 runs in the low Sixes for the V-6 model and about five seconds V-12. More powerful engines, of course, seen, but finding anyone guessed. All G8s a set-front and rear suspension, multi-tier, installation, we hope to reflect shorter steroids more than two door version.
Whatever form it may eventually be and what name will be assigned to it in Zeta-Pontiac muscle car at will certainly place in the USA dealer showrooms, which are increasingly in conjunction with Buick and GMC brands, or which sports cars or his muscle-car at the time of his arrival.
As "excitement division, Pontiac needs a sports car better than Solstice and Solstice GXP remain, but really exciting. In addition, as the largest area in muscle car history brands, Pontiac, it would be remiss not to cash in the phenomenon of modern muscle car mania.
