Pontiac will get Cobalt-based entry-level coupe, lose Montana minivan

By JAMIE LAREAU | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 02/12/06, 3:18 pm et

DETROIT -- General Motors will give Pontiac an entry-level coupe as a stopgap measure until the division gets more brand-focused products, sources close to Pontiac say. In the process, Pontiac dealers will lose the Montana SV6 minivan.

The coupe will be a high-performance relative of the Chevrolet Cobalt coupe with some Pontiac influences. The vehicle will give the Buick-Pontiac-GMC channel a shot at the small-car market, a source close to GM says. GM is still considering names for it. One option might be the G5, sources say.

Pontiac intends to launch the coupe as a 2007 model and likely will start production this fall in Lordstown, Ohio.

The car will be priced similarly to the Chevrolet Cobalt SS supercharged coupe, which starts at $20,490, including shipping.

Pontiac eventually will lose the Montana SV6 minivan, which has seen sluggish sales and does not fit Pontiac's performance-brand image, sources say. U.S. sales of the SV6 for January fell to 1,450 units, an 11.5 percent drop from 1,638 in the year-ago period.

Pontiac has lacked an entry-level car since the Sunfire died last year.

In Canada, GM sells a Cobalt sibling called the Pontiac Pursuit.

Many here may hate this idea, but I think it is good for now. If done right this can be a hi-po pocket rocket niche for Pontiac. No base model, just hot and hotter. Start with 205 and offer a 240 hp model.

I agree, then it would differentiate it more from run-of-the-mill Cobalts. Enhancing the Pontiac performance image. I think it's a good move for American Pontiac. The problem, I suspect, is keeping the price lower, relative to the G6.

And so glad the Montana is on it's way out. Finally.

Edited February 13, 200620 yr by HarleyEarl

Well for the thing to get off the lots in volume, it at leasts need a 2.4L 170HP. I can't see the supercharged model being a volume.

Any chance this might get a the turbo from the solstice gxp? or on a more important note... will it get it's own unique styling not just a simple grille and embelms swap.

Anyone want to do a Photoshop for this... graft a Solstice front clip on a Cobalt coupe.

Anyone want to do a Photoshop for this... graft a Solstice front clip on a Cobalt coupe.

Please, no more solstice fronts. It's easily the weakest part of the Solstice design. Pontiac may need a new front, but that's not it. GM should figure out a way to modernize the 67 GTO front, without going retro.

Please, no more solstice fronts. It's easily the weakest part of the Solstice design. Pontiac may need a new front, but that's not it. GM should figure out a way to modernize the 67 GTO front, without going retro.

Ditto. It just happens that it flows nicely with the whole Solstice. It just looks plain wierd on anything else.

I hope someone can send me some more shots of the spied Ion so I can do more chops with it.

Edited February 14, 200620 yr by ToniCipriani

Anyone want to do a Photoshop for this... graft a Solstice front clip on a Cobalt coupe.

Why? The two best bets are right here.

If it looked like that, I wouldn't complain much, provided it comes equipped with the right engines.

Edited February 14, 200620 yr by CaddyXLR-V

Unlikely. They said coupe.

We don't need two threads on the same thing, so please continue discussion here:

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...wtopic=5914&hl=