Report: Pontiac will make next G6 rear-drive

General Motors has cancelled development of its planned next-generation front-wheel-drive Pontiac G6, according to a report published today. It is believed GM will instead replace the G6 for the 2010 model year with a rear-wheel-drive model of some description.

According to enthusiasts website GMInsidenews, the second-generation G6 was originally planned to be built on a redesigned Epsilon II (E2) platform. While the existing front-drive G6 has been reasonably successful, it seems General Motors wants its Pontiac division to be more competitive with the likes of BMW.

GM is also rumored to be considering replacing its badge-engineered G5 coupe with a compact RWD car in the next several years. The rumors add credibility to an Automotive News report from May suggesting Pontiac might make all its vehicles rear-wheel drive in the future.