Pontiac may get an entry-level coupe based on the Chevrolet Cobalt, according to a report by AutoWeek today. The car would be intended as a stopgap measure until GM comes up with more brand-focused products, the report said. Expected as a 2007 model, the car could be called the G5, and would replace the Sunfire. In Canada, GM already sells a Cobalt-based sedan and coupe called the Pontiac Pursuit.
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02/13, 8:31 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
Rumors came out a while back that Pontiac will get a G5 coupe and a G4 sedan, both likely to be just like the Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada.
02/13, 9:47 AM
posted by:
nikivee
After the General Manager last November for Pontiac said we are not interested in rebadging a Cobalt as a Pontiac.
02/13, 10:04 AM
posted by:
Micah
How many ’stopgap’ methods are they going to put out?
I’m so tired of this, Pontiac can burn for all I care. I think there’s a cemetery plot next to Plymouth available.
02/13, 10:28 AM
posted by:
Greenspeed
This stopgap crap is what is killing GMs brands. I don’t understand why all of GMs brands have to have all types of cars. It dillutes the brand name. Only Chevrolet should cover all bases – the rest are niche. Pontiac = american sports, Cadillac = luxury, Buick = family, Hummer = SUV, GMC = trucks/SUVs, Saturn = value and Saab = european sports. Simple. If pontiac focused only on the Grand Prix, G6, GTO and Solstice, they’d build much better cars, instead GM has them selling rebranded SUVs, economy cars and entry-level luxury cars on top of these. It dilutes the brand. What is exciting about driving an SUV/minivan crossover? The kid’s soccer game? C’mon GM quit screwing yourself.
02/13, 11:21 AM
posted by:
Jeff
I knew this was coming. I was in Detroit for the Auto Show and while driving on 75 I saw a weird looking Cobalt. I sped up so I could take a look at the car and what do I see, a Cobalt with Pontiac badges. It didn’t have a name on the car because I was thinking it was the Pursuit, it had the Pontiac badge but no name. This is a bad idea for GM. They need to shape up Pontiac or dump the company. They won’t turn them around by doing this rebadging crap. Ford figured this out and has really started to differentiate their models.
02/13, 1:01 PM
posted by:
Matt
Greenspeed – I couldn’t agree more with you! I think the effect of the numerous cross-platforms is a number of brands that have completely lost their identity. I think their strategy is “let’s just rename something, and put on different lights and grill.. *DON’T TELL ANYONE*.” We’ve been through so many stop-gap measures while the competition is introducing (gasp!) NEW vehicles! Now, of course, there are some exceptions – but shouldn’t the stop-gap vehicles be the exceptions???
02/13, 6:32 PM
posted by:
Count Drokoo
Useless, badge engineering, badge engineering, and more badge engineering. Why not take Toyota’s example? Three distinct brands with totally distinct markets. Why would someone actually buy a G5 over a Cobalt, it hasn’t worked before, and it won’t work now.
04/13, 3:40 AM
posted by:
Dom
Why would someone actually buy a G5 over a cobalt you ask? Maybe because they prefer triangular tail lights over circular ones or they prefer the trademark Pontiac front fascia/headlights or maybe it’s just the badge itself
I’m no fan of Pontiac or Chevy for that matter, but i will admit that the G5 coupe looks somewhat better to me than the Chevy Cobalt
The differences, although minor, lend it a distinctive look compared to it’s relative, the Cobalt; with that being said, i would rather purchase a G5 coupe over the Chevy Cobalt anyday