Showing posts with label Pontiac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pontiac. Show all posts

Friday, December 23, 2011

Dodge Grand Caravan Spot Belittles GM's Deceased Pontiac and Saturn Brands


While General Motors may be taking a swipe at Chrysler with its announcement on the recovery of a stolen 300 sedan equipped with its aftermarket OnStar FMV system, the Auburn Hills-based carmaker had its own moment of Zen with a new commercial on the Dodge Grand Caravan.

The 30-second ad is called "The Right Tool for the Job" and it's part of a new campaign for the Dodge Grand Caravan that will be followed by four more spots in the first quarter of 2012.

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Monday, December 19, 2011

The Company Formerly Known as “Old GM” is Dead at Age 103


It was long overdue, but it was bound to happen: the company lawyers named Motors Liquidation Co. but which we came to know as "old GM" during the 2009 government bailout period, died on Thursday, December 15.

Though it had a very long lifespan of 103 years, no one really noticed its demise. After all, this was just U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerbert signing the death certificate. Giving birth to the “new GM” two years ago was a very painful process – and one that most of those involved would like to forget.

It meant the sacrifice of three of its brands (Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn) and getting rid of another (Saab, which ironically is now in a similar position), closing 13 plants along with 900 dealerships. GM also had to reduce its U.S. workforce from 91,000 to 68,500 employees, which either way, is a far cry from the 525,000 workers it had in the States and another 100,000 outside the country in 1955.

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Pontiac GTO Review

The Pontiac GTO may have been the first real muscles car, but that difference has never been enough to ensure it an continuous generation run.

Pontiac GTO
The unique Classic Pontiac GTO was nicknamed "the Goat" as much for its rebellious, stripped-to-the-basics character as for the characters in its name. The 2004-'06 metamorphose was so much more enhanced and enhanced that to telephone it a Goat would almost have been an offend. Many of the old car bracelets had also been missing in interpretation, such as its cost-effective cost tag. The new vehicle began in the low $30Ks -- hardly an obtainable sum for youthful, cash-strapped fans. Plain outside appearance was another listlessness.

1967 Pontiac GTO
Power at first came from a 5.7-liter V8, but Pontiac GTO changed out in a bigger 6.0-liter V8 the following season. The bigger powerplant took the GTO up to a awesome 400 power, but between the 2+2 coupe's higher cost and unexciting appearance, Pontiac merely couldn't provide enough of them. Consequently, the Pontiac GTO was concluded after the 2006 design season.

Still, when it came to speed, there was no not accepting the born-again GTO's position as a full-on muscles car. Outfitted with the LS1 V8 ranked for 350 hp and 365 pound-feet of twisting, 2004 versions could get to 60 mph in 5.5 mere a few moments and fire through a quarter-mile in 14 mere a few moments smooth -- faster than any of the unique GTOs. More amazing were the 2005 and '06 versions, which had the 6.0-liter V8. Rated for 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of twisting, these versions shaved more than 50 % a second off that quarter-mile time.

Pontiac GTO Interior
Although the Pontiac GTO was a lot relaxed for freeway touring, its smooth revocation really wasn't updated to deal with this much energy. With its slow responses, increased system throw and vulnerable braking system, its characteristics were no go with for the sharper-handling competition in this budget. Had the car been cost $5,000 or so less, these problems might have been forgivable. Decline has mitigated this judgments, however, as used GTOs can be discovered for a portion of the MSRP when new.

Pontiac GTO
Introduced in 1964, the unique Pontiac GTO went through six years before perishing off after the 1974 design season. Always a rear-wheel-drive car, it was marketed as both a two-door hardtop and a sports car with an selection of big V8s. Star has it that Pontiac robbed the GTO name from the likewise renowned Mercedes 250 GTO, a car whose name was an composition for "Gran Turismo Omologato."

Classic Pontiac GTO
Save for the "detuned" 1973 and '74 versions, just about any 1967 Pontiac GTO from the unique era is regarded unique and will carry a higher cost at public auction, offered it's in excellent and has a corresponding statistics powerplant (meaning the car still has the unique manufacturer engine). Convertibles are less likely than hardtops. The over the top GTO Assess design, marketed in both system designs, is also less typical. Among Sixties GTOs, versions with one of the Ram Air offers are most favorite, while the 1970 season saw the GTO's efficiency high with the option a large 455-cubic-inch V8 excellent for 500 lb-ft of twisting. This car is one of the very popular classic cars like the Ford Model-T and Chevrolet Impala.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Surprise, Surprise: Canada's Most Stolen Vehicle is the 2009 Toyota Venza, Pontiac Aztec Makes Top 10


Who would have ever guessed that car thieves in Canada have a thing for the Toyota Venza? Yet, the 2009 model year version of Toyota's crossover topped the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s [IBC] top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles this year.

The 2009 Venza takes the crown from the 2000 Honda Civic SiR Coupe that was last year’s number one stolen vehicle but dropped to third place in 2011, just below the 1999 Honda Civic SiR Coupe.

The Japanese carmaker's models prove to be very popular among Canadian thieves as the 1998 and 1999 Acura Integra Coupe also made the list taking the 9th and 10th spot respectively.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

It Came from eBay Hell: The Meadowsa XP8


It's no exaggeration to say that there are more Pontiac Fieros posing as something else than there are original models, which goes to show you how much respect buyers have for GM's ill-fated sports car.

Over the years, we've brought you all sorts of Fiero-based replicas from a pretty amazing Lamborghini Miura clone to a Porsche Carrera GT and a funny-looking Ferrari F40, but this latest find on eBay, called the Meadowsa XP8, is trying to be something of its own.

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Monday, November 14, 2011

Feds Investigate Transmission Cable Problems in at Least Three GM Models


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] said on Monday that it is widening a preliminary investigation that began with 23 complaints about the Saturn Aura sedan from the 2007 and 2008 model years, over a transmission cable issue that may deteriorate over time and fail. If this happens, the shift lever position may not match the car's actual gear.

The safety agency said it is also looking to see if the same problem exists in at least two more GM models equipped with similar cable installations used on four-speed automatic transmissions, the 2004-2008MY Chevrolet Malibu and 2005-2008MY Pontiac G6.

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Saturday, September 3, 2011

Guess Who’s Back Again? Bob Lutz Returns to GM as Advisor



No matter the age, a petrol head like Bob Lutz can't stay away too long from the car industry. In fact, even though GM's former vice president and product czar had retired in the May 2010, the 79-year-old has been providing advice to the firm's executives without pay ever since.

Now, GM decided to formally hire Lutz as an advisor to provide counsel to the senior leadership team of the company.

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Friday, September 2, 2011

It Came from eBay Hell: The Diabolical Lambieroghini [with Video]



With the amount of free publicity I give Pontiac Fiero-based replicas on eBay, I think the sellers should be paying me…ahem…a commission.

From the vulgar depths of eBay Hell comes this...thing...this yellow-painted monstrosity that wants to pass as a Lamborghini. There are kids in Nepal, kids who have never seen a car before that would spot this fake from a mile away. Let’s run down our eBay Bad Buy™ checklist, shall we?

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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

It Came From eBay Hell: 2012 Faresi Concept Car



Grab onto to something before you read this, but if the eBay seller of this car is to be believed, Faresi is a name soon to be held in the same high regard as Ettore Bugatti and Enzo Ferrari.

What makes this all the more funny is when one looks at his 2007 Pontiac Solstice-based Faresi Concept Car that’s currently advertised on eBay. The seller expects this Frankenstein monster of a car to “be very collectable in the future, maybe even worth millions.”

Mr. Faresi, who’s unknown to the internet except in this ad, has been designing cars for donkey’s years and is an automotive heavyweight. His Solstice-based creation takes, “ideas from the most beautiful super sports cars in the world”.

Among these beautiful cars are the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Koenigsegg Agera, BMW Z8 and 1950s Corvette. Sadly, the Faresi Concept Car is not in the same class. Heck, it could very well be in a class of its own.

With less than 2,000 miles on the clock the Faresi features a rebuilt engine (always a good sign), turbo intercooler, custom headers, competition shocks, custom exhaust, factory alarm and “James Bond style Alarm” (whatever that is – maybe it fires missiles?).

The mighty 2.4L 4cyl is said to give the Faresi Concept Car a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 (0 to 100 km/h) seconds, which is on par with many modern sport models.

“This car gets more attention than many $300K+ super sport cars,” though probably not for the reasons the seller imagines.

If you have the stomach for it, you can check out our complete gallery of images below.

By Tristan Hankins

Editor's Note: The designer and eBay seller of the 2012 Faresi Concept No 00001 sent us this email describing the car and the idea behind its creation in his own words:



I believe that everyone is entitle to it's own opinion, but calling it a "Frankenstein Monster" is too funny! to each it's own I guess!, most people think is a very beautiful cool looking car, that is why people take pictures of the car and take pictures with the car also!

You can see more pictures of the car and pictures of the super sports cars, from witch Mr. Faresi was inspired by in the making of his first Faresi concept shown here!

How the Faresi car was created; Have you ever looked at the best cars in the world and said, (for example), I wish I had a car with a Ferrari front that has Koenigsegg head lights and Lamborghini doors with Alfa Romeo rear, with Aston Martin side look, and a BMW side Vents, but that has an American reliable engine that is fast but economic on gas, that I can drive every day and is low in maintenance, that is also exotic and beautiful, and I am not going to see someone else driving one on the next block....... and the next block after that, and that I do not have to spend over $300K for it.

I'm sure you have, well that is what Mr. Faresi also said, after owning just about every brand of sport car out there, (has owned more than 350 cars) and now has created the \"Faresi Car\" a sports car that was born by being inspired by the best super sports cars of the world, put in one......to make the # 00001 Faresi.

Every were the car goes people love it! this is one of the reasons why, this car was made inspired by a few sports cars, and this 3 were included and they were voted the 3 most beautiful cars in the world"

Mr. Faresi has been doing something right, and it looks like he is in the right track! He is already working in building his first production car, this one will have it's own chassis and body!, once is in production, then this first concept car based Solstice could become very collectable!

Sincerely,

Mr Fuad Faresi







PHOTO GALLERY


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Pontiac GTO American Muscle Cars Review and Pictures








This particular Pontiac GTO is as close as anybody can get to the American original. Proof of its validity includes an authenticated Pontiac Historical Services documented GTO from California. If there is one car that has to be considered as the Godfather of American muscle cars, no vehicle can make a better case than the 1967 Pontiac GTO.

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Inspirational Archer without Arms Changes Pontiac Brakes with Feet


Matt Stutzsman is one truly gifted and talented individual whose attitude should be an inspiration to all. You see, Stutzsman was born without arms. And yet, despite all the challenges, he managed to adapt and do everything on his own using his legs and feet.

The 29-year old man from Iowa, whose birth parents gave him up for adoption when he has was just four months old because they couldn’t deal with the idea of raising a child with special needs (or so they thought), just recently qualified from the U.S. Olympic team in archery!

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Pontiac Solstice gets an Engine Transplant from a Toyota Supra


In the world of engine swaps, anything goes but it’s always nice to see people experimenting with different kind of builds. For Car Lounge forum member ‘Phlow’, the patient was a Pontiac Solstice roadster with a weak heart - or so to say.

While most physicians would prescribe a local LS V8 transplant, this doctor went for something more exotic, to be precise a 2JZ, which is a code name for the Toyota Supra’s twin-turbocharged inline-six.

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Pontiac Loans Heart and Body to Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Superleggera Replica


From the creators of the Murcielago LP-640 Roadster wannabe we showed you back in 2009, comes a new Lamborghini doppelganger with fresh looks but the same Pontiac Solstice underpinnings.

This time, the car is supposed to resemble a Gallardo Spyder in a Superleggera outfit. The Lambo replica is finished in the usual for this type of conversions canary yellow and while the builders ditched the scissor door solution, they did add power controlled doors and a hood, which automatically open at the touch of a button – you know, just in case some of your friends weren’t already impressed […].

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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Holden Ute Series II SS V8 Arrives in Carscoop’s Garage


Our man Tristan has snagged the keys to a Holden Ute Series II SS V8 model for a first drive in Queensland, Australia this week, and just to make it a bit more interesting, he’ll be driving the Down Under-flavored El Camino to a classic car gathering in Brisbane.

Blurring the line between cars and trucks, the Holden Commodore-based sport pickup comes from a long line of Utes dating back to the middle of the previous century. The Ute almost made it to North America when Pontiac revealed the G8 Sport Truck at the 2008 New York Auto Show, but GM’s growing financial troubles at the time put a stop to that plan, and eventually the brand itself which was discontinued in 2009, and finally shut down in 2010.

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