2011 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM by ASC: New Camaro-Based Proposal

Pontiac's days may be numbered as General Motors plans to phase out the historic brand by the end of 2010, but that hasn't dampened ASC Creative Services' attempts to make a Trans Am version out of the all-new Chevy Camaro coupe. ASC has worked many times with General Motors in the past helping out in the creation and design development of cars like the 1987 Buick GNX, various Chevy SS models such as the HHR SS and Malibu SS, as well as the Cadillac STS-V and XLR-V sport cars just to mention a few.

The design and development firm's proposal for a Camaro-based Pontiac Trans Am is a fairly simply conversion that could easily lead to a custom-order production model. The changes include a new front fascia complete with unique head lights, twin-kidney grill inserts and restyled apron, a rear-facing hood shaker, new side skirts and alloy wheel designs plus rear-fender air vents. At the back the design proposes a new rear fascia with distinctive tail lights, boot spoiler and a specific apron housing new exhaust pipes.

While we don't have any photos of the interior, we gather that ASC would most likely limit the changes to the trim and seat options along with a revised instrument panel.

There's no information ASC's actual intentions on the car, but if you're really interested, you can send a mail to dave.byron (at) ascglobal.com for more information.

Via: DUB & eGMcartech

GM Officially Announces Pontiac's Death, Saab, Hummer and Saturn to be Gone by 2009

This is the end of the road for Pontiac as General Motors confirmed earlier media reports by officially announcing on Monday the death of the 83-year-old marque that will be phased out by the end of 2010. As part of its revised "Viability Plan" that accelerates the timeline for a number of important actions, GM said that it will speed up "the resolution of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer to the end of 2009, at the latest." The General will focus on four core brands in the U.S., Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, offering a total of 34 nameplates in 2010 compared to 48 in 2008, a reduction of 29 percent.

"We are taking tough but necessary actions that are critical to GM's long-term viability," said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. "Our responsibility is clear - to secure GM's future - and we intend to succeed. At the same time, we also understand the impact these actions will have on our employees, dealers, unions, suppliers, shareholders, bondholders, and communities, and we will do whatever we can to mitigate the effects on the extended GM team."

Other significant changes in GM's updated "Viability Plan" include the accelerated idling and closures of powertrain, stamping, and assembly plants while the firm will almost cut its U.S. dealer count in half, from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010. This is a further reduction of 500 dealers, and four years sooner, than the previous plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury on February 17.

And how will all these measures affect U.S. workers? According to GM, the updated plan will see an additional reduction of 7,000 to 8,000 hourly employees. Overall, U.S. hourly employment levels are projected to be reduced from about 61,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2010, a 34 percent reduction, and level off at about 38,000 starting in 2011.

BREAKING: GM Issues Official Statement on Pontiac Death Rumors

General Motors decided to take action and issue an official statement in regards of news reports from Edmund's Insideline and Autonews saying that the automaker had decided to axe the Pontiac brand instead of keeping it as a 'specialty-marque' as was the initial plan. While GM denied the fact that it has changed any of its plans, the American automaker didn't exactly say that the future of Pontiac is secured even in the form of a niche-brand.

"Contrary to media speculation, General Motors has not announced any changes to its long-term viability plan or to the future status of any of its brands. GM is continuing to review its restructuring plan to go further and faster and best ensure its future success. Additional information will be released as any decisions are finalized said GM in a statement," the automaker said in the statement titled "Pontiac Statement Re: Media Speculation"

We remind you that earlier today, General Motors announced that it received an additional US$2 billion in government loans to help the company to maintain adequate liquidity.

Pontiac Reportedly to be Pronounced Dead on Monday

Citing an anonymous source within General Motors, Edmund's Insideline is reporting that the American automaker could announce the 'death sentence' for Pontiac as early as this Monday. If this is the case, then GM's original plans to keep Pontiac as a 'specialty' brand with niche products have gone out the window and the maker of the iconic GTO as well as of the Aztec (let's not forget about the flops) will join the fate of Saab, Hummer and Saturn.

Insideline called GM's spokesman Tom Wilkinson to ask him about the news, but the answer was somewhat vague. "There's nothing I can share with you at this time. Keep your eyes on our media site. Officially, nothing has changed with Pontiac's niche-brand status, until you hear differently," Wilkinson was quoted as saying. Either way, one thing's for sure; Pontiac's fate seems doomed...

Via: Insideline

My Two Dents on GM's Platform Portfolio

GM's lineup is cancerous, malignant tumors coming in the form of superfluous platforms. Some are only being used for one vehicle; what a waste. The K-platform beneath the DTS is on its death bed, as is the H-platform under the Lucerne. The Chevy Impala will soon be the last remaining car on the W-platform, and plastic surgery will do little to alleviate the pain. Why not consolidate?

Epsilon 2: The Possibilities Are Endless

The Buick guys did it right, moving the 2010 LaCrosse over to this 'bad boy'. Available all-wheel-drive and a direct injection V6? Yes, please. This is the kind of thinking that will turn Buick into the Lexus-fighter it wants to be.

If Pontiac adopted the Epsilon II, it could beef up the suspension and then we have a performance-minded AWD midsize with good fuel economy (What's that? Focused and fuel efficient?). Eventually they could even offer it with a stick, and maybe even a hybrid. Insanity! Pontiac breaking the rules and providing a fun-to-drive hybrid would really put them on the map again, giving the G8 an appropriate little brother. Now that's exciting.

While we're putting good cars on modern platforms, could we maybe stretch out Epsilon 2 for the next Impala? Absolutely. Chevy would lose its V8 options, but sacrifices must be made. The SS could even return one day in turbo V6 guise, a la the Taurus SHO. Hey, if GM wants the V8, they should use the damn Zeta platform as originally planned. This brings me to my next point.

Zeta: You Wanted It, You Built it, Now Use It

GM, while you're thinking straight: don't kill off the Buick's big daddy. Get your money's worth out of the Zeta platform by putting it under the Lucerne. Simply revise the exterior of the G8 a tad. I know at this point I am advocating the dreaded badge engineering, but in these tough times costs must be cut.

Take a look at any one of these: the Holden Statesman/Caprice ((LWB Commodore), Mid-East Chevy Lumina/Caprice, or Shanghai-GM Buick Park Avenue. If not the perfect solution, badge engineering the next Lucerne would at least refresh Buick's top model along with keeping the Pontiac-Buick relationship unique. Suspension tweaks to soften the ride, wood trim, and V6 and V8 power plants; this could be Buick's next stab at counteracting the Lexus infection.

GM, this is being as plain as possible. Do you want to get back to a state of health? That means cutting out the bad parts and helping improve the good ones that are already there. Investing hundreds of millions of dollars to have the best medicine around, and then not taking it? That's just stupid. Furthermore, why take eight old pills a day when two new ones offer the same relief? General, stop being a baby and make better use of the pills in the cabinet. Doctor's orders.

By Phil Alex

Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985, yet for reasons unbeknownst to him moved to South Carolina. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had a strange obsession with cars and travel since he was a wee lad. He currently resides a stone's throw from Japan's international airport in Narita. All of this can be seen on Facebook, so check it out. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded.