I don't know if anyone else has heard of this, but it's rumored that in 2005 (or possibly 2006) pontiac will be coming out with a sport AWD version of the grand am/prix. No concept pics or anything, just the rumor. looks like is thinking of competing?

 

I'll bet you won't be able to get it with a stick.... stupid GM.
-N

 

GM would prob got their AWD from Subaru, which it have ownership shares

 

You mean Suzuki, in which GM has a 20 or 30% stake IIRC.

 

My insiders say negatory on the grand am, not sure about the grand prix...

 

It will be interesting to see if the market tries to compete in the AWD sedan market, and I stand corrected on the Grand Am part, if it is going to come it is going to be the Grand Prix that gets it.

While GM-Insider is down right now, here's the link about the AWD Turbo'd Grand Prix to be debuted

http://www.gminsidenews.com/05grandam.htm

Anyone have thoughts as to whether the rest of the american manufacturers will try to enter this market?

 

as I correct myself again ... it's a Grand Am not Grand Prix being redesigned for 05 ..
The Grand Prix is getting a minor face lift next year, complete overhaul of the Grand Am is slated for 05.

For 2005 GM Will Change the way you think of the Grand Am

Branden Farthing-11/20/02

The Grand Am has been Pontiac's bread and butter mid-sized sedan for more than a decade. It's aggressive styling which is popular with both women and young adults, has allowed Grand Am sales to reach the top ten among cars for 10 of the last 14 years. The current car however, due not having any major design revisions (2003 was hardly major) in almost 4 years is becoming quickly declining in sales in a market of larger 240 HP Nissan Altimas. These factors along with the Firebird’s cancellation has led Pontiac to finally give the Grand Am some much needed power to back up it's aggressive looks.

Way back when I was writing for www.blueovalnews.com I suggested the since Pontiac knew the Firebird would die as early as 1996 that they would be developing a new Halo car. I suggested two possibilities in that article...

#1- That Pontiac was much more likely than any one thought to find a way to bring back the GTO in time for it's 40th anniversary in 2004.

#2- That with the demise of the Firebird, and the great challenges facing the GTO project, they were developing a turbo AWD Epsilon based car to be their new halo car.

Little did I know that both of those statements would be home runs and that the turbo, AWD, Epsilon car was destined to be the 2005 Grand Am.

The new Grand Am will come in two flavors, the as expected sedan form..much like the upcoming Malibu, and shockingly an aggressive looking quad-coupe design (small suicide doors) with a retractable top (The G6 concept picture above is almost certainly a representation of that body style). Available options will include, AWD (probably a Versa-track derivative system), a six-speed manual, and a 270-280 hp 2.8L high pressure turbocharged V6. The mid level engine is expected to be a 200-225 HP 3.2L NA "High Feature" V6 with a version of the Ecotech I4 bringing up the bottom of the line in base Grand Ams. All options will be available on the quad coupe version including a retractable hard top however, options and trim for the sedan are not known at this point. Both models are expected to be much more substantial than their predecessors giving the sedan interior space to compete with the best Japan has to offer. The Grand Am GT with these improvements and a much more refined interior (ala 04 Grand Prix) will move upscale in price with a loaded convertible coupe running around $33-35,000. Base model sedans are also expected to increase in price at start around $18,000.

It is unsure when the first concepts for the new Grand Am will show up on the auto show circuit. For the 2003 NAIAS Pontiac will show the 2004 GTO and Chevrolet will show the 2004 Malibu, so it is unlikely in my opinion that GM wants this shocker of a Grand Am (that is a 2005 model) stealing the GTO's fire. Chevrolet will introduce the face lifted Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS (with supercharged 3.8L engines) at Chicago, so it is very possible that the Grand Am concept will bow there. Other wise expect to have to wait until New York or 2005's NAIAS.

Pontiac recently announced plans to build the new Grand Am at the Orion, Mich. plant that currently builds the Pontiac Bonneville, Oldsmobile Aurora, and Buick Park Avenue. After a $300,000,000 investment and edition of a second shift the plant will produce 200-250,000 Grand Ams a year.



There's the conecpt drawing of the revamped 05 Grand Am.

Enjoy!

 

and i bet w/ all possibilities it will be the ugliest AWD car ever if america makes one for example like a saturn w/ AWD or that ugly aztec thing

 

All things considered, the Evo isn't really a beauty, so we should be careful what we rag on... Pontiac cars are actually decent looking without the plastic cladding.

The Aztec was a mistake, but it was a design-by-committee fiasco where the stylists had their hands tied by conflicting interests - minivan functionality with sport wagon styling (thus the f'ed up rear end).

 

besides ... if it's fast and handles well I'll buy it!! Who REALLY cares about looks if when you take it too the track all people can see is the trunk

looks aren't everything, bodykits a plenty

personally ... i think it sounds promising ... suicide doors (stock) .. not too many cars especially mass production cars have that.

 

oooo sounds scary......

 

am I the only one detecting a hint of arrogance in the air?

EDIT: I guess I thought wrong when I figured people might want to hear what the competition is going to be in the performance AWD sedan market ...

 

for anyone that cares, here's a collection of concept photo's I've found

Credit for the first two goes to C2E at www.c2e.info - props

www.acadie.net

http://c6firebird.freeservers.com






enjoy