The Big 3 may be laying off workers left, right and center, but at least one start up is moving into town to swoop up some skilled workers. That start-up is Fisker Automotive, the aspiring luxury-hybrid automaker headed up by noted designed Henrik Fisker. The new facility is based in a leased property in Pontiac, Michigan, in suburban Detroit, and will help Fisker’s engineers get the Karma, first shown in concept form at the last Detroit show and ambitiously gearing up for a production preview at the next one.

Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

Since the Holden-based Pontiac G8 ST -where ST stands for Sport Truck- isn’t due to arrive in dealers’ showrooms before late 2009, General Motors decided to keep up the excitement with the introduction of a so-called concept version loaded with factory accessories at this week’s SEMA Show. Highlights of GM-accessorized Pontiac G8 ST Concept include a custom red paint job with enhanced clear coat, lowered ride height, chunky 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats with red inserts, custom interior trim kit, G8 GXP steering wheel and shift knob with red inserts and a hard tonneau cover. Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

DETROIT (Reuters) — General Motors said on Thursday it plans to launch a sporty, five-door small car, the Pontiac G3, in the United states by spring 2009.

GM’s plans for the G3 were first reported by Automotive News on June 2.

The company is betting on small cars to give it a boost in the U.S. auto market as consumers avoid big, fuel-guzzling vehicles.

The Pontiac G3 is a hatchback that can seat five adults. Pricing for the car would be announced closer to introduction, GM said.

GM intends to cut $10 billion in costs as part of a plan to shore up liquidity and bring the company back to profitability.

Automotive News previously reported the EPA approved for sale the Pontiac G3 and G3 five-door, twins of the Aveo. The G3 is certified as a 2009 model, according to the agency’s Web site.

The site says both G3s and the 2009 Aveo5 are powered by a 1.6-liter engine and four-speed automatic transmission. They are EPA-rated at 25 mpg city and 34 highway.

Pontiac sells the current version of the G3 in Canada, where it is called the Wave, and in Mexico.

Popularity: 1% [?]

General Motors has some significant features its adding for 2009 that shouldn’t fall through the cracks. For one, Bluetooth will finally become on nearly all of GM’s cars and trucks. For the longest time, only the Cadillac STS was available with Bluetooth phone integration, which ends with MY2009. Second, the six-speed automatic transmission that before was not widely available in the General’s half-ton trucks and SUVs has spread like wildfire across the GMT900 lineup and will now be standard or optional in such vehicles as the Avalanche, Silverado and Sierra 1500, Suburban, Yukon and Yukon XL. Curiously, though, it’s still not available on the Tahoe.

Other items of note include a new 6-speed automatic for the Pontiac G6 to replace its underwhelming 4-speed, the replacement of GM’s 3.6L V6 in the GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook with the direct-inject version that will bump power up to 290 hp in both CUVs, and finally a new four-cylinder base model for the uplevel Malibu LTZ that features the the 2.4L four-cylinder ECOTEC engine paired with a six-speed automatic.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Joint manufacturing ventures allow both automakers to share resources and platforms, but unfortunately, it also means they share problems. Such is the case with GM and Toyota, whose NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, put out 540,000 Toyota Matrixes, Corollas and 123,00 Pontiac Vibes with faulty bolts that hold in the glass on the two front doors. The 660,000 2003-2004 vehicles equipped with power windows are being recalled after 500 complaints, 36 claimed injuries and one crash (?!) were reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is calling for both automakers to recall the affected vehicles and replace the faulty bolts at no charge

source (Automotive News)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Back in February we brought you initial news of the supercar being developed by Formula 3 racing team GTA. The exotic was tipped to be powered by a mid-mounted 700hp V10, however, reports circulating around the internet now suggest that the ten-cylinder powerplant for this vaporware supercar will produce closer to 800hp and be sourced from — wait for it — Pontiac.

We’ll take that one with an overloaded container ship’s worth of salt. Last we checked, GM didn’t have a V10 in its parts bin, and the mere idea of the General developing a bespoke engine just for this Spanish racing outfit’s nonexistent sports car is ridiculous on its face. Now, add in the detail that this mythical powerplant would then wear the Pontiac arrowhead logo — that’s straitjacket-type stuff, people. We know the General is eager to put the excitement back into the Excitement Division, but come on. Let’s be rational.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Today Pontiac announced the flagship of its GXP performance series, the G8 GXP high-performance sedan, at the New York Auto Show. This 2009 model will join the Solstice, G6 and Torrent GXP models in Pontiac dealerships in late 2008. The G8 GXP takes the G8’s responsive driving experience, refined passenger environment and aggressive good looks to a new level. It also delivers an enjoyable driving experience, thanks to a 6.2L V-8 that produces in excess of 400 horsepower.”More than just raw power, the GXP delivers the sophisticated yet exciting driving experience that enthusiasts expect in a car costing far more than the GXP,” said Jim Bunnell, Buick-Pontiac-GMC general manager

Engine performance

The heart of the G8 GXP is the 6.2L LS3 small-block V-8, currently rated at 402 horsepower (300 kW)* and 402 lb.-ft. of torque (546 Nm)* pending final SAE certification. This engine is the newest member of GM’s small-block V-8 family. It features a revised, larger-bore cylinder block, high-flow, L92-style cylinder heads; larger-diameter pistons; unique camshaft and camshaft timing; revised valvetrain with offset intake rocker arms; high-flow intake manifold; and high-flow fuel injectors.

The LS3 engine has an aluminum cylinder block with cast-in-place iron cylinder liners. Larger bores help create a 376-cubic-inch displacement. The block casting also features revisions and machining in the bulkheads to enhance its strength and improve bay-to-bay breathing. New pistons were designed for high-rpm performance.

New, high-flow cylinder heads aid engine breathing and are based on the large port and valve design found on the LS7 engine and other GM L76 engines. The larger-capacity, straighter intake port-design optimizes intake flow to the combustion chamber, an effect augmented by large valves, measuring 2.16 inches (55.0 mm) on the intake side and 1.59 inches (40.4 mm) on the exhaust side.

Pending final testing, the G8 GXP is expected to deliver 0-to-60 mph performance of about 4.7 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at 108 mph.

Not a member? Join now 

Popularity: 1% [?]