New Pontiac G5
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New Pontiac G5
<img src="https://www.cobaltss.net/articles/g5.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="5">GM workers to start production on small Pontiac G5 coupe in June as 2007
The Pontiac G5 coupe will begin production June 19 as a 2007 model at the mammoth Lordstown facility, which employs about 6,000 people in the Mahoning Valley. It will be a sister vehicle to the Pontiac Pursuit, which is sold only in Canada, and to the Chevrolet Cobalt, both built at Lordstown.
GM's decision to build a new car in Ohio comes as the struggling automaker plans to close plants around the nation and shed 30,000 jobs by 2008 to save billions of dollars. GM, which lost $8.6 billion in 2005, announced Tuesday that it also planned to invest $545 million in five Michigan plants.
No new jobs are expected at Lordstown because of the new Pontiac, GM and union officials said. Lordstown will build about 25,000 of the new G5s for the U.S. market. The plant already builds about 25,000 Pursuit coupes and sedans and 300,000 Cobalts a year.
The G5, Cobalt and Pursuit share the same basic design and parts, meaning they can be built on the same assembly lines.
``The vehicle is based in large part on the Pontiac Pursuit,'' said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. The G5 will give Pontiac dealers an entry-level vehicle, possibly with basic models priced under $15,000, he said.
GM's official announcement came at the annual meeting of the National Automobile Dealers Association in Florida on Monday.
``It's a positive for the entire valley,'' said Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112. While it appears there will be no new jobs, the new car probably will result in more overtime for workers, he said.
With the addition of the new Pontiac, it appears that Lordstown will not be considered for a redesigned Saturn Ion car, Graham said.
The UAW had been lobbying GM ``for a long time'' to build the new Pontiac at Lordstown, Graham said.
The Lordstown complex, which opened in 1966, is the Mahoning Valley's top private employer.
Several years ago, General Motors considered closing the plant once it was finished making Chevrolet Cavaliers and Pontiac Sunfires. But Gov. Bob Taft and other top state and local officials successfully lobbied GM to give Lordstown a new car to make, which ended up being the Cobalt. GM announced in 2002 it would invest as much as $500 million in Lordstown to make the new vehicle.
The Sunfire was Pontiac's previous entry-level vehicle in the United States. Lordstown ended production on that car and the Cavalier in October 2004 to make room for the more modern Cobalt.
source: ohio.com
It will look something like this
The Pontiac G5 coupe will begin production June 19 as a 2007 model at the mammoth Lordstown facility, which employs about 6,000 people in the Mahoning Valley. It will be a sister vehicle to the Pontiac Pursuit, which is sold only in Canada, and to the Chevrolet Cobalt, both built at Lordstown.
GM's decision to build a new car in Ohio comes as the struggling automaker plans to close plants around the nation and shed 30,000 jobs by 2008 to save billions of dollars. GM, which lost $8.6 billion in 2005, announced Tuesday that it also planned to invest $545 million in five Michigan plants.
No new jobs are expected at Lordstown because of the new Pontiac, GM and union officials said. Lordstown will build about 25,000 of the new G5s for the U.S. market. The plant already builds about 25,000 Pursuit coupes and sedans and 300,000 Cobalts a year.
The G5, Cobalt and Pursuit share the same basic design and parts, meaning they can be built on the same assembly lines.
``The vehicle is based in large part on the Pontiac Pursuit,'' said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. The G5 will give Pontiac dealers an entry-level vehicle, possibly with basic models priced under $15,000, he said.
GM's official announcement came at the annual meeting of the National Automobile Dealers Association in Florida on Monday.
``It's a positive for the entire valley,'' said Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112. While it appears there will be no new jobs, the new car probably will result in more overtime for workers, he said.
With the addition of the new Pontiac, it appears that Lordstown will not be considered for a redesigned Saturn Ion car, Graham said.
The UAW had been lobbying GM ``for a long time'' to build the new Pontiac at Lordstown, Graham said.
The Lordstown complex, which opened in 1966, is the Mahoning Valley's top private employer.
Several years ago, General Motors considered closing the plant once it was finished making Chevrolet Cavaliers and Pontiac Sunfires. But Gov. Bob Taft and other top state and local officials successfully lobbied GM to give Lordstown a new car to make, which ended up being the Cobalt. GM announced in 2002 it would invest as much as $500 million in Lordstown to make the new vehicle.
The Sunfire was Pontiac's previous entry-level vehicle in the United States. Lordstown ended production on that car and the Cavalier in October 2004 to make room for the more modern Cobalt.
source: ohio.com
It will look something like this
Last edited by JonyyB; Feb 16, 2006 at 11:26 AM.
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From: Toronto (woodbridge)
Originally Posted by SilverStreak
Well... look on the bright side.... the more Cobalt clones are made... the more aftermarket parts will be available...
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From: Plano, IL
So let me get this straight....They took a perfectly good car and placed a few things on it and call it a Pontiac. I think they could have done a better job in making a clone. The styling cues are pretty much a Cobalt. Don't get me wrong it looks nice I just think it could be better.
PursuitGT - Nice Ride BTW !
PursuitGT - Nice Ride BTW !
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From: Wilmington, DE
Barf... this depresses me. I am pretty much going to die if they make a supercharged version.
Although I don't think they will. They wouldn't want to have a 205hp pontiac that would be faster than their 240hp G6 GTP
Although I don't think they will. They wouldn't want to have a 205hp pontiac that would be faster than their 240hp G6 GTP
i remember when i was getting my cobalt, i asked my salesman that what are my options beside the cobalt. He said pursuit and i replied, its the same car! And hes looking all surprised and said how did you know that?! .......im like 
........they look almost 100% identical....
hope G5 -> not equal to Pursuit .......its horrible here seeing those pursuits and cobalts together
........they look almost 100% identical....hope G5 -> not equal to Pursuit .......its horrible here seeing those pursuits and cobalts together
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From: Calgary Alberta Canada
GM workers to start production on small Pontiac G5 coupe in June as 2007
``The vehicle is based in large part on the Pontiac Pursuit,'' said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. [/QUOTE]
This quote interests me the most. "In large part....."
That language suggests more changes. If its a an excat copy of the Pursuit what would he say
that way?
But the thing is with only 25,000 untis its hard to see what changes they could make without incuring a large cost per vehicle.
Remember a small volume equals higher unit cost
Turbo Ectoec would be awesome but certifying that engine would be too exspensive as it sounds like there will be the full line up, base (2.2L, GT 2.4L, GXP? 2.0 S/C
Divide that among total sales of 25K and maybe 10K would be the GXP. Plus that Saab 5 speed sounds very troublesome and would undergo more duress from the more powerful Turbo Ecotec.
Maybe the Pursuit will have a shortend
06MY, get more styling to set it apart from the Cobalt and then the G5 can use that and be more different.
``The vehicle is based in large part on the Pontiac Pursuit,'' said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. [/QUOTE]
This quote interests me the most. "In large part....."
That language suggests more changes. If its a an excat copy of the Pursuit what would he say
that way?
But the thing is with only 25,000 untis its hard to see what changes they could make without incuring a large cost per vehicle.
Remember a small volume equals higher unit cost
Turbo Ectoec would be awesome but certifying that engine would be too exspensive as it sounds like there will be the full line up, base (2.2L, GT 2.4L, GXP? 2.0 S/C
Divide that among total sales of 25K and maybe 10K would be the GXP. Plus that Saab 5 speed sounds very troublesome and would undergo more duress from the more powerful Turbo Ecotec.
Maybe the Pursuit will have a shortend
06MY, get more styling to set it apart from the Cobalt and then the G5 can use that and be more different.
Last edited by JonyyB; Feb 26, 2006 at 07:38 PM. Reason: fixed quote
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From: Canada
This "G5" will likely be a Pursuit, just with the addition of the S/C version, and 2-door models only as stated. I can't see them making any major changes for the sake of expenses. I would expect the interior and the exterior to be identical or very similar to the Canadian Pursuit. GM already stated this is an "interm" car until Pontiac can develop more brand focused vehicles. As a result, I don't see Pontiac or financially sick GM willing to dump a whole bunch of money into the G5 to differentiate it from the Cobalt; a car with the Pursuit sibling in Canada that already sells well. They get away with this in Canada, so I am sure the re-badge will just do fine in the US. Buyers often have strong brand loyalty. Pontiac fans will buy it just for the Pontiac badge, even if it is a re-badged Cobalt.
As far as the turbo, I don't see that happening. They certainly wouldn't make a turbo G5 while we bummed around in a supercharged car. If that happened, both cars would get the turbo. Secondly, the turbo won't fit in the Cobalt. It would be transversely mounted (opposite of a rwd car), and it would not fit in the way the turbo is attached to the motor, as well as the routing of the intercooler. It would thus require significant changes. Finally, the Cobalt SS/SC and G5 SC are a car worth $20490! It already makes more power than the top of the line Civic, Focus, RSX, and Mini. The Caliber is no longer a competitor at $26000. GM is not going to make a 230-260 HP FWD stock turbo car. Plus, that engine will be exclusive for a while to the Solstice and Sky. Maybe it would get into the HHR or something due to it's greater weight (and similarity to the Caliber).
Just my $0.02. I don't see the turbo in this car for a few years at least.
As far as the turbo, I don't see that happening. They certainly wouldn't make a turbo G5 while we bummed around in a supercharged car. If that happened, both cars would get the turbo. Secondly, the turbo won't fit in the Cobalt. It would be transversely mounted (opposite of a rwd car), and it would not fit in the way the turbo is attached to the motor, as well as the routing of the intercooler. It would thus require significant changes. Finally, the Cobalt SS/SC and G5 SC are a car worth $20490! It already makes more power than the top of the line Civic, Focus, RSX, and Mini. The Caliber is no longer a competitor at $26000. GM is not going to make a 230-260 HP FWD stock turbo car. Plus, that engine will be exclusive for a while to the Solstice and Sky. Maybe it would get into the HHR or something due to it's greater weight (and similarity to the Caliber).
Just my $0.02. I don't see the turbo in this car for a few years at least.
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From: ?
Originally Posted by mi6_
This "G5" will likely be a Pursuit, just with the addition of the S/C version, and 2-door models only as stated. I can't see them making any major changes for the sake of expenses. I would expect the interior and the exterior to be identical or very similar to the Canadian Pursuit. GM already stated this is an "interm" car until Pontiac can develop more brand focused vehicles. As a result, I don't see Pontiac or financially sick GM willing to dump a whole bunch of money into the G5 to differentiate it from the Cobalt; a car with the Pursuit sibling in Canada that already sells well. They get away with this in Canada, so I am sure the re-badge will just do fine in the US. Buyers often have strong brand loyalty. Pontiac fans will buy it just for the Pontiac badge, even if it is a re-badged Cobalt.
I just posted this in the other G5 thread (why do we have 2), but now that the new Ion is officially SCRAPPED (looked unreal - thanks GM), there's a rumour that some of the components will make their way into the G5. This is of course a rumour, and could become the official Pontiac coupe in a few years, but here's to wishful thinking.
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
whoever siad there will be no room for the turbo doesnt know what they are talking about look behind then engine there is plenty of room back there to add a turbo to the exhaust manifold it wouldnt be a big deal
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Here are 2 pics that I can show you of the cancelled Ion - courtesy of cheersandgears.com:
Link
For some reason I can't get them to show on this post unless i'm logged in.
Sometimes I just don't understand GM. This interior is leaps and bounds ahead of the Cobalt's in my opinion.
Link
For some reason I can't get them to show on this post unless i'm logged in.
Sometimes I just don't understand GM. This interior is leaps and bounds ahead of the Cobalt's in my opinion.
Last edited by 09G5GT; Feb 18, 2006 at 04:02 PM.
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Originally Posted by celicacobalt
whoever siad there will be no room for the turbo doesnt know what they are talking about look behind then engine there is plenty of room back there to add a turbo to the exhaust manifold it wouldnt be a big deal
The engine would be mounted transversley (sideways in laimen terms) in the Cobalt. You would need to put the turbo elsewhere, and re-route all the piping for the intake and intercooler. There would be some major work to get that in there. Not impossible, but changes would need to be made.
Last edited by mi6_; Feb 19, 2006 at 09:34 PM.
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From: Moncton Newbrunswick Can.
the cobalts trunk, hood etc are interchangeable with the g5, actually where you have your front grill with the bowtie, is interchangable with the front of the g5, for 60 bucks canadian you can order this part replacing your bowtie grill!
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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
since we are on the topic, do you think it would be possible for the dealer to install a remote starter on the cobalt since it is an option on the new G5....living in south florida it gets very hot and i would love to run the air for a couple of minutes before getting in the car.... 
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From: The Dark Side of the Moon
If I'm not mistaken, the G5 is only a stopgap vehicle until GM can develop a completely different vehicle to replace the Sunfire. I'm thinking a production run of two, maybe three MY's tops. The Pursuit is a nice looking car, especially the coupe. Trouble is though, the G5 is bound to be more expensive than the Cobalt, especially if it's like the Pursuit and the base model's engine is the 2.4.
