GM brings performance, style to NY Auto Show

[BigElm]

FOR RELEASE: 2008-02-29 CONTACTS
GM brings performance, style to NY Auto Show

Pontiac introductions include three world premiere vehicles

NEW YORK -- General Motors’ global design talents come together as GM showcases several award-winning concept vehicles at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. Headlining the event will be Pontiac with three world premiere vehicle introductions. Saab will also unveil an environmentally friendly compact sports luxury concept vehicle to North America.
Concept vehicles from China, Europe, the United States and Australia emphasize design, performance and fuel-saving technologies across GM’s eight vehicle brands – Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Hummer, Saturn, Saab and Cadillac.
Some of the notable concepts you will see at the show include:

• The Buick Riviera concept, unveiled to acclaim at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show, marks the return of a renowned Buick nameplate and communicates a new global design vocabulary for the Buick brand.
• Inspired by Scandinavian design values and a respect for the environment, the crossover Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept combines the benefits of turbocharging, direct injection and variable valve timing for the first time with high octane E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline).
• The HUMMER HX concept, a compact, E85-capable vehicle, features a design based on the ideas of a trio of young designers who are new to the HUMMER studio.
• The Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept, a petroleum-free, hydrogen-powered vision of the future of luxury transportation.
• Unveiled at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the GMC Denali XT concept offers a 50-percent increase in combined fuel economy over comparable small pickup trucks when running on gasoline, and incorporates a new, muscular form in a performance-styled, hybrid sport-utility truck (SUT).

WHEN:

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Press Conference: 11:35 a.m.
(Press Days: Wednesday-Thursday, March 19-20)

WHERE:

General Motors Stand
Jacob Javits Convention Center
655 West 34 th Street (at 11 th Avenue)
New York , NY 10001

WHO:

Bob Lutz GM Vice Chairman, Global Product Development
James Bunnell GM General Manager, Pontiac-Buick-GMC

(Other design, engineering and divisional executives will be available for interviews on March 19)

CONTACT(S):
Kathleen Hamilton, GM Northeast Communications
914-244-6058 (office)
914-815-3963 (cell)
kathy.hamilton@gm.com


Andrea Canabal, GM Northeast Communications
914-244-6059 (office)
914-391-6898 (cell)
andrea.canabal@gm.com

I have a feeling the GXP will be one of them

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[AVANTI R5]

well it says 3
1.G8
2.G8 Wagon
3.GXP

[KC]

G8 Ute
G8 Wagon
Vibe

I highly doubt the GXP will be announced.

--kC

[Checkered24]

Solstice targa coupe

[AVANTI R5]

It will be a manual equiped higher output G8,which will be for sale later this year.Journalists are already crying the G8 needs more power like the old GTO had.

[subySerb]

Lutz said no G8 wagon
so it will probably be G8 Ute and Pontiac version of Holden Coupe 60 (they can put a pontiac bumper and grill on it in a month)

[AVANTI R5]

Pontiac will be showing a AWD Turbo 2.0L Vibe

[Derbagger]

Originally Posted by AVANTI R5

Pontiac will be showing a AWD Turbo 2.0L Vibe

production or concept? I don't think it's been built to accept the Ecotec.

[subySerb]

Originally Posted by Derbagger

production or concept? I don't think it's been built to accept the Ecotec.

i think you're right, because Vibe is based on a Corolla and Toyota doesn't offer any high performance small cars.

[BigElm]

Well, here's one of the Pontiac's showing up:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/pontiac-...e-targa-2.html

[AVANTI R5]

Back in October, Leftlane exclusively reported GM was planning to launch a hardtop "targa" version of its popular Pontiac Solstice two-seater. Now, multiple sources are reporting the car will debut at the end of the month in New York.

The vehicle will be on display at the New York Auto Show in two weeks. It's not clear how the project relates to the previously-rumored Solstice coupe. Internally, GM refers to the Targa as GMX627.

Production will start in January of 2009 at GM's Wilmington plant. Production may be limited to as few as 10,000 units annually. Possible debut venues would include SEMA '08 or LAIAS '08.

The Solstice will have a traditional Targa setup, with the panels directly over the driver and passenger's head being removable. Buyers might even have the choice of hard or soft removable panels. It's probably safe to assume the trunk will be mildly reconfigured for a system to stow the roof panels.

It remains to be seen whether GM will also build a regular Solstice coupe, or if this model will sufficiently fill that gap. Nearly a year ago, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said building a Solstice coupe would be a "very logical thing to do."

Lutz said any possible Solstice Coupe would look "exactly" like the Solstice Coupe Concept shown in 2002, so it's safe to assume the Targa model will share its basic lines with that concept. He said it was always GM's intention to build the coupe, but priority went to the roadster.

Lutz acknowledged adding new bodystyles is a good way keep consumers interested in a model when the "new" wears off after a couple of years.

The 2002 Solstice Coupe concept car is shown below for reference.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/pontiac-...e-targa-2.html

[justincredible]

That's great. I think more cars should come with a targa or T-top option.

[Hazdaz]

OK, now that is pretty bitchin'.

Still much prefer the look of the Sky though.
I have been saying that a coupe version of the Sky would probably jump to the top of my shopping list... should be cheaper and lighter than the convertible - and more rigid and have more storage room.

[design1stcode2nd]

A GXP version would be like a Z4 Coupe fo cheap. Removes the issue with the convoluted top on the Solstice and hopefully the would re-engineer the trunk for more space.

The Solstice and Sky's main two problems are it's top and utter lack of storage.

[Derbagger]

I'd be into a targa topped Solstice, but only if it includes some real storage space, like the pictured concept shows. I don't want to do Home Depot runs with it, but I'd like to be able to go away with the wife for a weekend. I think my Triumph motorcycle can hold more stuff than the Solstice can.

[Derbagger]

Also, that design of the bubble hatch is where the solstice styling came from. The young designer used the Chevy Cheetah for inspiration. The Cheetah was to be the Cobra killer, but the small factory burnt down, and that was when Chevy also pulled out of racing, stopping any real production. That's why it works with the hard top.