Auto Trends

In days past when the name Pontiac was spoken, people instinctively knew that the conversation was shifting to a discussion about a fine line of sporty automobiles. At one time the brand had some of the hottest cars on the market including the GTO, Tempest, and the Firebird, exciting vehicles which imbued the Pontiac name.

Losing The Sporty Mystique

Over time Pontiac began to change receiving fewer sporty models but seeing more economical cars along with a van, the ugly Aztek SUV, and a number of rebadged vehicles sold by GM’s other US divisions. General Motors, in a bid to consolidate operations, has united most Buick, GMC and Pontiac dealers under one roof, a move which has allowed the automaker to cut back on the number of models offered by each of the three brands.

Today, GM has transitioned the brand to one offering a line of small, sporty cars with only one model hearkening to a bygone era, the Pontiac G8. Based on the Holden Commodore — a GM model built in Australia — the G8 is a well proportioned mid-sized sedan, with a fully independent performance tuned suspension. Critics have been comparing the car to BMW, recognizing that it offers something that most American cars do not – a wonderful combination of raw power, handling, and manageable size.

Raw Power in a Sports Sedan

Standard engine for the G8 is a V6 – the same 3.6L engine that powers the Cadillac CTS. However, for optimum power, a 6.0L V8 paired with a six speed automatic transmission ups the performance level a full notch, giving the car the distinction as being the most powerful sedan available on the market that retails for under $30,000. As a point of reference, the Cadillac CTS-V is the fastest sedan costing at least $30,000.

Though introduced earlier this year, the future of the Pontiac G8 is in doubt as is the sport truck version of the same model. General Motors has been hammered financially for the past several years and this year learned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has backed a government initiative to require that Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) be increased fleet-wide for all vehicles sold in America. To get to the higher numbers some of the larger cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles manufactured by GM will be discontinued or modified enough to make them lighter and more fuel efficient.

The Holden Commodore Soldiers On

The Pontiac G8 isn’t one of those cars slated to be downsized though it is believed that the next generation Holden Commodore (the Pontiac’s sister model) will soldier on, but be available only in the land down under where such CAFE restrictions don’t come into play.

The good news is that the G8 should be available for another five years before the car fades into the sunset. Likely, the burly rear wheel drive sedan will be replaced by a front wheel drive car with smaller engines, a capable car roughly the size of today’s Pontiac Gran Prix. Less won’t necessarily be more, but when fed regs are factored in less may be all that you’ll have.

A Little Bit Of Autobahn Collaboration!

BMW and Mercedes have reached an agreement to share some key components, including engine and transmission technology. Will we see the day when these two rivals eventually merge operations? I doubt it, but it something to think about.

Okay, the title of this article is a bit of an exaggeration – Germany’s two biggest luxury automakers are not merging operations. Instead, Daimler AG and Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) have reached an agreement where the two companies will begin sharing some components in a bid to collectively reduce their costs.

Specifically, the automakers will take advantage of their respective economies of scale and use their collective might to purchase car parts in greater numbers and for less cost per part. Parts including brake components, certain cabin materials, and possibly the sharing of safety components could be included in this deal.

BMW Engines, Gearboxes To Mercedes?

BMW has even discussed selling engines and gearboxes to Mercedes which would be a highly unusual agreement, given that these two components are often what distinguishes the German models the most. However, the current economic climate around the world is pretty dismal, making such a deal advantageous to all sides. The only concern would be consumers – how would they view two similar models which aren’t all that different under the hood?

One engine being considered by BMW to supply to Mercedes is its new V12 powerplant which it plans to unveil in 2009 for use in the 7-series and in a new ‘baby’ Rolls-Royce sedan. Based on an extended version of BMW’s new turbocharged 4.0L V8, the new engine might be useful for Mercedes in both the S-class as well as in the Maybach (Mercedes’ ultra-luxury brand). No transmissions have been identified with this agreement, but the possibility of one or more gearboxes being shared is strong.

Who Else Has BMW Been In Talks With?

BMW has hinted that Mercedes isn’t the only automaker interested in company technology. Aston Martin has expressed interest in hammering out a deal with the German automaker and one American manufacturer has expressed interest in BMW diesel technology. Likely, that company is General Motors who is looking to expand the Cadillac CTS line up to include at least one diesel powerplant that is ready for the US market.

Besides BMW and Mercedes, other automakers are cutting deals in a bid to save money. Most notably are Nissan and Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, a number of Japanese brands with each other, and Chrysler and Volkswagen. Whether these arrangements will diminish the independence of any automaker remains to be seen, but the savings that can be realized may be something too good for any of them to pass up.

(Source: Autocar)