Yay, special edition cars with dealer markups of stellar proportions.

I guess I'll just have to wait for somebody in the aftermarket to release a Firebird kit.

Once again a fuel crisis will kill the muscle car.

I feel like that Indian, atop the hill, looking down upon the freeway.

*Tear*

..."because of new legislation requiring vehicles to reach a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2020, Pontiac might not end up as GM's performance division."

So 2020 is 12 years away. They can't put gas guzzlers on the road now and if need be pull them in 2020 or limit quantities, or heaven forbid find a way to make them more fuel efficient. What is the life cycle of a car these days? I think you could probably put out a generation or two of what the hell they want.

No American car company has had to pay a CAFE fine yet. The government is pushovers, test them.

Maybe I am simple when it comes to this stuff and there is a grading period or something. But what ever lose another 39 billion I don't care I like buying my cars heavily discounted.

TA wouldn't have sold anyway.

Face it folks, if you took a brand new BMW 330 and just stuck a Camaro or Trans Am nameplate on it, it would go from hip and trendy to redneck car instantly. Those nameplates say "Only buy this car if you want Mike Huckabee to be President".

And I think rednecks (for the most part) would rather spend $40K on a Z71 than a Z-28.

I don't think a modern banditmobile would find many buyers.

A few, but not enough to make production profitable.

Travesty!

Scarlett Johansson won't return my calls. I blame CAFE 35.

as much as i would've liked this car to be built i knew it never would; unless you gave it 4 doors, awd, a tall and goofy roof and 19 cup holders with a DVD player in the back for the runts.

So then, no Torrent of screaming chickens. Pontiac is long past its summer Solstice...but, wait, this totally opens the door for a rebadged Aveo called... Le Mans!

@clinto: Giuliani is the redneck choice! He's the one on the overt asskicking platform with all the marital infidelity. Porsche needs a 911GE with a Toby Keith launch party.

Sigh. Here we go again. So when do we get blessed with the front wheel drive Mustangs and Camaros.

Back to the Future or deja vu all over again.

@clinto: That's something I find myself at odds with. When I was a child, I loved Trans Ams. Now that I'm older and detest the Trans Am's redneck image, I don't think I own one. I still think about it but then I see a beat up one with some jackass behind the wheel and realize the image I'd portray. Nonetheless, I would rather own a new Trans Am than a Camaro.

WACKY FLAMING CHICKEN SNAP-ON AFTER MARKET BODY KIT!!
WACKY FLAMING CHICKEN SNAP-ON AFTER MARKET BODY KIT!!
WACKY FLAMING CHICKEN SNAP-ON AFTER MARKET BODY KIT!!

WACKY FLAMING CHICKEN SNAP-ON AFTER MARKET BODY KIT!!

I'm torn. For me, this is like being told that the dog next door crapped in my front yard, but won't be crapping in my back yard. There's still a stinky pile of dog crap out front - but thank the Flying Spaghetti mOnster there won't be one out back.

On the other hand the world needs more fun cars, so one less (poorly-made) fun car is a bad thing.

I'd much rather they bother with badge-engineering a Trans Am out of the Camaro, than foist off another truck or sport utility vehicle.

@clinto: You got them mixed up, the Challenger is the $40k over priced pig.

I dislike huckabee, registered democrat(Hell.. I even figure dout how to register to vote), and can't wait for a camaro... Sorry you don't agree to a mullet(loving not wearing) ways.

.
.
Goodbye Pontiac
Goodbye Pontiac
Goodbye Pontiac
So sad to see you go.

Just warming up the band for a song I hope we won't sing.

@clinto: Face it folks, if you took a brand new BMW 330 and just stuck a Camaro or Trans Am nameplate on it, it would go from hip and trendy to redneck car instantly. Those nameplates say "Only buy this car if you want Mike Huckabee to be President".

If he's good enough for Lone Wolf McQuade, he's good enough for me. Besides, there's nothing wrong with GM muscle cars or Bimmer fanboys that a good roundhouse kick couldn't fix.

@SpeedWagon: ...

aww no man, that stinks...

@clinto: Man, I thought you were going to offer something big when you started with "Face it, folks", but then all you delivered was a bunch of "I think" noise. Reminds me strongly of a Wikipedia entry that uses some bigoted shmuck's opinion piece as factual reference.

@Dr.Danger: That's not a bad idea. With new front and rear bumper covers, a new hood (with hood scoop and flying chicken), and different head lights and tailights the new Camaro can become the new Firebird/Trans-Am.

I hope an OEM quality aftermarket company (is there one?) makes the kit.

@beercheck: [www.youtube.com]

NASCAR is still growing and growing and your trying to tell me there is no market for the supreme redneck mobile? There are literally thousands (poetic license) of different kinds of mustangs and they are still selling like hot cakes and the new KITT will insure more and more of us white trash go further into debt. Dodge has both a charger and now a challenger which are selling very well. I commend Cadillac for there styling and willingness to pursue the big dogs of Germany with the CTS. But this is America, land of the muscle car and the dangling participle. I need my coors, my beef jerky, and of course pontiac firebird. I vow to put a bandana on my head and play Whitesnake until Lutz' ears bleed, the red dragon must live!

@beercheck: No worries, I didn't catch the reference either.

Thank goodness. American cars are garbage and I hope Pontiac gets the axe, along with Buick....and Mercury.....and Chrysler. Useless trash cars from automakers that don't care about quality. German/Italian cars are superior.

Look on the bright side. With no new Trans Am, none of us will have to regrow our mullets. Of course, I'm sure there are a few of you that probably never chopped your mullets.

@Unevolved: Actually, um........ah, never mind.

Honestly, from a purely business standpoint, not Trans/Am is a good idea. The Camaro and Trans/Am both being offered is exactly the type of cannnibalism GM is trying to move away from. The G8 is Pontiac's muscle car, and being larger and having 4 doors appeals to a different crowd.

The whole "Pontiac may not equal performance" thing is sad news. If that's the case, then Pontiac has to go.

@-TheStig-: Nice attempt at flamewar incitement.

@Unevolved: Um... check out Beercheck's avatar.

I forgot to add.......T-tops, we need T-tops. Not a targa, not some girly euro trash folding hardtop. T-tops and the gearshift lever should be as big as a baseball with the same stitching! Anyone seen my medication?

Brinnngggg back the birddddddd

I'd like to see a Firebird, but a new Firebird. Quit trying to recapture the exact products of 1969. Instead, capture the spirit by making fast, fun, inexpensive machines with the technology of the times.

Just build a fun two door, four seat, rear-wheel-drive machine with power and a manual transmission. Don't assume it has to look anything like a Firebird. Don't assume it has to have a V8 (not that it can't or shouldn't, but a turbo 6 or 4 could be good depending on weight, etc...). Be willing to sell a stripped down version with the bigger engine as an option. Basically, try selling what people want rather than what people wanted.

Actually, if they do this they might be better off scrapping that name so some of us don't skewer them for "wrecking the firebird".

@TheTooth: I thought it was Benjamin Franklin all this time!!!

Go out with a blaze of glory. Sell the entire Holden line. all V8 supercars, and kill Pontiac in 2019. The cars will be collectible and everyone will remember the 'good' years. Don't water it down 'till it dies a slow natural death.

@JHJVJR: No flamewar enticement...just the truth.

@TheTooth: "Just build a fun two door, four seat, rear-wheel-drive machine with power and a manual transmission. Don't assume it has to look anything like a Firebird." They did, it was the second GTO - and it bombed.

Hmmph...

From what I understand, GM scaled back "Performance" in their "Revenue Division" too.

@-TheStig-: I'm not going to bite on this one and tell you why its silly to compare GM to luxury/niche manufacturers from Germany and Italy (which coincidentally all ignore CAFE and pay the fines). All German and Italian vehicles sold here are luxury vehicles, except VW, which is obviously a niche manufacturer.

@SpeedWagon: I think what he is talking about is more of a car that goes back to the late 80's to late 90's. It needs to be "Sporty" like the Mitsubishi 3000 GT, Dodge stealth with wings and a flowing body, sort of like the appearance like it is wearing a skirt. Good examples are the 2nd gen Mitsubishi Eclipse, Ford Probe, 1st gen Hyundai Tiburon. A covered front end with sleek cat like headlights, not a disgusting open grilled snout that looks like it belongs on a family sedan. That is one reason why the Pontiac GTO miserably failed. it looked like a 2 door buick with it's boring G6 like front end. it had no excitement, flare, curves, or any flows throughout the body. it looked like a plain jane 2 door naked Buick with a big engine. Not A Seller.

@SpeedWagon: The GTO was trash when it came out. It was nothign more than a boring flat looking 2 door Buick with the ugly G6 like open grilled snout on the front end.

Well, at least there is no more of that ribbed body cladding that would fall off after 2 years....Pontiac Grand Am...Ribbed for her pleasure

@SpeedWagon: Yeah, but it was nothing new. They just imported it from Australia and it had the same exact formula. Big, expensive, 5.7l V8, and bland styling. I'm saying they should try building something different than their usual attempts.

I thought it looked like a Grand Prix; but I digress, it followed the original recipe - after all the first GTO looked like a Le Mans.

GM is run by fucking morons.

GM doesn't want a new Firebird cannabalizing the Camaro, especially when they want to sell 100,000 Camaros a year.

Pontiac has the Solstice as well as the G8 RWD muscle duo. G8Board confirmed there will be a G8 GXP with a manual transmission and the engine will likely be the LS3 V8. The G8 ST-amino will have a GXP model as well.

As far as Pontiac goes, it is a redundant brand. All of GM's brands are redundant except for Chevrolet, Cadillac and HUMMER.

I can't help but think both G8s would sell better as Chevrolets than Pontiac and that ultimately they are being wasted on a dead brand.

@tanooki2003: Exactly. They need to stop trying to capture what made them relevant in the 60's and instead try to make themselves relevant for the 00's (and soon 10's). Try something smaller, maybe, with a revving turbo 4 or 6. There are already plenty of rear-drive full-size V8's available now. I don't want 12 versions of the same car (GTO, 300, Charger, Challenger, Magnum, G8, Camaro, etc...). Don't get me wrong... I do like those (I own a Magnum R/T), but let's add something different to that mix. It's a great family vehicle that isn't too slow for me that can tow a couple of motorcycles when needed.

But, when I wanted a second fun car, GM/Ford/Chrysler didn't really have any options for me. I bought a used BMW M Roadster for that.

@Tachman: That's exactly the way I feel about it. It's unfortunate really there won't be one, I always preferred the TA. Maybe it's the Pontiac 'exctiment' badge, maybe it's the relative rarity, but I know exactly how you feel. I would get close, but I don't think I'd actually buy one.

Unless it's got forced induction (something the Camaro's never had), it'll probably be little more than a rebadge. This may be a good chance to scrap Roger Smith's whole setup, and give each of the divisions their own engineering departments again.