No New Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Too expensive
The Chevrolet Camaro is returning in 2009, and Pontiac was eager to return their classic Trans Am in its wake. Back in 1967 the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am followed on the heels of the Camaro, reaching stardom in TV series Knight Rider as KITT and Smokey and the Bandit. But GM execs at a dealer meeting this week were quick to point out that a new RWD Trans-Am is simply too expensive, it would cost USD 200 million to bring the car to market. Initially GM was hoping to turn Pontiac into a performance division, but that plan has now been toned down considerably.
Of course Pontiac still has its sporty Solstice and G6 sedan, but they are hardly performance vehicles. On the upside, Pontiac will remain a car-only brand for the foreseeable future, mostly because of the new CAFE standards that require 35 mpg by 2020.
Lynn Thompson, owner of Thompson Motor Sales in Springfield, Mo. said: "I hope they don't give up on performance because they don't have to. You can use four-cylinder engines to achieve incredible power."
evo's spank mustangs all day long whats wrong with a 4 banger i mean i'm a GM fan all the way
You have to remember that by 2020 even the mustang and challenger will be in the same boat. The laws are not made only for GM.
Makes sense from the pessimists perspective. Competing in a crowded market usually means lower sales. From an optimists perspective, making a Trans AM helps the brand name, and there is a reason why that market is crowded, its because there are a lot of potential sales to be made in it. I drive a grand prix atm, its a very nice car, and if I had the money, and there was a trans am to choose from, I would prefer it over the mustang/camaro/challenger.
Once again, GM has no vision. They are handing #1 to Toyota.
Ford wanted to introduce their "Probe" as a replacement for the Mustang in the 80s. Chrysler has come out with a four-door Charger. Ford's latest Thunderbird was FWD. GM's Camaro is painfully unoriginal. Americans have zero regard for history. If they're not actively copying it, they are casually ignoring it. We will get a new Trans-Am, but don't get your hopes up when it is nothing more than a re-badged Opel. With an I4-turbo.
NOOOO thats retarded that there making it 35mpg in 2020!!!! whats gonna happen to the sports car? and dont feed me that electric car crap either cuz i want a car that sounds as good as it looks and goes
That is a shame I had 3 people in my family who were looking to buy, I guess we will have to go with the Camaro, or a CHARGER.
Lynn Thompson obviously has strong belief in her sales skills if she thinks she can win sales over the Mustang and Challenger with a four banger.