A Pontiac comeback? Fans get excited, GM gets involved
As we saw in a survey published last fall, Pontiac is the brand people miss the most, both in Canada and the United States. Naturally, many would like to see its return in one form or another... and some have recently taken the bait.
The American magazine Car and Driver published a fake advertisement on the back of its latest issue, announcing that after a 15-year absence, Pontiac was returning to the scene. Not only that, but with a hybrid model employing a 6-liter supercharged V8 developing 667 horsepower.
There was even a slogan: “Make some noise”.
Obviously, it was a joke, something not to be taken seriously - as stated in the small print at the bottom of the page... at the recommendation of Car and Driver's lawyers. Nonetheless, Pontiac enthusiasts went wild, to the point that General Motors saw fit to issue an official statement this week.
“We understand that the ad was a joke and it was not placed by GM or anyone associated with GM. We appreciate passion for all our brands as well as a good sense of humor,” the automaker wrote.
The last Pontiac car left the Orion plant in Michigan on November 25, 2009. It was a G6 sedan. At the time, the range also included the G3 subcompact, the G8 mid-size, the Torrent SUV and the Solstice convertible.
Pontiac was eliminated for good in October 2010 and would have celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026. GM's CEO, Mary Barra, is one of those who can't get enough of it, just like Saturn and Saab, for that matter.
