Argen

I might do something for this. I'm holding back for now, because I can't really imagine something appropriate. Considering how Pontiac isn't really known for handling or the kind of cool passion that Ferrari has always had. Additionally, I've already done an entry, but it just seems like a Fiero on steriods. And that's not exactly the look I'm going for.

The point is that the corvette was considerably outside of Chevy's normal price range for the time, and thus didn't make sense price-wise in the traditional system. The others divisions weren't upset that they didn't get their motorama cars, but that the corvette was somewhat bending the carefully ochestrated ladder system. I never indicated the Impala cost as much as a Cadillac, the problem was not with the price but the image of the Impala. The style and luxury of the Impala was (and is) considered by many to rival that of the higher division, yet the Chevy coast a great deal less. The main point of the Sloan system was that people would eventually climb up the brands, but if customers felt that an Impala was as good as a Cadillac then they might not feelt the need to move on up. I never really said that the Sloan system died a rapid death, but that the first steps towards its ultimate demise were back in the 50's and 60's. The main point that I've been trying to get at is that little changes in models or divisional goals have a habit of snowballing over time. I just hope that GM will be more careful and methodical about setting up divisional boundries and not violating them just because they think it would be a great idea to give Pontiac a minivan. =P Also the Mazda2 would eat both the Yaris and Aveo, if they sold it here.

Actually, you english is very good and I didn't actually think you were from another country until you mentioned it. We've actually had a 93 Grand Am, which was replaced with a 04 Grand Am. My dad also has a 78 Grand Am coupe and is trying to piece back together the 76 Ventura in our garage.

Just curious, but where are you originally from Diehard?

Well, that's exactly why we disagree. It's wild and unrestrained. I really miss the days when Pontiac wasn't "extreme" all of the time. Wild gave us the monstrosities of the 90's, particularly the Trans Am WS6 with it's preponderance of nostils and whale-tail wing that scream, "Look at me!" Pontiacs of the sixties were good-looking, but never really crossed that line between looking cool and just looking stupid. They were cool because they were a bit subdued and classy; an image that Pontiac could certainly benefit from. Now, nine does yet cross that line, but for god's sake don't tell GM to make Pontiac's styling "wild and unrestrained". Truthfully, I want Pontiacs to look fantastic. However, I want it to be in a balanced way that is cool and stylish. I've always wanted Pontiac to move in a more fluid direction and also to focus more on overall performance. Generally, I've wanted Pontiac to be more like Mazda and Alfa Romeo. Both are now developing beautiful designs, and both are dedicated to creating lively cars. That means both light, front-drive hatches as well as rear-drive, power mosters. In this context, I imagined the G5 more like the upcoming Mi.To or the 147 or the Mazda3. I didn't mean to come down on number nine, but it just seems more like a proposal for a fiero, than a G5. I think the difference is that nine is what we'd like to see, but it's four is what we'll probably get. (On a side note, I frequently walk past a RX8 40th Anniversary Edition on the way to the park and I stop and gawk at it every time.)

GM does need to eliminate price overlap between divisions, but it is easier said than done. When they still used the Sloan system effectively in the early 50s, each division had very few models. Sure they had different names, but most of the cars in any given division were based off of a single chasis with only a couple of engines. Chevy had many different bodystyles, but they were essantially variations on the same car. That way each "model" was closely priced with the others in a division. It helped keep the price bands for each division narrow enough to have the ladder of companies that GM wanted consumers to climb. The first real blow to the Sloan system was the car that many GMers swear by now: the corvette. It coast nearly as much as a Buick, and when it came out every division above Chevy threw a fit about it. The original Impala was another severe blow, and really made Cadillac angry. By the time the GM compacts (Corvair, Tempest, Special, F-85) came along the range of cars for each divison was making it difficult to maintain strict price bands. But back then it was just fine. GM had half of the market, so even though the system didn't make sense they didn't have many competitors. Chrysler was going through a similar problem as Dodge and Plymouth started stepping on each others' toes for the lower end of the market. Ford managed to keep things straighter, but they only had three companies and still had the occasional overlap. The point is that if you want several brands to have distinct price ranges, then they need to have a limited number of models for each division. The other option is what Toyota has done and what Ford is trying to get back to: only a couple of brands with wider price bands and more models. The only real company to have many different brands and keep their prices separate is VW, but that's because some of their divisions (Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Audi) are in vastly different ranges of price.

Just to mess with the numbers: 4 9 Sorry, but the first is just a more realistic proposal. Number nine is a brilliant rendering, but it just doesn't seem like a G5.

I just though that Pontiac Canso might be an interesting name. It's from the name of the old Acadian Chevy II.

Thank you. I've never been really good at wheels, hence me not drawing them in the second one. Why do you think the front doesn't look like a Pontiac? Just curious, because I put special attention into putting Pontiac cues into it. I put the badge on the hood (instead of between the grilles) in reference to the mid-60's GTO. The wide grilles themselves are also in imitation of the early second-gen Firebird (the best Pontiac design to me). Originally, I had the headlamps sweep up the fenders, but decided horizontal was more distinct. Also, as an aside, I did that in about an hour and a half in front of my computer. So, I'm reasonably pleased with it.

Just the coupe G5 Tempest, would also have a sedan. Rwd, same engines as the current car with the addition of the 2.0L turbo for the GXP model. Could also have that Opel 1.5L turbo for the more economy-minded motorist. 5-speed auto-manual would be standard, with 6-speed manual optional.

I hate to play a game of "It looks like...", but I can't shake the feeling that I'm looking at a 5-series with a nice front end. I really like the shape of the hood, the lamps and the ventiports. I'm a bit puzzled about the name, though. I thought that the Invicta was the big Buick, and they say that this is a preview of the next LaCrosse. If it's called Invicta shouldn't it be a preview of the next Lucerne? Or is this GM just throwing names around again?

I also find it strange that, despite the Princess being futuristic, BL decided to give it a normal boot instead of a hatcback. I'm not sure I'm totally comfortable with BMW reviving Triumph. I do love Triumphs and I'd appreciate seeing another company with that sort of sporting enthusiasm, but I'm not exactly a fan of BMW. BMW has this typical German luxury snottiness about it and frequently has very little regard for its customers' happiness. I will admit that I am fond of older BMWs, but it's much for the same reason that I like old Triumphs. They both used to be rugged, lively little cars that were engineered well and you could be proud to own. Good engineering used to mean perfectly tuned suspensions and finely machined parts. Unfortunately, now BMW thinks that good engineering is about putting twenty computers in every car which think they know how to drive better than you do. Then there's the old complaint about the change in nationality. To be fair, very few cars are purely from one country or another nowdays, but there's something just wrong about a company like MG spouting off about British tradition when it is now almost totally Chinese. Now, nobody think that I'm against German cars. After all, I own an old A4 and like it very much. But I use it as a daily driver and not as a weekend plaything which is what any modern Triumph should be.

God, I still want a Dolly Sprint so badly. It's really annoying how Triumph decided to sell just about every other model they made here in the US, except the Dolomite family. But, then again we all know that the best car BL ever made was a beige Austin Princess with a brown vinyl roof. =P

Explanatory Note: I am judging by design, and by design only. As I have said with my own Silver Arrrow (I couldn't think of a better name), I don't really think it'd be wise to spread the Kappa to other divisions if it is going to still be a two-seat roadster. However, I would love GM to make a coupe or even a small sedan on the Kappa at some point. 1. [8] Saab Sonnet - Has me wondering why I didn't do this. I love the mix of the III with the Aero X-inspired nose. A bit of a messy rendering, but great style. I would love to see a more refined version of this. 2. (10) Chevrolt Corvair - Wrong name, but good rendering. Proportions resemble old Opel Manta, but I'm not to fond of the boxiness and odd angles. Still very imaginative. 3. (4) Cadillac ? - Good, although I would like to see more angles. Has the current Cadillac look (sharp edges but with curves). I like this best of the three Caddies, because the ALR is a bit too much like a baby XLR and the BLR is a bit too sharp compared to the revised look being used now. 4. (7) Chevrolet Monza - Love that look, reminds me of the Dodge Demon. I also like the shark Corvette-inspired taillights. I do think that the side is a bit bland, but the attitude makes up for it. Honorable mentions: Holden GTRX: A brillinat rendering, but I'm not a fan of the Mad Max-look. It looks like an 80's concept car based on the IROC. That, unfortunately, is not a positive thing in my eyes. So, you just decided to pick all of the Cadillacs? Any reason why?

What do you mean exactly? It looks too big for Kappa? I said it'd be stretched maybe and inch or two to give room because it is a Buick. Truthfully, I don't want Buick to make one because I don't think it'd be right for the division. An 6-series like Riviera would be perfect, however. It could even share the chasis of a CTS coupe.I might try to do a convertible, but I was thinking about doing another, different Kappa.

Here's my fashionably-late Buick Silver Arrow kappa coupe: The rear and roof are inspired by the Reatta, while the sides feature a toned-down version of the old Buick side sweep. The front is typical of the newer Buick design langauage. I tried to keep most of the structural kappa elements the same, however the chasis would be stretched slightly for this car.

Mazdaspeed 3 Volvo C30 BMW 128i (cheapest one we'll get) Saturn Astra (3-door) Pontiac G5 GT Chevy Cobalt (if they bring back the SS without the horrid wing) Chevy HHR (if you can get the SS with the panel) Suzuki SX4