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Pontiac Vibe
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| Get the Vibe: Pontiac reaches out to the youth market |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:50:48 |
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 240 ( -34 -14.16% ) | | Author | Albert Hall |
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Description:
On sale: 2002
Expected pricing: $18,000-$22,000
It's almost too much. The thought of waiting another year to drive Pontiac's newest sporty compact is enough to make patient ol' Job sweat in anticipation. While the Vibe promises to be a fun little ride, it's also a Pontiac, and oh how the chief has disappointed in recent months. We need to find out if Vibe is the real deal. It sure looked it when we saw it at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The exterior makes do with just a dash of Pontiac's trademark stylizing, enough to give the Vibe a fun, sporting flavor without all the so-called Pontiac excitement designers slathered on the disastrous Aztek. For one, Vibe has little body cladding to speak of. Simple, creased wheel flares and small side-sills detail the Vibe's flanks, with Pontiac's trademark twin-port grille couched between upswept headlamps in front. Vibe strikes a handsome profile, too, with a sleek fastback roofline tapering slightly toward a wagon-like rear hatch. Blacked-out B- and C-pillars and dark tinted windows add a cool, finished look. The Vibe is as functional inside as it is stylish outside. The 60/40 split rear seat folds forward to create a flat load floor, opening up 57.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. The front passenger seat also folds flat to accommodate objects nearly 8 feet in length inside the car. In addition, the rear hold has several storage nooks and tie-downs for those with serious utility needs. Chrysler's PT Cruiser has shown that there is demand for this kind of flexibility in a stylish compact car. And that's only the beginning. The heart of the Vibe's appeal lies underhood, with a pair of 1.8-liter dohc four-cylinder engines borrowed from the Toyota Celica. (Toyota designed the Pontiac Vibe and the upcoming Toyota Matrix.) Base-trim Vibes will get a 130-horsepower all-aluminum engine with 125 pounds-feet of torque at 4200 rpm and a 10:1 compression ratio; it comes mated to a four-speed automatic transaxle. Vibe GT models get the Celica GT-S's free-wheeling, high-compression (11.5:1) techno-engine. It uses Toyota's patented VVTL-i (an electronically controlled variable valve timing system introduced in the Lexus luxury brand) to turn out an impressive 180 horsepower at 7600 rpm and 130 pounds-feet of torque at a high 6800 rpm. All that power gets shunted through a six-speed manual transmission to the front wheels. Pontiac says that the Vibe GT will also be available with all-wheel drive. Further distinguishing the GT will be four-wheel disc brakes (base Vibes get front discs and rear drums) and a monster stereo. The Monsoon audio system pumps out 200 watts of sound through six speakers. Pontiac says that, when the Vibe GT hits the streets next year as a 2003 model, it will go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds, and still get 28 mpg on the highway, with comfortable space for five and a whole bunch of stuff. You're starting to see why we can't wait? |
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