Pontiac G6 stretched-body sedan replaces the Grand Am series
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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MANCHESTER, Mich. -- A sleek sedan, stretching long and drawn with taut lines in a wedge-shaped format, zips along the rough and narrow Clinton Road as it plows through Michigan farmlands southwest of Detroit.
Riding on an elongated version of the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Epsilon platform from General Motors and employing independent suspension elements tuned to produce rather sporty maneuvers on low-profile tires, the new car glides over rumples of turbulent pavement without complaint.
There's ample power on tap from a six-pack engine.
And within spacious boundaries of a five-seat passenger compartment, only muted sounds from the road and engine or wind seem to penetrate.
One driver, strapped securely in a firm bucket clad in soft leather hides with contoured bolsters supporting hips and spine, faces an instrument panel of clean and simple design with black-faced analog gauges ringed in chrome rims.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel stands directly ahead and on the right the leather-capped stalk of the automatic transmission's shifter lever thrusts up from the flat deck of a floor-mounted console.
Behind the driver is a broad bench with room for three adults to stretch their legs, although the seat has two positions molded to fit like buckets.
And overhead an optional skylight for this car resembles no other: Four slabs of glass slide rearward and stack up, one bumped against the next, to push back the ceiling and forge a vast portal for open-top cruising.
In front the aggressive prow, containing chrome accents and reflective-optic triple-lamp headlights plus projector-beam foglamps capped by clear lenses, presents a familiar twin-port metal-mesh grille to mark this new model unmistakably as a Pontiac.
Insignia in chrome on the blunt tail reveals a simple name -- G6.
Consider the G6 an entirely new product for Pontiac and the replacement for an aged Grand Am series of compact-class coupes and sedans.
Arrival of G6 in the Class of 2005 marks a new era in design for the Pontiac brand, as the smooth body panels show not a hint of the plastic cladding once used to decorate Grand Am plus other Pontiacs.
And the ride characteristics of G6, influenced by the ultra-stiff Epsilon platform developed in Europe, establishes a new mark for Pontiac performance in terms of precise and responsive handling.
The suspension consists of MacPherson struts in front with aluminum L-shaped control arms and a four-link independent unit in back with dual-rate coil springs.
Quick steering action stems from near-instant reactions from electric power controls.
Brakes bring a disc to every wheel -- vented in front and solid in the rear, with anti-lock brake system (ABS) available plus electronic traction control system (TCS).
The Epsilon platform for G6 is shared with Chevrolet's Malibu Maxx and the 9-3 of Sweden's Saab, yet the body format and styling for G6 remain unique to Pontiac.
This car looks smooth but also strong for a taut body featuring brief overhangs and wheels planted at the four corners.
Ultimately, Pontiac plans to create a virtual line within the line for G6 with a family of three engines plus as many as four levels of trim.
However, the smaller four-cylinder engine -- GM's 2.4-liter EcoTec rated at 170 hp -- and a new high-output V6 (expect it to displace 3.9 liters and pump out 240 hp) will not arrive until the 2006 line.
That leaves G6 for 2005 stocking strictly the primary V6 engine and two trim grades, labeled as G6 6-Cylinder and G6 GT.
Primary engine is the 3500 series V6 from GM, which is sized at 3.5 liters off an iron block with aluminum cylinder heads and overhead valvetrain.
Output reaches to 200 hp at 4800 rpm and the torque climbs to 270 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm, with fuel economy figures of 21 mpg in town and 29 mpg for highway cruising.
The plant ties to GM's electronic automatic four-speed Hydra-Matic 4T45-E transmission, a smooth and quiet shifter.
And with GT trim the transmission adds a manual mode for clutch-less shift-it-yourself action.
Safety systems for G6 begin with the Epsilon architecture that has a safety cage surrounding the passenger compartment with crumple zones fore and aft to absorb the impact energy of a collision and reinforcements for rocker rails and roof pillars.
Then apply passive safety items like dual-stage frontal air bags for front seat riders, plus seatbelt pretensioners and a steering column structured to absorb energy.
And the list of optional gear shows seat-mounted side air bags available for front seats plus curtain-style side air bags tucked into the ceiling above windows of the front and rear doors.
G6 6-Cylinder loads up on equipment.
The list of standard gear includes air conditioning and power controls for windows and mirrors and door locks, a keyless entry system, intermittent windshield wipers and a rear window defogger, cruise control, a steering wheel with tilt and telescoping adjustments, rear seatback divided 60/40 and foldable, and a stereo audio system with in-dash CD deck and six speakers.
G6 GT goes further by adding the ABS with TCS, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels for V-rated performance tires, a spoiler on the tail, seats with power height and lumbar adjustments, power adjustable pedals, plus a Monsoon 200-watt sound package with eight speakers.
Packaged options work for both trims.
For G6 6-Cylinder, there's a Premium Value Package (adding 16-inch cast aluminum wheels, a premium sound system with six-disc in-dash CD changer and the Panoramic roof or sunroof) and a Convenience Package (power front seats, power adjustable pedals, map pockets and a cargo net).
G6 GT also shows a Leather Package that brings heated seats and six-way power for the driver's seat.
MSRP figures remain low -- $20,675 for G6 6-Cylinder and $23,300 for G6 GT.
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| 2005 PONTIAC G6 VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size sports sedan |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size sports sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
112.3 inches |
| Overall Length: |
189.0 inches |
| Engine Size: |
OHV 3.5-L V6 |
| Transmission: |
Auto/4 Hydra-Matic 4T65-E |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc, G6: opt. ABS/TCS, GT: ABS/TCS |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) plus opt. 2 (side) plus opt. 4 (side curtain) |
| Gas Mileage: |
21/29 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
G6: $20,675, GT: $23,300 |
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