Pontiac, GM’s “excitement division, ” recently announced it will bring the 2009 Pontiac G3 small economy car to the American market. Pontiac maintains the G3 small car will embody the brand’s classic sporty and performance-minded character in an attractive, compact, fuel-sipping package.
Pontiac’s small five-seat G3 is currently on sale in Canada as the Pontiac G3 Wave and has fared moderately well there. The G3 and its Chevrolet Aveo sibling are among the numerous variants of the Daewoo Kalos, a vehicle produced in Korea by GM Daewoo and sold in 120 countries. While the move to bring the G3 to the U. S. has been criticized by Pontiac performance purists, with the market moving dramatically toward high-mileage small cars, the G3 will serve as a fuel-efficient option for GM’s Buick-Pontiac-GMC sales channel and should also help Pontiac meet the looming CAFE regulations.
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Inside the cabin, available aluminum-colored trim adorns the dash and door side panels, while chrome rings outline the air vents. A new instrument cluster with a predominant central speedometer sits behind the Pontiac-branded steering wheel. Official interior selections have not yet been disclosed, but it’s a good bet the G3 will feature the same variety of leatherette and cloth trim options available for the Aveo. Standard features include a folding armrest on the driver’s seat, a roof-mounted sunglasses holder, door and seatback storage pockets, and headrest posts for shopping bag toting. Multimedia goodies include a CD/MP3 audio system and OnStar. Rear seating can be split 60/40 and when folded completely down, allows for a fairly impressive 42 cu ft of cargo space. Four airbags gain the G3 a five-star frontal crash safety rating.
Pricing for the G3 will be announced closer to introduction, but expect it to start around $13,000.
The G3 Wave has a “big car” personality, providing excellent space and flexibility for such a small package. Its “tall car” design provides easy entry/exit for all and a surprising 2,574 L (91 cubic feet) of interior passenger room, and G3 Wave also has the best shoulder room in its class, while elevated rear seats offer surprising legroom. The generous dimensions offer ample interior room - capable of accommodating passengers more than six-feet tall in all of the five seating positions.
The G3 Wave is powered by an all-new 1.6L Ecotec four-cylinder engine designed in Germany. Designed with enhanced refinement and durability, it also features variable valve timing which contributes to a fuel economy improvement of up to 10%, while also providing better acceleration, a more responsive, yet refined driving experience and reduced emissions.
The G3 Wave offers additional features and options for safety-minded consumers. Safety in the G3 Wave starts with a high-strength steel structure that creates a safety cage around the passenger compartment. Added to this is a long list of standard safety features including advanced dual-stage frontal air bags with GM Passenger Sensing System and optional seat-mounted side-impact air bags that provide added head and thorax protection. The dual-stage frontal air bags deploy at different levels, depending on the severity of the crash.
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