As Autoblog continues to get news of the 2010 GM Online Order/Reference Guide, we here at The Garage will continue to keep you informed. Last week we reported the Chevy Cobalt SS 4-door will not live to see 2010, but the coupe will continue on for now. Read on for the obituaries…
Pontiac G6 GXP
By now we all know that 2010 will be Pontiac’s last year of production as a brand, but the fact that the top range G6 GXP won’t make it to the end says alot where GM’s performance division went wrong. With the G6, Pontiac was moving away from the body cladding, scoops and spoilers that made the Grand Am a joke, but they went a little too far in the other direction. The car’s smooth, soft contours have a peculiar shape from any angle.
In GXP trim, Pontiac’s designation for its high-performance model, the specs are hardly interesting: a 3.9 liter V-6 producing 252hp mated to an automatic only. That’s not a lot for a base MSRP of $28,960USD. Consider this: the 2009 Honda Accord EX-L Coupe has virtually the same MSRP as the GXP, but its 3.5 liter V-6 produces 271hp, delivers better fuel economy, and you have the choice of a manual or automatic transmission. And no apologies for the appearance.
Cadillac STS-V
From an enthusiast’s point of view, no one is happy to see the 469hp STS-V fall by the wayside. Sadly, this is one of those cars that will go down as an answer to a question no one asked. With an MSRP of $81,795USD, this is one expensive Cadillac, and an extraordinary premium (over $25,000) over the 320hp 4.6L STS.
When you factor in the Cadillac CTS-V (556hp, with a price of $58,575USD), there is simply no case to be made for the STS-V. No one in their right mind shopping for a high-performance Cadillac will look at both cars and think “Nice, but I am willing to pay over $23,000 more for the less-powerful STS-V because I want a little more interior room.”
While it’s disappointing when any brand abandons its high-performance models, as you’ve briefly seen here, enthusiasts, and the market rejected both of these cars. You know it’s bad when the auto media pays little attention, but in the end, neither of these cars represented a good value for what they offered.