The (New) Vibe Shows Up; Kinda Cool?

[YSSMAN]

So, for those of you who remember, the Vibe was one of the GM/Toyota joint-venture cars built at the NUMI factory in California. Sharing its based with the Toyota Matrix, stealing a bunch of parts from the RAV4 and Corolla while they were at it, the Pontiac was "sporty and edgy" while the Toyota was just plain "modern."

This new Vibe is still a joint-venture with Toyota and still share's its base with the new Matrix (which will debut at SEMA at the end of the month). There hasn't been any word on pricing, but I'd suspect it to be about the same as what you get from the current model (maybe a little bit more?). Similarly, no word on whether or not it will have Toyota or GM power under the hood, but there will be front and all-wheel-drive versions made available again.

Its my assumption that this will likely be one of the last FWD Pontiacs made available, depending largely on how quickly the G6 is updated. As we all know, Pontiac is probably (most-likely) going all-RWD by 2012 and this would be the most-basic model to fill-out the bottom end and keep the EPA mandates high enough to be satisfactory.

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Either way, I like it. Its got a "different" look to it, and if they can package a good amount of "sport" into the car as they did previously, well, more power to them. The problem likely is for me that if I'm shopping for a small car at GM, I'm much more likely to look at the Astra 5-door or the rumored Saturn Zafira (coming in 2010?) not just with looks, but performance as well.

So, I guess we have to wait for the Matrix then?

 

[Philly]

I have to agree that it actually looks pretty cool. It is a nice mix of the old car with modernness. And Clio-looking headlights. I don't know why, I just like it.

 

[95GTIVR6]

I like the looks so far. Somewhat reminds me of the new Sentra SE-R styling, especially looking at the side of the headlights and fins on the front bumper. If Pontiac is going RWD by 2012, I guess this would be the last generation. I quite liked the old AWD Matrix' but it had a dopey power-plant and looked way too similar to the Vibe.

 

[V1P3R]

OooOooh! I actually like. :thinks about the old vibe: OooOoooh! I like a lot!

I can't wait to see the matrix now!

 

[Joey D]

The front lights look like they were taken off an Opel/Vauxhall/Saturn.

 

[hemisport15]

Wow, that's not bad. It looks way better than the last one. I don't know if i would buy it, but i definately like where they are going with the style.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

So a Pontiac-badged Toyota gets "cool", yet a 300hp AWD hatch doesn't. I think I need to go look up "irony".

I doubt this will be getting GM power, since the first one didn't. My girlfriend worked at the Cambridge plant during the summer and she's seen a fair amount of the new Matrix/Corolla, and from what she's described, the new Matrix sounds very exciting. I'm wondering how similar it'll look to this.

 

[niky]

It's YSSMAN... his domestic roots are showing...

Still, it does look much better than the old one.

 

[Sakiale]

Hmmm... rear looks like 90s corolla hatch...


Change it to a Chevy Cobalt hatchback.

 

[YSSMAN]

So a Pontiac-badged Toyota gets "cool", yet a 300hp AWD hatch doesn't. I think I need to go look up "irony".

Very true, but I suppose that the STI just doesn't impress like it probably should. I dunno, I think this one looks quite nice, particularly for a Pontiac. I'm eager to see what the interior is like, as that is quickly becoming a huge selling point for me...

 

[Sage]

The proportions are really bad – look at the distance between the top of the front wheel and the hood. You could park a bus on that space.

 

[TopHat]

Very true, but I suppose that the STI just doesn't impress like it probably should. I dunno, I think this one looks quite nice, particularly for a Pontiac. I'm eager to see what the interior is like, as that is quickly becoming a huge selling point for me...

Agreed, the STI is a.... Subaru. That looks like a Toyota. The Vibe.... Is a Toyota that looks like a very good looking Pontiac. This thing is really good looking, would be really great if it starts below 14.5K.

 

[JCE]

This is quite brilliant. +30 cool points more for GM. I'd own one of these in a heartbeat--especially if they had a GXP model with some forced induction and or AWD. Pontiac's definately going to be the best GM company in America.

My approval rating: 90%

The proportions are really bad – look at the distance between the top of the front wheel and the hood. You could park a bus on that space.

I disagree. That extra space isn't so bad to look at...and more importantly that could give more engine bay space for--*cough*more "good stuff" if you catch my drift.

 

[YSSMAN]

This is quite brilliant. +30 cool points more for GM. I'd own one of these in a heartbeat--especially if they had a GXP model with some forced induction and or AWD. Pontiac's definately going to be the best GM company in America.

My approval rating: 90%

That likely will be dependent on Toyota and whether or not their engines (assuming the Vibe uses them...) will take superchargers out of the factory or not. My guess is that this uses the 1.8L engine in the base models and probably the 2.4L (?) out of the Camry in the top-level one. If they're going GM-spec in the Vibe, we're looking at 2.2L and 2.4L engines, the "GXP" (should they do it...) would likely be the 2.0L DIG I4 from the HHR SS/Solstice GXP/et al...

 

[Jim Prower]

Hey, I have a NUMMI car! First one, actually, that Nova...

But...will the Vibe be available with a -GE engine? Or those strong-pulling GM mills, too, but NUMMI cars have traditionally had Toyota mills. I'd like to see the 2ZZ-GE make a comeback...especially the Lotus Exige version...If it did, It'd go on the chillier parts of my Cool Wall.

By the way, anyone know how well that Toyota Voltz sold? You know, Vibe with a Toyota badge for the Japanese...

 

[Sage]

10,000.