I think this fits in with GM's new corporate plan. It doesn't make sense for them to make the Camaro AND Firebird.

The way I understand it, there is a LOT of platform overlap within GM - producing very similar cars in 3 or 4 different ways. True - there's a smaller cost associated with engineering the sister cars, as the platform and everything is already there - but at what unseen cost? Diluting sales of the sister cars.

The theory is that if GM were to make the Camaro AND Firebird, who's sales are they stealing but mostly each other's. Adding a 3rd car to that mix wouldn't give them a larger market share, but likely just reduce the sales of the first two.

GM's latest plan (the way I read it) is to differentiate each brand name - instead of the mess it is now, and have just a few models per marque. So - they're not "killing off" Pontiac, but they may only be selling 3 different cars in the future, instead of.... 7 or so they have now?

They can still use platform sharing across divisions to save costs, but each division's use of the platform would have to be specific to that brand's image, and target buyer. So that's why the Saturn Sky is going to sell for $25k, where-as the Pontiac was important to come in under $20k.

Basically - if you look at it, the whole structure of GM lost it's form. The answer to get it back in line, and back in the black might be to make large cuts across the board - and stop making 3 versions of the same car that nobody wants in the first place. Chevy will probably end up as the "economy" division - cars (and trucks) for the common man, aside from the Corvette. Pontiac will try to capture the sport/youth crowd, Buick will target the "old man" crowd with 2 large cars to choose from, Cadillac is on their way with "large sport luxury" cars, and Saturn will hold on to it's "Family" image - somewhat bland cars, but with some more upscale features not found on Chevys.

That's my take at least. Heck, I'm just surprised /elated they're coming back out with fun RWD cars that have performance and are affordable! The Solstice convertible and hatch will be 2 hot selling items for Pontiac. The new GTO will likely have the luxury/high performance mix (but with a little edgier styling). I guess there's room in Pontiac for a FWD sportscoupe/sedan (G6?) to round out their lineup - but as far as I'm concerned, they can drop everything else.

Only time will tell what will actually happen though. That's if we have oil to propel these cars in the future! But that's another thread...