In days past when the name Pontiac was spoken, people instinctively knew that the conversation was shifting to a discussion about a fine line of sporty automobiles. At one time the brand had some of the hottest cars on the market including the GTO, Tempest, and the Firebird, exciting vehicles which imbued the Pontiac name.

Over time Pontiac began to change receiving fewer sporty models but seeing more economical cars along with a van, the ugly Aztek SUV, and a number of rebadged vehicles sold by GM’s other US divisions. General Motors, in a bid to consolidate operations, has united most Buick, GMC and Pontiac dealers under one roof, a move which has allowed the automaker to cut back on the number of models offered by each of the three brands.

Today, GM has transitioned the brand to one offering a line of small, sporty cars with only one model hearkening to a bygone era, the Pontiac G8. Based on the Holden Commodore — a GM model built in Australia — the G8 is a well proportioned mid-sized sedan, with a fully independent performance tuned suspension. Critics have been comparing the car to BMW, recognizing that it offers something that most American cars do not a wonderful combination of raw power, handling, and manageable size.

Standard engine for the G8 is a V6 the same 3.6L engine that powers the Cadillac CTS. However, for optimum power, a 6.0L V8 paired with a six speed automatic transmission ups the performance level a full notch, giving the car the distinction as being the most powerful sedan available on the market that retails for under $30,000. As a point of reference, the Cadillac CTS-V is the fastest sedan costing at least $30,000.

Though introduced earlier this year, the future of the Pontiac G8 is in doubt as is the sport truck version of the same model. General Motors has been hammered financially for the past several years and this year learned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has backed a government initiative to require that Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) be increased fleet-wide for all vehicles sold in America. To get to the higher numbers some of the larger cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles manufactured by GM will be discontinued or modified enough to make them lighter and more fuel efficient.

The Pontiac G8 isn’t one of those cars slated to be downsized though it is believed that the next generation Holden Commodore (the Pontiac’s sister model) will soldier on, but be available only in the land down under where such CAFE restrictions don’t come into play.

The good news is that the G8 should be available for another five years before the car fades into the sunset. Likely, the burly rear wheel drive sedan will be replaced by a front wheel drive car with smaller engines, a capable car roughly the size of today’s Pontiac Gran Prix. Less won’t necessarily be more, but when fed regs are factored in less may be all that you’ll have.

By: Matthew C. Keegan

General Motors Corporation’s (GM) Pontiac division now releases the details and the availability of the 2009 model of the Pontiac Vibe compact car. Although GM did not release the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, the Detroit-based automaker said that the vehicle is scheduled to roll out in dealer showrooms all over the US early in 2008.

Craig Bierley, Pontiac marketing director commented: “With the 2009 Vibe, we knew we wanted to take everything we liked about the original and push it to the next level more power, more style, more versatility. It has the interior room and cargo capability expected of a larger SUV, but with the precise handling characteristics you would expect from any Pontiac.”

The all new Pontiac Vibe will roll out in the US market available in three model trim level – base model, AWD, and GT. For the 2009 model year, the Pontiac Vibe comes with a host of new features and enhancements.

The car is now equipped with a standard DOHC four-cylinder 1.8-liter engine under its hood that is capable of delivering 132 horsepower (98 kW) and generates 128 lb. ft. (174 Nm) of peak torque. For customers who wanted more power and performance, Pontiac offers the 2.4L DOHC engine that pumps out 158 horsepower (118 kW) and 162 lb. ft. (224 Nm) of torque. Unfortunately, this power unit is only available for AWD and GT models. Four-speed automatic transmission is standard on the AWD. The 2.4 L engine on GT models will be coupled with a standard five-speed manual transmission or a new five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control (DSC).

The 2009 Pontiac Vibe also features a comfortable ride and handling performance, thanks to the improved driving dynamics which include MacPherson-strut front suspension design, torsion-beam rear suspension, and multi-link independent rear suspension.

The car’s exterior design features sporty and muscular stance, resembling the design cues of a small SUV model. Exterior highlights include faster windshield angle, standard roof rack, larger fog lamps, lower-fascia air intake, rocker moldings, roof spoiler, and a bright exhaust tip (GT only). Chief designer Ron Aselton commented about the exterior of the Pontiac Vibe: “The new Vibe’s design is sporty yet completely functional. Clean lines, minimal overhangs and wheels pushed to the corners give the vehicle a muscular stance.”

Inside the 2009 Pontiac Vibe comes a wide range of interior and safety features. These include an all-new driver-focused cockpit design with redesigned gauges and other components like New knit-fabric seating surfaces, standard leather-trimmed seats, six-way adjustable driver’s seat and front active headrests, three-spoke steering wheel and shift knob, floor mats (like Porsche floor mats), and steering column with telescoping/rake adjustability. For audiophiles, Pontiac offers AM/FM radio with CD and XM Satellite Radio and auxiliary audio input jack for MP3 players and other portable devices.

A host of active and passive safety features is also included like the StabiliTrak, dual-stage frontal air bags with a passenger sensing system, head curtain side air bags, side thorax air bags for the front passengers, Active head restraints, three-point safety belts in all seating positions, front safety belt retractors, and rear-seat LATCH child safety seat, just to name the few.

By: Evander Klum

Several years have gone by and still, automobiles are one of the best inventions made by mankind. These machines make long distance places shorter and make it possible for people to travel conveniently in no time. Its not surprising that these wonderful inventions became a part of peoples everyday life. As time pass by, innovations became evident to every single object in the world, automobiles acquire changes as well. Among these automobiles, the Pontiac marquee is one of the brands that made a great leap in the industry by innovating its capacity to give convenience to every car consumer. This innovation can be seen in its Pontiac parts that make up its assembly and make it able to perform as one of the powerful machines on the roads.

Pontiac was established all the way back in 1907 by the Oakland Motor Company. It was acquired as a division of General Motors in 1909. However, it was in the year 1926 when its name was officially recognized. This was when the general manager of Oakland, Alfred R. Glancy saw designs hanging on the wall of the shop with Pontiac written on it. The car brand was intended to be less expensive than the Oakland Motor car lines.

Pontiacs glory days have magnificently become noteworthy in the history of automobiles. It continuously stands for their commitment of providing powerful autos that exudes style, power, and driving excitement. All the cars bearing the Pontiac marquee is made with quality and brilliantly employed with high performing Pontiac parts. Unfortunately, Pontiac has experienced slowed of sales due to lack of identity among other GM models. Looking for a possible solution to bring back their intensity to the public, the brand retired their old models and introduced new ones having individual styling and personality.

Today, Pontiac continuously offers automobiles that apparently stand out from all other brands. By means of designing their vehicles with unique features and enhancing its performance with advance automotive engineering techniques, they have captured several enthusiasts; thus, raising their sales as time passes by. In the years to come, Pontiac will continue to emerge and offer superior vehicles that could bring life to every road world wide.

By: Anthony Fontanelle

Pontiac intends to beef up performance; this is why the automaker will be unveiling two new rear-wheel drive powerhouses at next weeks New York International Auto Show. But experts say the beefing up was made at the wrong time.

Amid rising gasoline prices and the intensifying global warming issues, shoppers appetite for gas-guzzlers are curtailed. Timing couldnt be worse.

At the New York show, Pontiac will showcase the 2009 G8 GXP featuring the new 6.2-liter small-block V-8 engine generating 402 horsepower. According to the automaker, the G8 GXP sedan, set to go on sale this year, will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The new sedan is also equipped with a specially tuned suspension and an optional new six-speed manual transmission.

Aside from the performance sedan, the automaker will also introduce the 2010 Pontiac G8 sport truck, a two-seater built on the G8 platform with a 73-inch cargo bed. The sport truck, which will arrive in dealerships late next year, has the same 361-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 used in the G8 GT sedan.

“There’s simply nothing else like the G8 sport truck on the road today, and we definitely believe that there are customers who will be excited by its distinctive design, performance and cargo capabilities,” said Jim Bunnell, general manager of Pontiac, Buick and GMC.

Pontiac, the struggling brand of General Motors Corp., is freeing its high-performance G8 family to bang sales doldrums and to repair its image. But the new corporate average fuel economy (CAF) standards could hinder the plans.

Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst at Global Insight, now considers the maker of Pontiac radiators the most at-risk of General Motors’ brands. “The renaissance was on the books, but it’s basically been thrown into confusion with the new CAFE rules,” Bragman told MSNBC. “The future depends on what they can do with Pontiac. Can they make it a four-cylinder, turbocharged brand, or are Americans so set on it being the rumbly, rear-wheel-drive V-8 division that anything else is not going to fly?”

Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said Pontiac’s return to its performance roots is a positive step, but years of lukewarm vehicles have made the brand irrelevant to many consumers. “They’re on the brink of either great success or marginalization,” he added.

“Pontiac has always been about style and performance. There have certainly been times that we’ve fulfilled that mission better than others,” Nerad concluded. “We’re again getting the vehicles that fulfill that mission very clearly.”

By: Anthony Fontanelle

The Chevrolet Camaro was a compact car introduced in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors at the start of the 1967 model year as competition for the Ford Mustang.

Although it was technically a compact (by the standards of the time), the Camaro, like the entire class of Mustang competitiors, was soon known as a pony car.

Though the car’s name was contrived with no meaning, General Motors researchers found the word in a French dictionary as a slang term for “friend” or “companion.” Ford Motor Company researchers discovered other definitions, including “a shrimp-like creature” and an arcane term for “loose bowels”! In some automotive periodicals before official release, it was code-named “Panther”.

Four distinct generations of the car were produced.

Generation 1

1967 Sharing mechanicals with the upcoming 1968 Chevrolet Nova, the Camaro featured unibody structure. Chevrolet offered the car in only two body styles, a coupe and convertible. Almost 80 factory and 40 dealer options including three main packages were avaible.

* RS Package included many cosmetic changes such as RS badging, hidden headlights, blacked out grill, revised taillights and interior trims.

* SS Package included modified 5.7 L (350 in) V8 engine (first 350 in engine ever offered by Chevrolet), also L35 396 in “big block” was avaible. SS featured non-functional air inlets on the hood, special striping and blacked out grill. It was possible to order both – RS and SS packages to receive RS/SS Camaro. In 1967 Camaro RS/SS Convertible Camaro with 396 in engine paced the Indianapolis 500 race.

* Z28 option code was introduced in 1966. This option package wasn’t mentioned in any sales literature so was unknown by most of the buyers. The only way to order Z28 package was to order base Camaro with Z28 option, front disc brakes, power steering and Muncie 4-speed transmission.

Z28 package featured unique 302 in “small block” engine, designed specifically to compete in the Club of America Trans Am racing series (which required engines smaller than 305 in and public availablity of the car).

Advertised power of this engine was listed at 290 hp (216 kW) while actual dyno readings rated it at 360 to 400 hp (269 to 298 kW). Z28 also came with upgraded suspension and racing stripes on the hood. It was possible to combine Z28 package with RS package. Only 602 Z28’s were sold.

Generation 2

The larger second-generation Camaro featured an all-new sleek body and improved suspension. The 1970-1/2 Camaro debuted as a 2+2 coupe; no convertible was offered and would not appear again until well into the third generation.

Most of the engine and drivetrain components were carried over from 1969 with the exception of the 230 in (3.8 L) six cylinder — the base engine was now the 250 in (4.1 L) six rated at 155 hp (116 kW).

The top performing motor was a L-78 396 in (6.5 L) V8 rated at 375 hp (280 kW). (Starting in 1970, the 396 in big block V8’s actually displaced 402 in (6.6 L), yet Chevrolet chose to retain the 396 badging.) Two 454 in (7.4 L) engines – the LS-6 and LS-7 – were listed on early specification sheets but never made it into production.

Besides the base model, buyers could select the “Rally Sport” option with a distinctive front nose and bumper, a “Super Sport” package, and the “Z-28 Special Performance Package” featuring a new high-performance 360 hp (268 kW) 350 in (5.7 L) cid V8. 1972

The 1972 Camaro suffered two major setbacks. A UAW strike at a GM assembly plant in Ohio disrupted production for 174 days, and 1100 Camaros had to be scrapped because they did not meet 1973 Federal bumper safety standards.

Some at GM seriously considered dropping the Camaro and Firebird altogether, while others were convinced the models remained marketable. The latter group eventually convinced those in favor of dropping the F Cars to reconsider, and Chevrolet would go on to produce 68,656 Camaros in 1972, the lowest production numbers for any model year.

Generation 3 1982

The 1982 model introduced the first Camaros with factory fuel injection, four-speed automatic transmissions (three-speed on the earlier models), five-speed manual transmissions (four-speed manual transmissions in 1982, and some 83-84 models), 15 or 16-inch rims, hatchback body style, and even a four-cylinder engine for a brief period (due to concerns over fuel economy).

The Camaro Z28 was Motor Trend magazine’s Car of the Year for 1982.

1985

In 1985 Chevrolet introduced a new Camaro model – the famous IROC-Z, called after popular racing series. IROC-Z Camaro featured upgraded suspension, special decal package and Tuned Port Injection system taken from the Chevrolet_Corvette Third generation Camaros also had a suspension system that was more capable in corners than the previous generation.

The Camaro IROC-Z was on Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list for 1985.

Engines

* 1978-1981 5.7 L (350 in) Small-Block V8 * 1982-1985 2.5 L (151 in) Iron Duke L4 * 1982-1984 2.8 L (173 in) LC1 V6 * 1985-1989 2.8 L (173 in) LB8 V6 * 1990-1992 3.1 L (191 in) 60 Gen II V6 * 1982-1992 5.0 L (305 in) Small-Block V8 * 1985-1992 5.7 L (350 in) Small-Block V8

Generation 4 1993

1993 began the fourth and last generation of Camaros, lasting through the 2002 model year. Production of the fourth and final generation was moved from GM’s Van Nuys, California assembly plant to one in Ste. Therese, Quebec in 1993.

Though the car would no longer be produced in the US, the new design which incorporated lightweight plastic body panels over a steel space frame, and a better suspension, further improved upon the Camaro line.

From 1993 to 1997 the Camaro was available with the LT-1 engine, the same Generation II small block V8 used in the Corvette, although in slightly de-tuned form.

In 1996, the long-discontinued “SS” option was resurrected and in 1998, the all-new LS-1 engine Generation III small block was offered on the SS and Z28 Camaros, marking the end of the Generation I small block V8 that had its roots in Chevrolet’s 265 in engine of 1955. Unfortunately, sales were below expectations, and production of the Camaro ceased in 2002. 1998

1998 saw a new head light design for the Camaro. The new design removed the previous recessed-light design present in the 1982-1997 Camaros. The faux air intakes on the hood were also eliminated. In addition the LT1 engine was removed and instead an LS1 in its place. Engines

* 1993-1995 3.4 L (208 in) 60 Gen III V6 * 1995-2002 3.8 L (231 in) 3800 Series II V6 * 1993-1997 5.7 L (350 in) LT1 V8 * 1998-2002 5.7 L (350 in) LS1 V8

2002 2002 marked the last year of the Chevrolet Camaro and was also the 35th anniversary for the Camaro. This milestone was celebrated with a special anniversary car modified from the factory by SLP. The anniversary package was only available on the SS (Super Sport).

Engine modifications were available in addition to the 325 hp (242 kW) engine which all Super Sports produce. Silver racing stripes down the hood and trunk lid made the car more noticeable than everespecially against the Bright Rally Red paint (the only color available with the anniversary package).

The car also had the slogan attached to it “Leave a Lasting ImpreSSion” and had the logo embroidered in the seats. The car was only available as a convertible or with T-Tops. 3,000 Camaros with the anniversary package were produced for the United States and 152 for Canada.

Though production Camaros were never as fast as the flagship Corvette, the car cost less than half as much and was easily modified. If its frequent inclusion in automotive enthusiast magazines is any indication, the Chevy Camaro is one of the most popular cars for modification in the automotive history.

Throughout its history, the Camaro shared its internal body and major components with a sister car – the Pontiac Firebird.

By: Harry Rockwell

For those who know their cars, it is a known fact that the American auto industry has been the birthplace of the some of the most memorable vehicles. Americans are known for their fondness of high performance cars which are obviously high powered. Throughout the history of the American car industry, there have been car models which have been phased out but still remain in the hearts of auto enthusiasts. These cars are labeled as classics and they are known for their lasting legacy.

About.com polled classic car experts to come out with the ten most sought after classic vehicles.

Number one on the list is the Chevrolet Camaro. This pony car was first introduced by General Motors Chevrolet Motor Division in 1967. While production of the Camaro was not discontinued until the 2002 model year, the most sought after Camaro model are those released from 1967 until 1969 with the 1969 Camaro being the most notable car model. The Camaro was designed and produced to compete with the Ford Mustang and it shares its platform with the Pontiac Firebird.

The first generation of the Camaro was available as either a coupe or a convertible. Engine choice is between an inline six-cylinder and a V8 engine. Today, first generation Camaros are hard to find and experts advise interested individuals to instead go for the Firebird.

The direct competitor of the Camaro is number two on the list – the Ford Mustang with its first generation versions being the most sought after models. The Mustang was introduced in the market in 1964 and was originally based on the Ford Falcon compact car. The Mustang has the distinction of having one of the most successful product launches in the industry as it was unveiled at the New York Worlds Fair which was broadcasted on three American television networks. Not only is the Mustang popular for its launching but also for its performance. Its popularity is evident in the fact that the Ford Motor Company sold more than one million Mustangs in its first eighteen months in the market.

Number three on the list of classic American vehicles is the first generation of the Chevrolet Impala. The Impalas produced from 1962 to 1964 are considered as the most sought after vehicles of the particular model. The Impalas popularity among car owners is fueled by its on-off production. The first Impalas are distinguished by their unique six-lamp taillights. In fact, this oddity became a trademark for future Impalas.

In the late 50s and early 60s, the popularity of the car model is apparent when General Motors sold more than 13 million units of the said car model. While most sought after Impalas are those which are produced for the 1964 model year, it was in 1965 that Chevrolet set a record of 1 million Impalas sold every year. That record stands to this day. Currently, the hottest Impalas are the ones used for the Nextel Cup Series which combined have won ten out of the eleven races this season.

Number four on the list is the Chevrolet Chevelle which was introduced in the market in 1964. The most sought after Chevelles are those produced from 1967 to 1969. The popularity of the midsized automobile from General Motors Chevrolet Division is apparent in the fact that the Chevelle is considered as one of the most successful car from General Motors. Its powerful coupes and convertible versions are the most sought after variants of this classic American car. The vehicle is popular back in the 1960s as a car to modify for drag racing owing to its sleek design and powerful engine.

Another classic American car is the Chevrolet Bel Air. The classic car is popular for all its production years which spans from 1953 to 1975. Its design is one of the most notable reasons for the popularity of the Bel Air. Just like the Chevelle, the most popular variants of the Bel Air are the coupe and convertible body styles. This classic car is considered as one of the least expensive car model in the list since there has been an influx of these cars during the 2005 and the 2006 model years.

The sixth model on the list is the Pontiac GTO known as the first muscle car. Its powerful engine and GT styling are just some of the cars attributes which makes it popular among car enthusiasts. This trendsetting vehicle continued the popularity of the V8 engine among car owners. The GTO was first introduced to the market in 1964 and was discontinued in 1974. The classic car was reintroduced for the 2004 model year but was once again discontinued in 2006. The most popular GTOs among car enthusiasts are those produced between 1964 and 1967. The GTO was then considered as one of the most powerful car. It became an icon for that era when car buyers are not concerned about gas prices reaching the three dollar mark and greenhouse effect and global warming are just known to few people.

The 1969 Dodge Charger is the seventh most popular American classic car among car enthusiasts. The Charger is commonly confused with the number one Camaro. This is due to the fact that both this car models have almost attributes. Both are designed to standout and both pack a powerful engine. The 1969 Dodge Charger though is harder to find than a Camaro due to the fact that there were fewer of these cars produced as compared to the Camaro. The Charger of 1969 is a rear-wheel drive hardtop coupe.

Number eight on the list is the Camaros cousin – the 1969 Pontiac Firebird. The Firebird is seen as an alternative to a Camaro but it can stand out on its own. While the Camaro and the Firebird uses the same components owing to the fact that they are both made by General Motors, the Firebird is considered by experts to have a better interior quality of the two although slightly only.

Number nine on the list are the Cadillac Convertibles produced in 1959 and 1960. Cadillac has always been known to be a producer of high quality driving machine. While the brand produces luxury cars, these vehicle are also known for their power as much as their luxury features. The Cadillac Convertible is also a favorite among car enthusiasts since it offers different modifications to be done to it easily. Thus a convertible can be turned from a luxury vehicle to a performance vehicle with tons of luxury features.

Rounding up the list are the Shelby GT-500 and GT-350 produced in 1967 and 1968. These vehicles are actually Ford Mustangs modified by former Formula One driver Carroll Hall Shelby. The racing legend and his company made these series of vehicles from 1955. The fact that these vehicles are specially modified means that these particular vehicles are some of the most expensive in the list.

By: Mike Bartley

Abbie

The Detroit-based car making giant General Motors was once known for its dedication to stick with a single ad agency. Recently though, the company has been changing ad agencies at short intervals. The company announced that they will be taking in the services of a new ad agency. This marks the second time in five months and the third time in a year that the company has changed ad agencies.

General Motors announced that they will be giving the national creative assignments for their Buick and GMC brands to the agency handling the Pontiac ad campaigns. The said move will be effective by the first of October. The sudden move taken by General Motors in the changing of ad agency came as a surprise since no formal reviews have been made.

According to General Motors, the step to give the creative assignments for the Buick and GMC brands to the agency handling Pontiac is a move to further consolidate the three brands into a single division. This came after General Motors announced that they have grouped Buick, Pontiac, and GMC into a single division.

The grouping of the three brands started last month when General Motors announced a single general manager for the three brands. Jim Bunnell was given the task of being the general manager of the three General Motors brands. Prior to this move, General Motors has a general manager for Buick and a general manager for Pontiac-GMC. The three brands are now known collectively as the Buick-Pontiac-GMC channel.

Although we have made a lot of progress to date in aligning these three brands in a single channel, we still have work to do, said Bunnell in an interview. Apparently, having the same agency working on the ad campaigns of the three brands is one of the things that General Motors has been working on. Its time to move to the next level, added Bunnell. And we believe that having one dedicated agency will help us get there effectively and efficiently.

Pontiacs ad agency which will soon be handling Buick and GMC is Leo Burnett – a part of the Publicis Groupe. Buicks creative assignments are currently being handled by McCann Erickson Worldwide – a part of the McCann Worldgroup unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies. According to TNS Media Intelligence, Buick spent $122 million last year in its ad campaign with McCann.

Meanwhile, the GMC creative assignment is currently being handled by Lowe Worldwide which is based in New York. Lowe is part of Interpublic as well. TNS reported that GMC spent about $261.5 million last year in its ad campaign. Burnett will be handling the creative assignments for the three brands from its Troy, Michigan office. Burnett will also have the backing of its Chicago headquarters and other Publicis agencies.

Before these ad agency changes, General Motors is known for its loyalty to one agency. For example, the Chevrolet division has been working with Campbell-Ewald since 1914. Campbell-Ewald is also part of Interpublic.

Aside from the changes made with the Buick and GMC assignments, General Motors also changed ad agencies for the Saturn brand. The ad campaigns for the brand selling the Saturn ECM calibration kit that comes with Saturn vehicles is now being handled by Deutsche, also a part of Interpublic.

By: Anthony Fontanelle

This car has gotten a lot of admirers. In fact, this car is so loved (or desired, I should say), that it is made an inspiration for songs as mentioned or referred in songs such as The Ramones with “Go Li’l Camaro Go”, Kings Of Leon’s “Camaro” and Bruce Springsteen’ s “Racing in the Streets.” The famous model that it is, the Camaro also gets featured in well-known video game series such as Gran Turismo, L.A. Rush,

Need For Speed Series, and Sega GT 2002. But to top it all, the ultimate reason why you should come to Las Vegas and rent this car, is that the vehicle mode of the Bumblebee character in the 2007 Transformers movie is, you guessed it, a Chevrolet Camaro.

The Chevrolet Camaro, before it became a celebrity in Hollywood, was a “pony car” manufactured by the Chevrolet Motor division of General Motors. It was introduced on September 26 1966 as a 1967 model. The Chevrolet Camaro was the model touted to compete with the Ford Mustang. This was so because once, an automotive press reporter asked the Chevrolet product managers, “What is a camaro?” They were told that a Camaro is “a vicious small animal that eats Mustangs.” But in reality, though, in French dictionary, a Camaro is a slang for “friend” or “companion.”

The Camaro shared its major components with the Pontiac Firebird which was also released in 1967. It can also be classified as an economical grand tourer or a sporty muscle car depending on the selected optional equipment. It is more sophisticated that the Mustang and had the Z28 & IROC versions. And if you wanted it custom made, you can put a Corvette engine on a Camaro. A Pony car by the way is defined as a compact, affordable highly styled car with a sporty or performance -oriented image.

Originally, though, Bumblebee was a Volkswagen Beetle in the animation series. Director Michael Bay chose to change it because the character reminded him of Herbie the Love Bug. So, the Camaro was granted the role of the much-loved Bumblebee because it had a friendlier appearance; especially that the character was inspired by Spielberg’s E.T. character. Hasbro did not mind of the changes as long as Bumblebee remained yellow in reference to the original character.

So,we have laid out the reasons in why you should come out here in Las Vegas and avail of the sports, luxury or classic car rentals that are available in the city. And indeed, the Chevrolet Camaro, the “companion” that it is will take you out on a ride through Las Vegas in Hollywood A-List style. So, it is either that you play out your best Shia LaBeuof impersonations or come out here and get ready to transform. Autobots transform and roll out!

Let’s all live our dreams in Las Vegas.

By: Paul Fitzgerald

This weekend, the Automotive Hall of Fame presented the prestigious Industry Leader Award to Toyota Motors North America President James E. Press for the year 2006. The award was given to Press for having demonstrated and shown outstanding leadership in the industry. After all, the company which he leads has enjoyed much success in the past year. The presentation of the award is in conjunction with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention held in Las Vegas.

Other citations given during the event include the institutes oldest award which dates back to 1940. This is the Distinguished Service Citation and it was given to six industry leaders. The recipients of the distinguished service citation are: Dr. Amar G. Bose, Chairman and CEO, Bose Corp.; Jeffrey A. Cook, Technical Leader for the Ford Motor Company; Allan D. Gilmour, Vice Chairman, CFO (retired), Ford Motor Company; Timothy D. Leuiette, Chairman, President and CEO, Metaldyne Corp.; Elizabeth Lowery, Vice President, Environment and Energy, General Motors Corp.; and Phil Smart Sr., Chairman, Phil Smart Mercedes-Benz. The citations given to these six industry leaders are described to be given to those individuals who have provided distinguished service to the automotive industry and to the recipients respective organizations as per Jeffrey Leestma, the President of the Automotive Hall of Fame said.

The award given to Press comes on the heel of the recently posted sales figures of Toyota for January this year which shows their continued success that the company has carried over from last year. In North America, Toyota has sold 178,850 vehicles which becomes their best ever performance for the said month. The figure shows a 5.1 percent increase over their performance last year. Both the Toyota and the Lexus divisions have broken their sales record for the month of January. The Toyota division posted a 4.7 percent increase over January 2006 sales while Lexus has bested their January 2006 sales by 8 percent. Scion, the youth oriented marque of Toyota, also posted strong numbers with 9,004 units sold.

The continuing success of Toyota is attributed to the work ethics of their workers and the high performance cars in their lineup. Their HEV or hybrid electric vehicle which is the Toyota Prius is fast becoming a major source of income for the Japanese company. And with continuous development of new vehicles which will boast higher performance akin to those brake parts from Active Brakes Direct, the company is on its way to take the top spot from General Motors. That is if the current trend continues and both Ford and General Motors continue their slide downwards.

The January sales figures for General Motors shows a 19.7 percent decrease in the number of vehicles they have sold. Buick, Hummer, and Pontiac have the largest decline in terms of sales of all General Motors marques. In fact, the only marque to have posted an improvement is Saab which improved their sales by 3.3 percent over last years numbers.

Another American car manufacturer which shares the same fate is the Ford Motor Company which posted a 19 percent drop in their sales. The 65 percent drop in their sales to rental companies is the main reason for the overall decline in their January 2007 sales. Just like its fellow American carmaker General Motors, the Dearborn-based car manufacture has only one marque which posted positive numbers. Lincoln sales were up by 2.7 percent over their output last year during the same period.

The continued success of Toyota and their expected rise in the ranks of giant car makers surely makes Press deserving of the award. Moreover, the distinguished service awardees are also very much deserving for their contribution to the automotive industry.

By: Anthony Fontanelle

General Motors, one of the largest and oldest automakers in the world, celebrated its centennial anniversary on September 16, 2008.

The company was founded by William Durant, the owner of the then five year old Buick motor company who purchased Oldsmobile, an automaker which was founded in 1897. These two brands comprised the original General Motors Corporation which subsequently added new divisions and companies to its portfolio. Today, GM has 8 separate brands serving the US market in addition to several other brands for its overseas operations.

Getting to this point in its history hasn’t been easy for GM. At one time, the automaker produced more than half the cars sold in America, but that number has dwindled steadily to where the automaker is barely has 20% of all production in America. Credit foreign car product inroads with fueling these changes as well as a lack in leadership in product development particularly from the 1970s through most of the 1990s.

Today, General Motors is the second largest automaker in the world, having recently been eclipsed by its arch-rival, the Toyota Motor Company. Billions of dollars in losses in 2007 which led to further bleeding in 2008 has taken its toll on GM. Yet, the company soldiers on and appears ready to launch a turn around starting in 2009.

In the midst of marking its grand centennial, General Motors is doing a number of things including: taking a look back at where they were; emphasizing new products currently in the works; and envisioning what lies ahead for transportation over the next one hundred years.

GM’s past is, of course, well documented and that information can be found on its flagship site at GMNext.com

GM’s present situation is currently playing out in the news but includes some near term new products including the Chevrolet Volt hybrid, its Chevrolet Camaro sport model, and the Chevy Cruze which is the company’s promising new econo-car replacing the Chevrolet Cobalt. That latter model is expected to deliver an astounding 45 mpg when it is made available in 2010.

Cadillac is also seeing some changes including two new CTS models: a coupe and a wagon. In addition, the SRX crossover is being redesigned and a compact Cadillac, perhaps the BLS, will make its debut within two years time.

Other GM divisions are also getting new or updated products including the Buick LaCrosse, Pontiac G8 sport truck, Saturn Astra, and new products for Saab. GMC will get whatever Chevrolet trucks get while Hummer will likely be sold within the coming months.

As far as the company’s long term future goes, expect GM to continue to expand in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa; establish alliances with other automakers in emerging lands; and develop new or enhance existing technologies to yield cars that car run on alternate fuel sources, electric power, perhaps even hydrogen.

For a company that is one hundred years old, GM never fails to excite people, bringing to the market fresh new models and the technologies that goes with them.

By: Matthew C. Keegan