subject: 2009 Sees The End Of The Pontiac Line [print this page] There is no need to ask how did Pontiac do in 2009 as the entire brand was shuttered. Only a few of the brand's vehicles were supposed to make the transition to other GM divisions, but it looks like the entire brand has more or less been canned. GM's performance division died an inglorious death when it was hitting its stride, with great vehicles that were making real market headway.
The Pontiac Solstice, especially the forced-induction GXP iteration, was set to be Pontiac's halo car for 2009, but the G8 was actually matching up very well against some of the best luxury-sports cars that the world had to offer. Had GM not decided to shutter the brand, it is entirely possible that the question how did Pontiac do in 2000?' would have had a very different answer. Sadly, that never came to pass despite the best efforts of GM engineers and product design teams.
The Solstice was a sales hit from the get-go with its sexy curves, and the nearly 300 horsepower GXP version had the muscle to back those looks up. The 415 horsepower G8 GXP edition was a stellar addition to the Pontiac stable but it came too late, but it is hard to say that it did not come with the necessary tools to help bring back the performance appeal that the brand once had. Fans of GM's ill-fated performance division held their breath for the balance of 2009, hoping that the decision would be overturned or that GM would come to their senses and announce that the plans to close down their recently reinvigorated sports-oriented lineup was nothing but a bad April Fool's joke.
