One of the most spectacular press introductions this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the GM Concept Car presentation on Sunday, January 5, 2003, hosted by GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz and GM North America president Gary Cowger. In addition to one-off designs from Chevrolet and Buick, was the Pontiac G6, arguably the least radical of the GM concept designs, but at the same time, a car that has the best shot at being produced.
It's no secret that while the current-generation Grand Am has been a very successful design, it is getting a bit long in the tooth, compared to other entries in its market segment. The 2003 facelift has been very well received however, all but eliminating the gaudy body cladding that critics have complained about and making it a bit more palatable for Olds Alero prospects, who will soon be losing their vehicle of choice.
Developing a new-generation replacement for such a wide-selling model as the Grand Am can be a daunting task, both from a design and from a marketing standpoint. In addition to meeting cost and production objectives, as well as offering a competitive package in the market segment, the design team must develop a look that is fresh and innovative. Yet, it must be instantly recognizable as the new-generation replacement for the model that was on the market for the last several years.
Under Lutz's direction, designers have hit upon a new "halo" look for future Pontiacs. It is one that makes the most of the Division's "good" design cues and does away with the bad, most notably the aforementioned body cladding that had long overstayed its welcome. Lutz, in many ways, has become the "Bunkie Knudsen" of the 21st Century, both in his remolding of Pontiac's performance image and providing the products to back up that image. The return of the GTO is living proof of his influence. Conversations with insiders have all but confirmed the idea never had a chance before his arrival.
Pontiac's G6 and the Solstice before it are examples of the new Lutz-inspired look for the division, one that conveys an aggressive and stylistically pure image, free of unnecessary and "simulated" surfaces. Phrases such as "cleaner contemporary designs" and "no clutter or diversions" pepper the press releases, further indicating that a new era in Pontiac design is well underway. That look is already finding its way to the showroom, by way of the 2004 Grand Prix. Obviously more Pontiac models will be featuring the new halo look as time goes on.
The G6's design character is one of "athletic sophistication," an action-oriented persona with a refined nature, free of harshness or excess. Up front, the G6 shows its kinship to the Solstice and GTO with a dual-element oval grille with a honeycomb mesh. High-intensity LED headlamps are set into clear housings, giving a cat-like look to the nose.
Its front fascia is leaned back quite a bit more than in previous Pontiac designs and blends well with the severely raked greenhouse. Front fenders are characterized by the large flared wheelwells and smooth contours. A line beginning just behind the front wheelwell follows the angle of the beltline and extends on to the tail, giving the impression of motion.
Body sides are smooth, with a slight coke-bottle treatment to the rocker section. Like the front fenders, the rear quarters feature minimal overhang and large, flared wheelwells. The rear doors were designed with a blade-like contour to their lower edge, which complements the shape of the door glass. It's a bold move from a design standpoint, one that gives the G6 a distinctive look when the doors are opened.