Is Pontiac Back? Fans Bite at Fake Ad, GM Weighs In
According to a survey that was published last fall, Pontiac is the car brand that people miss the most both in Canada and in the U.S. Naturally, many would like to see it come back in one way or another. Well, over the past several days, more than a few seemed to think a return was actually happening.
U.S. magazine Car and Driver ran a fake ad on the back cover of its latest edition announcing that Pontiac was back after a 15-year absence. Not only that, but it claimed the company’s first new model would be a hybrid featuring a supercharged 6.0-litre V8 rated at 667 horsepower.
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There was also a catchphrase: “Make some noise.”
Obviously, the ad was a joke and not to be taken seriously, as the small prints at the bottom of the page clearly specified. Still, some car enthusiasts suddenly got all excited and even industry experts weighed in on the prospect of Pontiac’s return. It got to a point where General Motors saw the need to release an official statement.
“We understand the ad was a joke and it was not placed by GM or anyone affiliated with GM. We appreciate the passion for all our brands as well as a good sense of humor,” the automaker wrote.
The final Pontiac car rolled off the line at Orion Assembly in Michigan on November 25, 2009. It was a G6 compact sedan. At the time, the lineup also included the G3 subcompact car, G8 midsize sedan, Torrent SUV and Solstice convertible.
Pontiac was terminated for good in October 2010 and would have celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026. You can count GM CEO Mary Barra among those who don’t miss the brand—as well as Saturn and Saab, for that matter.