The Pontiac Sunfire was a compact car introduced for the 1995 model year to replace the Sunbird. Its styling was shared with the redesigned Chevrolet Cavalier, and it stayed in production for eleven years with two facelifts before the G5 replaced it.
Pontiac Sunfire at a glance
| Maker | Pontiac, General Motors |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1995–2005 |
| Replaced | Pontiac Sunbird |
| Shared body | Chevrolet Cavalier, GM J platform |
| Body styles | sedan, coupé, convertible |
| Engine, 1995 | 2.3 L Quad 4, 150 hp |
| Engine, 1996–2002 | 2.2 L OHV, 115 hp; 2.4 L Twin Cam, 150 hp |
| Engine, 2002–2005 | 2.2 L Ecotec, 140 hp |
| Gearboxes | three-speed automatic or five-speed manual |
| Price, 1995 | from $10,243 for the sedan |
| Production ended | 22 June 2005 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Sunfire.
History of the Pontiac Sunfire
A Cavalier in Pontiac clothes
The Sunfire arrived for 1995 as a compact car to replace the Sunbird, with dramatic new styling shared with the redesigned Chevrolet Cavalier. The J platform was updated structurally for the 1996 model year to meet stricter safety standards. It could be bought as a sedan, a coupé or a convertible, all in SE trim with a GT version on the coupé and convertible.
Engines and trims
The 1995 car offered the 2.3 litre Quad 4 with 150 hp and 150 lb·ft. From 1996 to 2002 there was a 2.2 litre overhead-valve engine of 115 hp and a 2.4 litre Twin Cam of 150 hp, with the Ecotec optional for 2002. The 2.3 and 2.4 engines were optional in the two- and four-door LS trim, and the GT came with the 2.3 Quad 4 in 1994–95 or the 2.4 Twin Cam from 1996 to 2002, 16-inch alloy wheels, twin exhausts and a more aggressive front fascia. At launch the car had a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual; GM had planned a new four-speed automatic but cash shortages delayed it by a year. Prices in 1995 ran from $10,243 for the base sedan to $14,195 for the coupé GT, and in 2005 the base price was $15,205.
Facelifts and the end
The Sunfire had two facelifts in its eleven-year run: a small redesign in 2000 with the heavy plastic cladding that Pontiac used at the time, and a more streamlined update in 2003. In the United States the coupé was the only model from 2003 to 2005, while the sedan continued in Canada and Mexico until production ended on 22 June 2005. The convertible, originally SE-only, became GT-only for 1999 and was discontinued after 2000; all Sunfire convertibles were built at the Genesis plant in Lansing, Michigan. Coupes built from 1995 to 2001 carried the Pontiac name between the tail lights on a panel that was backlit with the number-plate bulbs, a feature many later owners did not know about. GM replaced the Sunfire with the G5 for 2006 in Canada and 2007 in the United States.
Design and features
- Shared with the Cavalier: the same J-platform body under two badges.
- GT trim: 16-inch alloys, twin exhausts and a bolder front end.
- Ecotec engine: the 140 hp 2.2 litre unit from 2002.
- Backlit rear panel: the Pontiac name glowed between the tail lights.
- Long life: eleven model years and two facelifts.
Pontiac Sunfire versions
- SE sedan, coupé and convertible: the standard trim.
- GT coupé and convertible: the sportier version.
- 2.4 Twin Cam cars: the 1996–2002 performance option.
- 2003 facelift: the streamlined final shape.
The Sunfire replaced the Sunbird and was replaced by the G5; the J2000 began the J-car line. More Pontiacs are in the Pontiac collection.
Sources
- Pontiac Sunfire, English Wikipedia: engines, trims, facelifts, end
