The Pontiac Vibe was a compact car marketed from the 2003 to 2010 model years. It was the first Pontiac sold only as a station wagon since the Safari, and the fourth and last GM-branded vehicle to come from the NUMMI joint venture with Toyota.
Pontiac Vibe at a glance
| Maker | Pontiac, General Motors, built by NUMMI |
|---|---|
| Years | 2003–2010 |
| Platform | GM S platform, shared with the Toyota Matrix |
| Built at | NUMMI, Fremont, California |
| Base engine | Toyota 1.8 L four, 126 hp |
| All-wheel drive | 1.8 L, 118 hp, automatic only |
| GT engine | 1.8 L with VVTL-i, 164 hp |
| GT gearbox | six-speed manual only |
| Trims | base, AWD, GT |
| Also sold as | Toyota Voltz in Japan, 2002–2004 |
| Production ended | August 2009 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Vibe.
History of the Pontiac Vibe
A Toyota in Pontiac clothing
The Vibe was derived from the Toyota Corolla through the GM S platform, which was also Toyota’s MC platform, and shared that platform with the Toyota Matrix. It followed the Chevrolet Nova and Geo/Chevrolet Prizm as a GM-badged Toyota and was assembled by NUMMI in Fremont, California alongside the Matrix, Corolla and Tacoma. From 2002 to 2004 the same car was sold in Japan in right-hand drive as the Toyota Voltz. The first generation arrived as a 2003 model, unveiled in November 2001, and was offered as an economical base car, an all-wheel-drive mid-trim and a more powerful GT sport trim.
Engines and equipment
The engines were Toyota-built 1.8 litre fours: 126 hp in the base car with manual or automatic, 118 hp in the all-wheel-drive model with automatic only, and 164 hp in the GT with Toyota’s VVTL-i system and a six-speed manual. Initial ratings were slightly higher, at 130 hp for the base car, 123 hp for the AWD and up to 180 hp for the GT, and were reduced for 2006 when Toyota retested its engines to the new SAE standard. The Vibe was at one time the most fuel-efficient vehicle GM sold in North America, until revised EPA testing in 2008. It differed from the Matrix in styling and in components such as the air-conditioning compressor and hoses, heater hoses, heater core and serpentine belt.
Facelift and the end
The front fascia was revised for 2005, with the grille restyled to resemble the Solstice and bring the Vibe closer to the Pontiac look; the 2003–04 cars had a grille closer to the Aztek’s. The GT and all-wheel-drive trims were dropped for 2007 because of poor sales and new emissions standards. Production ended in August 2009 as Pontiac was discontinued and GM reorganised under Chapter 11, which also closed the NUMMI venture; Toyota moved Matrix production to Cambridge, Ontario.
Design and features
- NUMMI build: made alongside the Corolla and Matrix in California.
- Three powertrains: 126 hp base, 118 hp AWD and 164 hp GT.
- All-wheel drive: offered in the first generation with an automatic only.
- Fuel economy: once GM’s most efficient North American vehicle.
- Pontiac face: the 2005 grille copied the Solstice.
Pontiac Vibe versions
- Base: the 1.8 litre front-wheel-drive car.
- AWD: the all-wheel-drive mid-trim.
- GT: the VVTL-i engine with a six-speed manual.
- Toyota Voltz: the right-hand-drive Japanese version.
The Vibe was the practical member of Pontiac’s last range alongside the G6 and Torrent. More Pontiacs are in the Pontiac collection.
Sources
- Pontiac Vibe, English Wikipedia: platform, engines, trims, end
