@Brian_E I think you’ve offered a realistic and unbiased analysis of the matter. I especially appreciate the part where you compare the content of Japanese vehicles to that of Chevy, which was a bargain-basement brand 10-20 years ago. This is exactly the reason for the colossal market shift in the industry over the last 2-3 decades that has resulted in the discontinuation of Pontiac and Olds. The fact that Lexus offers a vastly different luxury experience than BMW, Audi, and MB is the sole reason for Buick’s continued existence.
As for performance from GM as it related to Pontiac, Chevy is all over that market, as evidenced by today’s unveilings:
Concept CODE 130R
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/01/naias-2012-eassist-powered-chevrolet-code-130r-suggests-efficient-rwd-performance/
Concept CODE 140S
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/01/naias-2012-chevrolet-tru-140s-concept-is-really-just-a-sexy-cruze-coupe/
