“Say Pontiac was parred down to just the G8 and the Solstice and they sold 25K units total in one model year. Now with all the money Pontiac has earned, where do they spend it? The G8 or the Solstice?”
25,000 units a year is NOT going to work. This is why it’s near impossible to make a proper business case for Pontiac. @Moanalua This is reality. So unless Pontiacs carry a $5,000 premium per vehicle (which would make them less accessible and attractive) there is no business case for the brand.
And to your question — if Pontiac were a “division”, then it would be responsible for its own Profit and Loss. And it will lose big time until it hits around 40,000-50,000 units a year.
“If you think demand for performance vehicles isnt there than you live in a hole somewhere. It’s no secret that teens especially but people from all age groups like performance cars.”
Like them? Sure! But buy them? Not really. Look at the numbers! Sports cars are the worst-performing/selling segment for any and all automakers, but cost the most to manufacture and develop, design, and engineer. They’re the least profitable type of vehicle. But the most fun… and have intangible benefits like being halo cars for the rest of the lineup.
As an automotive enthusiast, I’m afraid that with time, we will live in a world that’s full of Camrys and Accords… devoid of fun-to-drive cars. I’m not even talking performance cars, but cars that are fun (like the Toyota GT-86 and Pontiac Solstice).
That’s why I’m a proponent of the Passion department with Chevy. It would result in a number of fun mainstream cars that don’t break the bank and there won’t be the constant fear of always looking around your shoulder fearing that your favorite performance brand ate the dust.
“I’d put that G8 up against a bimmer and I’ll bet you the G8 would win.”
Win in what? Have you ever drive a BMW? If so, you would understand that it’s rarely about straight-line performance… or performance in the twisties, for that matter. It’s a pure athletic car with tons of luxury. The G8 was a great car, but it was no BMW. We already discussed this… why are we coming back to BMW again?
