Pontiac Sunfire

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Pontiac Sunfire

Manufacturer	Pontiac
Parent company	General Motors
Production	1995–2005
Assembly	Lansing, Michigan (convertible only) Lordstown, Ohio Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
Predecessor	Pontiac Sunbird
Successor	Pontiac G5
Class	Compact
Body style(s)	2-door convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	J-body
Engine(s)	2.2 L 2200 I4 2.2 L Ecotec L61 I4 2.3 L Twin Cam I4 2.4 L LD9 I4
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	104.1 in (2644 mm)
Length	1995-97 Sedan & 2000-05 Coupe: 182 in (4623 mm) 1998-99 Sedan: 181.7 in (4615 mm) 1995-99 Coupe & Convertible: 181.9 in (4620 mm) 2000-02 Sedan: 181.8 in (4618 mm) 2003-05 Sedan: 183.2 in (4653 mm)
Width	Convertible & 1995-97 Coupe: 67.4 in (1712 mm) 1995-97 Sedan: 67.3 in (1709 mm) 1998-2005 Coupe & Convertible: 68.4 in (1737 mm) Sedan: 67.9 in (1725 mm)
Height	1998-2005 Coupe: 53 in (1346 mm) 1998-2005 Sedan: 54.7 in (1389 mm) 1998-2005 Convertible: 53.7 in (1364 mm) 1995-97 Coupe: 53.2 in (1351 mm) 1995-97 Sedan: 54.8 in (1392 mm) 1995-97 Convertible: 51.9 in (1318 mm) curb weight 2,605 lb (1,182kg)
Fuel capacity	14.3 US gal (54.1 L; 11.9 imp gal)
Related	Chevrolet Cavalier

The Pontiac Sunfire was introduced for the 1995 model year as the compact car to replace the Sunbird. Not only was the name changed, but dramatic styling changes were included as well. The new styling was shared with the Chevrolet Cavalier, though General Motors did not change the Cavalier name. Also during this time, the J platform was updated structurally to meet more stringent safety standards.

The Sunfire could be purchased as a sedan, coupe, or convertible. All three types came in the standard SE trim level. An upscale GT trim level was available on the coupe and convertible. The GT trim level came standard with the 2.4 liter LD9 engine, 16” alloy wheels, dual exhaust, and a more aggressive looking front fascia. The GT trim level was dropped after the 2002 model year.^[1]

Originally the convertible was only in the SE trim level until the 1999 model year where it became only available in the GT trim. The convertible was discontinued after the year 2000.^[2]

The Pontiac Sunfire went through two facelifts, once in 2000 and once again in 2003. In the US, the coupe was the only model available from 2003 to 2005. The sedan continued to be sold in Canada and Mexico until the end of the overall production run in 2005.

Sunfires were built in Lordstown, Ohio (until 2004, before retooling to build the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac Pursuit/G5 models) and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. The convertible models were built in Lansing, Michigan. Production of the Sunfire ended in June 2005. Over 36,000 Sunfires were sold in the US and 33,724 units were sold in Canada in 2004, each for approximately US$11,500. GM replaced the Sunfire with the G5 for 2007.

1995-1999 Sunfire convertible

2001 Sunfire GT coupe

2000-2002 Sunfire sedan

Contents 1 Safety 2 Engines 3 Trivia 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Safety

The IIHS gives the Sunfire a Poor rating in its frontal crash test.^[3]

2004 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (coupe):^[4]

Frontal Driver:

Frontal Passenger:

Side Driver:

Side Rear Passenger:

Rollover:

2002 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (sedan):^[5]

Frontal Driver:

Frontal Passenger:

Side Driver: *safety concern*

Side Rear Passenger:

Rollover:

[edit] Engines

• 1995 - 2.3 L (138 cu in) Quad 4(RPO: LD2) I4, 150 hp (116 kW) and 150 lb·ft (203 N·m)
• 1995-1997 - 2.2 L (134 cu in) 2200 I4, 120 hp (89 kW) and 130 lb·ft (176 N·m)
• 1998–2002 - 2.2 L (134 cu in) 2200 I4, 115 hp (86 kW) and 135 lb·ft (183 N·m)
• 1996–2002 - 2.4 L (146 cu in) Twin Cam (RPO: LD9) I4, 150 hp (112 kW) and 155 lb·ft (210 N·m)
• 2002–2005 - 2.2 L (134 cu in) Ecotec I4, 140 hp (104 kW) and 150 lb·ft (203 N·m)

The base model had the 2.2 L engine from 1995 until 2002. The GT trim level had an optional, much more powerful 2.3 L Quad 4 engine in 1995, which was replaced by the 2.4 L LD9 engine in 1996. The 2.3 and 2.4 liter engines were optional in the 2 and 4 door SE trim level. In 2003, both the 2.2 L and the 2.4 L engines were replaced by the 2.2 L Ecotec engine, and would be the only powertrain available for the remained of production. The Ecotec engine was also an option for the 2002 model year.^[6]

[edit] Trivia

Some advertisements for the vehicle contained the Jimi Hendrix song "Fire".

A silver Pontiac Sunfire sedan was one of the main cars used in the horror movie P2.^[7]

The Pontiac Sunfire GXP Concept was a featured car in the video game Gran Turismo 4.

v • d • e « previous – Pontiac, a division of General Motors, automobile timeline, United States market, 1980s–2010
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s										2010
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
Subcompact	Sunbird	T1000/1000							LeMans																					G3
Compact			J2000/2000 Sunbird/Sunbird							Sunbird						Sunfire												G5
																								Vibe						Vibe
	Phoenix					Grand Am							Grand Am							Grand Am
Mid-size	LeMans		Bonneville																							G6
	Grand Am		6000
	Grand Prix								Grand Prix									Grand Prix							Grand Prix
Full-size	Bonneville			Parisienne				Bonneville					Bonneville								Bonneville								G8
	Catalina		Safari
Mid-size crossover																						Aztek					Torrent
Minivan											Trans Sport							Trans Sport/Montana								SV6
Sports	Firebird		Firebird											Firebird
																									GTO
					Fiero
Roadster																											Solstice

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• General Motors Sport Compact Forums
• The J-body Organization