Pontiac Vibe

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Pontiac Vibe

Manufacturer	NUMMI
Also called	Toyota Matrix Toyota Voltz
Production	2002–August 2009
Model year(s)	2003-2010
Assembly	Fremont, California, United States
Class	Compact
Body style(s)	4-door hatchback
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Wheelbase	102.4 in (2601 mm)
Related	Toyota Corolla Toyota Celica Toyota Auris

The Pontiac Vibe is a compact hatchback car produced in Fremont, California, in the United States by NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc), a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, and marketed under General Motors' Pontiac brand. The Toyota Voltz is an identical twin to the Vibe (with different badging and right-hand drive) that was sold in Japan for a short while before being dropped due to lack of popularity. It is a short and tall hatchback that is being marketed as a trendy, quasi-SUV (or Station Wagon) vehicle for younger buyers. Prototypes were shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2000 and production vehicles came on the market in 2002 for the 2003 model year. The Vibe is the mechanical counterpart of the Toyota Matrix and is based on the Toyota Corolla's E-platform.

Contents 1 First generation (2003-2008) 1.1 Toyota Voltz 2 Second generation (2009–2010) 3 Demise 4 References 5 External links

[edit] First generation (2003-2008)

First generation

Also called	Toyota Voltz
Model year(s)	2003-2008
Body style(s)	4-door hatchback
Engine(s)	1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4 132 hp 1.8 L 2ZZ-GE I4 164 hp
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Length	171.3 in (4351 mm)
Width	69.9 in (1775 mm)
Height	60.6 in (1539 mm)
Fuel capacity	11.9 US gal (45 L; 10 imp gal) (AWD) 13.2 US gal (50 L; 11 imp gal) (FWD)
Designer	John Mack

The 2003-2006 Vibe was available in an economical base trim, an all-wheel drive mid-trim, or a "sporty" GT with more power. The 2007 model year only offered the base model.

Powertrains available for this car are a Toyota-built 1.8 L straight-4 16-valve engine producing 126 hp (94 kW) on the base model (manual or automatic transmission), 118 hp on the all-wheel drive model (automatic only), or a version with VVTL-i producing 164 hp (122 kW) for the GT (manual 6-speed only). The Vibe is currently the most fuel efficient vehicle sold by GM in North America, but this will not be the case with the revised United States Environmental Protection Agency testing procedures in 2008.

There have been some minor changes between model years. The Vibe was first produced in 2002 and went on sale as a 2003 model. Power ratings for the first three model years were slightly higher, with the GT up to 180 hp (134 kW), the base model rated at 130 hp (97 kW), and the all-wheel drive model rated at 126 hp (94 kW). Engine power claims were decreased for 2006 as a result of Toyota's re-testing of its engines for the new Society of Automotive Engineers ratings standard. The 2007 model year no longer offered a GT or all-wheel-drive option due to poor sales and new federal emissions standards.

The front fascia was freshened in the 2005 model year. In an attempt to 'converge' the Pontiac look, the front grill was restyled to resemble the look of the Pontiac Solstice, also adopted by other vehicles in the Pontiac line. The 2003-2004 Vibes had a front grill more closely resembling the discontinued Pontiac Aztek. The Vibe is one of the most economical, low-emission cars sold by GM.

[edit] Toyota Voltz

The Vibe was made right-hand drive and exported to the Japanese market as the Toyota Voltz from 2002 to 2004.

[edit] Second generation (2009–2010)

Second generation

Production	2008- August 2009
Model year(s)	2009-2010
Body style(s)	5-door hatchback
Engine(s)	1.8L 2ZR-FE 132 hp I4 2.4L 2AZ-FE 158 hp I4
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 5-speed automatic 4-speed automatic
Length	172.1 in (4371 mm) AWD: 171.9 in (4366 mm)
Width	69.4 in (1763 mm)
Height	Base: 60.9 in (1547 mm) AWD: 62.7 in (1593 mm) GT: 61.3 in (1557 mm)
Designer	Ron Aselton

The Vibe was redesigned, along with the Matrix, for the 2009 model year, and debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. "The new Vibe's design is sporty yet completely functional," according to Ron Aselton, chief designer. "Clean lines, minimal overhangs and wheels pushed to the corners give the vehicle a muscular stance." The GT trim and AWD options return, and two new straight-4 engines (Toyota's 2.4L 2AZ-FE used on the Camry for the AWD and GT trims as well as optional on the base trim, and a new 1.8L 2ZR-FE standard on the base trim) are offered.^[1]

Second Generation FWD Vibes also offer computerized traction-control and anti-lock brakes. Rear disc brakes are standard on all models. Luggage racks are no longer standard order.

The Vibe offers 91.4 cubic feet (2.59 m³) of passenger volume (all seats up) and 20.1 cubic feet (0.57 m³) of cargo volume, for a total of 111.5 cubic feet (3.16 m³) with rear seats that fold completely flat. The cargo area is 30 inches (760 mm) high and 40 inches (1,000 mm) wide, which is large enough to accommodate a standard-sized, American washing machine or clothes dryer with enough extra room for an appliance dolly.

First deliveries to dealerships were posted on GM's Website in April 2008, with comments that initial sales were brisk. The first units were delivered to buyers in early March.^[2]

Cahokia, IL police have added the Pontiac Vibe to their fleet, as a way to "cut corners and reduce costs". ^[3]

[edit] Demise

On April 27, 2009, GM announced the discontinuation of Vibe production, as well as all other Pontiac models, by the end of 2010.^[4] It was later announced that Vibe production will end in August 2009. ^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official site

v • d • e « previous – Pontiac, a division of General Motors, automobile timeline, United States market, 1980s–present
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s
	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