Pontiac Vibe

Pontiac Vibe
Overview
Manufacturer	NUMMI
Also called	Toyota Voltz
Production	January 2002–August 2009
Model years	2003–2010
Assembly	Fremont, California, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car
Body style	4 to 5-door hatchback
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Related	Toyota Corolla Toyota Matrix Toyota Sprinter Toyota Celica Toyota Auris
Dimensions
Wheelbase	102.4 in (2,601 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Geo Storm Wagonback Geo Prizm
Successor	Chevrolet Orlando (Canada) Chervolet Cruze Hatchback

The Pontiac Vibe is a compact hatchback automobile that was sold by Pontiac from 2002 to 2010. It was jointly developed by General Motors along with Toyota, who manufactures the mechanically similar Toyota Matrix. Manufactured by the Toyota-GM joint venture NUMMI in Fremont, California, the Vibe succeeded the Chevrolet Prizm in production at NUMMI and like the Prizm, it was derived from the Toyota Corolla.

From 2002 to 2004, a rebadged right-hand drive variant of the Vibe was exported as the Toyota Voltz to the Japanese domestic market. The Voltz was not popular in Japan and discontinued after two model years.

Production of the Vibe ended in 2010 with the discontinuation of the Pontiac brand and the closing of NUMMI under the General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization. Its twin, the Toyota Matrix, was in production for another three years for the American market and four years for the Canadian market, as the Matrix was manufactured by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Cambridge, Ontario, and was unaffected by NUMMI closing down operation.

First generation (2002–2008)

First generation
Overview
Also called	Toyota Voltz
Model years	2003–2008
Designer	John Mack
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door hatchback
Powertrain
Engine	1.8 L 1ZZ-FE (LV6) I4 (gasoline) 1.8 L 2ZZ-GE (LNK) I4 (gasoline)
Transmission	5-speed C59 manual 6-speed C60 manual 4-speed A246E automatic 4-speed U341F automatic
Dimensions
Length	171.3 in (4,351 mm)
Width	69.9 in (1,775 mm)
Height	61 in (1,549 mm)

The 2003-2006 Vibe was available in an economical base trim, an all-wheel drive mid-trim, or a sporty GT with more power.

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 was at one time the most fuel efficient vehicle sold by GM in North America, but ceased to be the case with the revised United States Environmental Protection Agency testing procedures in 2008.

Although the Vibe and Matrix are similar designs, the two brands actually use several different components, which are brand-specific, for their heating and air conditioning systems. These components include the air conditioning compressor and related hoses, the heater hoses, the heater core, and the serpentine belt.

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 123 hp (92 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 (SAE) 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.

2007 Pontiac Vibe

The front fascia was freshened in the 2005 model year. In an attempt to 'converge' the Pontiac look, the front grille 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 grille more closely resembling the discontinued Pontiac Aztek.

Toyota Voltz

Main article: Toyota Voltz

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

Second generation (2009–2010)

Second generation
Overview
Production	2008–August 2009
Model years	2009–2010
Designer	Ron Aselton
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door hatchback
Powertrain
Engine	1.8 L 2ZR-FE I4 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 4/5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Length	172.1 in (4,371 mm) AWD: 171.9 in (4,366 mm)
Width	69.4 in (1,763 mm)
Height	Base: 60.9 in (1,547 mm) AWD: 62.7 in (1,593 mm) GT: 61.3 in (1,557 mm)

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 inline-four engines (Toyota's 2.4 litre 2AZ-FE as also used on the Camry for the AWD and GT trims as well as optional on the base trim, and a new 1.8 litre 2ZR-FE standard on the base trim) are offered. This was also Pontiac's last new model and remained as the brand's only remaining car for the 2010 model year.

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. Power outputs of the two engines are 132 hp (98 kW) and 158 hp (118 kW) respectively.

Pontiac Vibe GT, rear view

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.

Discontinuation

On April 27, 2009, GM announced the discontinuation of Vibe production, as well as all other Pontiac models, by the end of 2010. It was later announced that Vibe production would end in August 2009, and the last Vibe left the assembly line on August 17, 2009, according to a source at genvibe.com. This left Toyota with a major problem as they had to scramble to relocate some of the tooling that was jointly used to produce the Matrix in another factory.

GM has yet to produce another compact hatchback in North America to succeed the Pontiac Vibe, choosing initially to bracket it with the Chevrolet Sonic hatchback and Buick Encore small crossover. In Canada, GM followed the Vibe with the larger Chevrolet Orlando compact MPV, which replaced the Chevrolet HHR. Chevrolet is expected to introduce a hatchback version of the Chevrolet Cruze to North America in 2016.

Recalls

In January 2010, Autoblog.com reported that the 2009 and 2010 model year Pontiac Vibes are also included in the 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls related to unintended acceleration due to shared components with the Toyota Matrix. Another recall for the Vibe was issued in the Fall of 2009 due to floormat interference with the accelerator pedals. This is also part of the Toyota recall.

On August 26, 2010, another recall was issued for 2005 to 2008 model year Vibes, equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive. The recall notices states that an improperly manufactured Engine Control Module (ECM) can develop a crack in its circuitry, potentially causing the "Check Engine" light to illuminate, harsh shifting, and stalling and/or failure of the engine to start.

In Mid October 2014 the Vibe along with the Saab 9-2x was recalled due to the faulty Takata airbags supplied from the large airbag supplier company. It is undetermined how many Vibes have been recalled.

External links

• Official website
• Pontiac Vibe at The Crittenden Automotive Library