PONTIAC G6 CONCEPT EMBODIES EXCITEMENT AND TOTAL PERFORMANCE

DETROIT - Excitement, performance and sleek contemporary styling give the 2003 Pontiac G6 concept vehicle the look, feel and attitude of a world-class GT sports sedan.

Pontiac's four-passenger sedan demonstrates how the division is evolving for the 21st century with cleaner contemporary designs and total performance - seamlessly blending power and acceleration with superior ride and handling characteristics for a responsive driving experience.

"The G6 showcases Pontiac's athletic design language," said Dave Rand, GM executive director of advanced design. "Its forms and architecture are clean, lean and agile to visually announce road-hugging confidence. That's what Pontiac Excitement is all about, and today we are fueling that excitement."

"The body stretches out over the wheels," said Tim Kozub, the G6 exterior designer. "The overhangs are short, a contemporary architecture that provides great interior space." The technique also puts wheels out at the corners, giving the G6 a strong stance. "It's very wheel-oriented. The wheel flares speak to road performance."

The 20-inch billet, open wheel design connects with the gearshift aesthetic, visually communicating the relationship of the enthusiast's interface to the road. Goodyear performance rubber complements the car's athletic, muscular proportions.

The headlamps skew toward the twin-port Pontiac grille like the eyes of a tiger; their configuration inspired by intricate, multi-dial sport watches. High-intensity LED technology provides the lighting. The tri-coated flint finish is cool and urbane, with blue-gray glass to match.

Smooth, powerful ride

The G6 packs a supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 272 lbs.-ft. of torque. It also could be equipped with the fuel-saving Displacement on Demand technology, which uses only half of the cylinders during routine driving conditions and automatically reactivates the other cylinders when the driver needs the engine's full power for situations such as accelerating or passing.

The 4T65-E electronically controlled automatic transaxle includes tap-up-tap-down shifting to achieve smooth and precise European driving characteristics. The controls are located on both the ergonomic steering wheel and the floor-mounted shifter in the center console.

The G6 is all-wheel-drive. Its four-wheel independent suspension is adjustable for ride height and enhanced handling. The front and rear brakes are four-piston calipers on 13-inch rotors.

Sophisticated and sporty

The interior reinforces the G6 image as a real driving machine. The cockpit cabin is driver-oriented with excellent ergonomics and driver interface. "You have the car at the ends of your fingers," said Ryan Vaughn, the G6 interior designer. "You are morphed into the vehicle. Your body senses every turn and acceleration through the seats the second you grab the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

"Visually, we were striving for the look and feel of a sophisticated GT sports sedan. There's no clutter or diversions. The colors and materials were selected to give it richness and sporty flair," Vaughn added.

Sports gear influenced the design details of the switches, dials and gauges. The gauges are big and readable, with the tachometer occupying center stage on the four-gauge panel. The metal finishes - the door pulls, bezels and other trim pieces - are titanium.

"Titanium doesn't stand out like aluminum, for example. It speaks to precision and power," Vaughn said.

A color scheme of deep rich maroon and blue gives the leather upholstery a sporty, yet tailored look. Contrasting stitching on the seats and interior door trim also speaks to sporty precision. The G6 features custom mesh flooring, which also moves up from the floor to cradle the rear bucket seats. The instrument panel sports a unique, molded Y-grain surface.

"The G6 reflects the continuity of the Solstice interior," said Rand. "It's a sporty new direction that's simple and straightforward."

The center console runs the length of the interior. Rear seats also have a separate radio-CD stereo system with headphones.

2003 PONTIAC G6 CONCEPT VEHICLE SPECS

SOURCE: Pontiac