AUTOWEEK REVIEW OF THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE!

2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $19,995
POWERTRAIN: 2.4-liter, 177-hp, 166-lb-ft I4; rwd, five-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 2860 lbs0 TO 60 MPH: 7.2 seconds (est.)
FUEL MILEAGE (EPA COMBINED): 23.6 mpg

Ever since it was revealed at the 2002 Detroit show, the Pontiac Solstice has been more than just a car for General Motors. Brainchild of GM’s then-new product czar Bob Lutz, the two-seater became an experiment for how quickly the automotive giant could conceive a car that would ignite the public’s interest, and then bring it to market.
Shortly after the show car was given the green light for production, the Solstice became the project everyone within GM was looking at. To everyone’s best recollection—and despite a well-publicized delay late in the process— this is the quickest GM has moved from approval to production.
In concept form Solstice promised a lot of fun and sportiness. With a Lutz-mandated, etched-in-stone, read-my-lips base price of $19,995, well, many doubted the promise could be delivered for the price. More than one GM engineer noted the “F-word,” meaning Fiero, still echoed in the halls at GM. The budget two-seat Pontiac Fiero of the 1980s had a sporty shape that promised a spirited ride, but it didn’t deliver until after the car had been killed by the company.
But Fiero didn’t have Lutz— the Solstice team’s trump card and spiritual father.
“There were a lot of times the accountants would look at something I wanted in this car and tell me I could get a similar piece cheaper,” says vehicle line director Darren Post. “I’d tell them we tried that and the cheaper one wasn’t as good, and if they wanted to call Bob [Lutz] I had his number on my cellphone speed dial. I always got the parts I wanted.”
While Lutz, now GM’s vice chairman for global product development, has had a hand in several other GM cars since his arrival at the company, Solstice is really the first car developed entirely under his watch.
“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to build an affordable two-seat roadster,” Lutz said.
In September 2001, just 15 weeks before the auto show, Lutz wanted a show car for Pontiac, and he staged a sketch-off among GM stylists that was won by designer Franz von Holzhausen from GM’s California studio (von Holzhausen has since leftGM for Mazda). Solstice has been a fast-track project from the outset.
“Our goal here was not to duplicate an [Honda] S2000 or [BMW] Z3,” says Lutz. “Little would be gained in making another $30,000-to-$40,000 roadster.”
But that didn’t mean the Solstice couldn’t ride and handle like those more expensive cars.
“While everyone will compare the Solstice with the Miata,” says chassis engineer Steve Padilla, the man who has logged more miles behind the wheel of Solstices than anyone else, “the ride dynamics we were shooting for were more like the S2000, only a bit less twitchy.”
Delivering on the car’s sporty looks has been the target of everyone working on the project. Solstice is the first car built on GM’s Kappa small-car rear-drive platform, and because it is being done in relatively small volume (the Saturn Sky, Solstice’s platform sister, will debut next year), the chassis is mostly hand-welded.
Engineers raided the corporate parts bin to speed up the gestation period. Everything from SUVs to midsize sedans contributed components, and while the end result could have been a nightmare, it works.
Solstice’s heart is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder Ecotec positioned north-south for the first time. The aluminum engine with overhead cams and four valves per cylinder—mounted transversely in front-drive cars such as the 2006 Chevy HHR—makes 177 hp at 6600 rpm and 166 lb-ft at 4800 rpm in the Solstice. Down low, the engine has good pull—a couple of 4500-rpm drop-the-clutch launches proved that, as well as producing some tire smoke—and the exhaust note is tuned for a throaty growl. We will always take more power, especially in a car that looks like this, but we are not disappointed with the Solstice’s performance.
GM officials are tight-lipped about offering a Solstice with more punch, but insiders confirm a more potent, turbo­charged or supercharged model will be offered later.
The Ecotec mates to a five-speed manual gearbox that operates with nice short throws. Its action is not lightning-quick, like that on the S2000 for example, but it is tight, and engagement is crisp. The clutch takeup on the cars we drove was just perfect, and the brake and throttle pedals are position­ed for heel-and-toe downshifts. An automatic will be offered early next year.

Multi-car accident foils high hopes for Wallace, Duno!

Lexington, OH (August 27, 2005) … The EMCO Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic at
the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has proven to be both good and bad for the #2
CITGO Racing Team. Last year, a late-race charge resulted in a 2nd-place
finish for the duo of Andy Wallace and Milka Duno at the 2.258-mile track.
On Saturday, a multi-car accident on lap 15 ended the hopes of the CITGO
Team of a second consecutive podium finish at Mid-Ohio.

Milka Duno qualified the #2 CITGO Pontiac Crawford on Friday afternoon and
posted a fast lap of 1:24.998 / 95.635 mph. Her qualifying effort placed the
CITGO Team 18th in the 44-car starting field for the event.

From the start, Duno turned very competitive lap times and began to steadily
move up in the running order. When caution waved on lap 10, Duno was running
in the 13th position. Restarting 12th on lap 13, Duno was looking to march
toward the top ten. Ultimately, she would reach as high as 11 th overall and
advance the #2 CITGO Pontiac Crawford seven positions from her start.
Unfortunately, that march ended when Duno spun and was hit by the #6 Michael
Shank Racing Riley. Several cars made evasive moves to keep from making
contact with these two cars. However, the #81 Porsche driven by Mae Van Wijk
made heavy contact with the CITGO Pontiac Crawford and the Mears entry. The
resulting damaged ended the EMCO Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic for the CITGO
Racing Team.

"I am so disappointed," Duno stated. "We had such a positive start to the
race. I managed to defend my position and make up six places in the early
laps. I made a mistake and spun. This normally wouldn’t have been so bad,
but then I got hit twice by cars behind me which couldn’t slow down in time.
I am so sorry for the CITGO Racing Team. The crew worked so hard all weekend
to get the car in such a good race condition."

The next event for the CITGO Racing Team will be at the Phoenix
International Raceway on Saturday, September 10th. Speed Channel will
provide tape-delayed coverage of the 250-mile event at 4 PM ET on Sunday,
September 11th.

AUTOCITY CUSTOMER GALLERY

ARIEL MARTINEZ

MARIA MORA

ALFONSO MORALES

GM HAS A TORRENT OF SPORT WAGONS IN STORE!

By Jason Stein--Automotive News / August 22, 2005

Late to the increasingly popular sport wagon segment, General Motors is jumping in with both feet. GM will add one sport wagon to its portfolio this year: the Pontiac Torrent. After that, things pick up in a hurry. By the end of the 2007 model year, GM says its portfolio of car-based, SUV-like sport wagons will grow to nine vehicles. For the 2009 model year, that number will mushroom to 13. John Smith, GM's vice president of global product planning, said being late to the game is not the issue. "I'm not moved by being first as much as I'm moved by being the best," Smith said during the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich., this month. A little more than 1.7 million sport wagons were sold in the United States last year. But GM sold fewer than 300,000. GM expects to double annual sales of what it calls "crossover vehicles" to 800,000 by 2009, Smith said.
Buick, Saturn and GMC will receive mid-sized sport wagons based on GM's new Lambda architecture, beginning with the 2007 model year. Awd and fwd models are planned. In addition, Chevrolet and GMC will receive compact sport wagons based on GM's Theta architecture. Those vehicles will compete against the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4. Cadillac will also get a premium sport wagon that will fit into its portfolio under the SRX. Those vehicles should arrive for the 2009 model year. "That's what customers want," Smith said, referring to sport wagons. "They want something different."

FIRST 1000 SOLSTICES ON THE WAY!

By Richard Truett--Automotive News / August 15, 2005

DETROIT - The just-launched Pontiac Solstice roadster has a lot riding on its pumped-up shoulders. General Motors Vice Chairman Robert Lutz expects the $20,000 roadster to kick-start the much-needed rejuvenation of Pontiac. And, he says, GM must create more cars like the Solstice if the company is going to reduce incentives and rebuild market share. John Larson, general manager of the Pontiac, Buick and GMC divisions, thinks the Solstice will be a milestone car for GM. "We believe this vehicle has the potential to become a complete automotive icon, like the GTO or Corvette," he says. That's a huge responsibility for a small car to carry, but the buzz from early buyers suggests it may be justified. GM invited buyers of the first 1,000 Solstices to Detroit on Aug. 5 for a kickoff party that saw the first Solstice delivered to a middle-aged couple from Idaho. All 1,000 buyers chose the Solstice on looks and price alone, without the benefit of a test drive or even seeing one up close, in the metal. Many said they hadn't owned a GM vehicle in years. Nick Fuduloff, 45, a firefighter from Pennsylvania who drives a Nissan SUV and a Toyota sedan, said he had never before bought a car without taking it for a test drive. But he isn't worried about quality issues with the Solstice, he said. "It seems like they took their time on it," Fuduloff said. Jeff Maki, 40, a chemist from Grand Rapids, Mich., said: "As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it. I went to the dealer in November and put my name on a list."
Holly Johnson, 46, a registered nurse from Pennsylvania, plans to park her Toyota Avalon and keep it as a second car when she takes delivery of her Solstice. Before the GM event, she had never sat in a Solstice. "It fits!" she shrieked after settling into the driver's seat of a silver Solstice on display in the lobby of the GM headquarters building. "I think the quality will be good. The last GM car I had was a good one," she said. The Solstice is the first car of its type from GM. No other GM division has ever built a two-seat, four-cylinder, rear-drive convertible. Speaking to the crowd at the launch event, Larson said GM officials have been paying close attention to what potential customers were saying about the Solstice. "There's been an emotional connection between Pontiac and the customer that is unique to this vehicle," he said. "We intend to keep that relationship just the way it is and grow it even further." GM is trying to whittle down a backlog of nearly 10,000 orders for the car. Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said GM expects to have those orders filled by December. GM officials would not say how many Solstices are being built daily at the company's Wilmington, Del., plant. But according to the Automotive News Data Center, the plant turned out only 330 units in July. To fill the order backlog, the plant will have to crank out an average of 2,000 cars a month until the end of the year. Pontiac plans to build about 20,000 Solstices in 2006.

"GIRL RACERS" TO BE SEEN IN THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL!

The A&E Biography Channel will be broadcasting a documentary titled Girl Racers sometime in september. Eight women car racers will be featured, including Milka Duno, the Venezuelan who holds the record of being the first woman to win a sports car series race in North America. The girl racers can be previewed at http://www.girl-racers.com/.

Milka Duno was chosen by A&E Television Networks to promote the documentary. To that end A&E flew a crew of 16 to Miami this past Monday. Autocity was chosen to provide a Pontiac G6 to be used during the filming at the Homestead Race Track. Milka was filmed in different situations, both standing in the Winners' Circle and driving the G6 on the track. She had to speak her lines in English and Spanish since the documentary will also be transmitted in Latin America.

The producer/director, Jeff Jayson, found Milka to be a hardworking professional who has all the ingredients of a winner. The promos will be edited in 30", 20" and 15" versions. They should start airing on September 1st. Look for the Autocity logo on the front license plate of the G6.

The photos above were taken during the filming of the promo spots.

GTO WINS AT WATKINS GLEN!

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 12, 2005) -- Making just their second start of the season in the Rolex Series GT class, No. 64 TRG Pontiac GTO.R co-drivers Paul Edwards and Jan Magnussen earned the first class victory for the new GTO.R, holding off the No. 16 F1 Air BMW M3 of Justin Marks and Joey Hand by just 0.285 seconds.
After Edwards started fifth, Magnussen took over for the second half and was able to work his way through the field. It was Magnussen's second-straight Rolex Series victory at Watkins Glen International, as the Dane claimed an overall win alongside then-co-driver Didier Theys in the Sahlen's 200 last August.
"It was tight racing with the yellows, but everyone seemed to respect each other," Magnussen said. "Paul did a good job to recover from the flat tire and keep the car toward the front. It was good racing at the end with the BMW. We won the race on consistency and strategy, maybe next time we can win on speed."
"It's awesome," Edwards said. "The win here is a huge achievement for the team. We weren't the fastest car today. We were really consistent, and it just worked our way. Luckily this time we had the yellows at the end. We were looking iffy for the fuel, so it worked for us."

FIRST SOLSTICES SENT TO DEALERS!

By Richard Truett--Automotive News / August 08, 2005

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Pontiac Division began shipping 2006 Pontiac Solstice roadsters to dealerships last week. Dealers can sell the car as soon as it arrives, said Mark Reuss, General Motors executive director of vehicle architecture. There is a waiting list of 10,000 customers who want to buy the Solstice, he said. Production of the Saturn Sky roadster, which shares its chassis with the Solstice, will begin this summer, Reuss said. Reuss said that there was no delay in shipping the Solstice to dealers. He said media reports that shipments would be delayed were wrong. In the spring, industry sources said fit problems were delaying the Solstice production startup at GM's Wilmington, Del., plant. Several Pontiac dealers said at the time they were not promising delivery to customers until fall. Reuss said there have been no last-minute glitches with the Solstice. GM will offer a detachable hardtop for the Solstice later this year. The hardtop can be purchased in dealerships' parts departments. Reuss said other variations of the Solstice are being considered for production. They include a high-performance model with a turbocharged engine and a lightweight coupe with a fixed roof to appeal to club racers.

2008 GTO!

By BOB GRITZINGER--AUTOWEEK
Published Date: 8/8/05

What you see in this illustration is a fairly close rendition of what we can expect when the next-generation Pontiac GTO hits the market in 2008. We say “fairly close” because we’ve seen the super-secret spy photos upon which it is based, and the actual shots show a sleeker, wider, lower and, frankly, far more appealing car.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is General Motors’ Aussie division Holden reportedly may not start cranking out these future Goats until 2008, a full two years after production ceases on the 2006 Holden Monaro-based GTO. One more tidbit: It’s not shown here, but we hear GM is considering doing this GTO as a four-door coupe, using rear-hinged rear-access doors without visible handles.

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK!

By Lomberto Perez, President

AUTOCITY BUICK-PONTIAC-GMC
OF PINECREST wants to welcome
you to our family. We are the new
owners of what used to be Hallett
Pontiac-GMC. Yes, I said “family,”
because that is how we feel our relationship
with you will be. That relationship
can be summarized in three
words: THE AUTOCITY TOUCH! If
you have not experienced THE
AUTOCITY TOUCH yet, we invite
you to come by so that you can find
out about it first-hand.
AUTOCITY OF PINECREST
has been in existence just one year.We
have embarked on an ambitious project
to revamp the facilities and make
it easier for you to do business with
us. Here are some of the improvements
that we have put in place:
• The dealership now sells and services
Buicks. It is the first time that this
location has had the Buick franchise
since its inception over 30 years ago.
• The building has been freshly painted,
new signs have been installed, and
beautiful landscape surrounds the
entrance and the front of the showroom.
• The Service Advisors will now take
care of you sitting down in an air-conditioned
office, instead of standing in
the middle of the driveway on a hot
and muggy day.
• The lifts in the Service Department,
which were old and not friendly to
the environment, have all been
replaced with brand-new aboveground
lifts.
• The new vehicle inventory has doubled
and we now have a wider variety
of models, colors and equipment.
• The used vehicle inventory has been
tripled and we now carry makes other
than GM, such as Jaguar, Mercedes,
Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan
and Honda.
• Our Collision Center now has stateof-
the art equipment including a
brand new frame machine and a diagnostics
computer to make sure all the
work is performed to the strictest tolerances.
• Our Parts Department now carries a
wide array of GM accessories such as
chrome wheels, bed liners, running
boards and much more.
We are also very determined
to have AUTOCITY OF PINECREST be
in the forefront of the Internet revolution.
Thus, you will have at your disposal
the following tools that will
make it easier for you to purchase and
service your vehicle at AUTOCITY
OF PINECREST:
• Our website, http://Autocity4u.com,
will allow you to see our entire new
and used inventory, get a free trade
appraisal, and even complete a credit
application online.
• Our blog (weblog), online at
http://Autocity4u.blogspot.com, will
keep you informed of happenings in
the automotive industry. If you log on
once a day, you will almost always find
new information about new models
or industry trends.
• Our Owner’s Circle(found under the
“Service” tab in our Autocity4u.com
website) will allow you to make a
Service reservation online, see your
vehicle’s past Service history, and
even check on the current status of
the vehicle while being serviced.
• With your e-mail address in our computer
system you will periodically
receive special discounts and offers
just for you.
As you can see, we are committed
to making your purchase and
service experience at AUTOCITY
BUICK-PONTIAC-GMC OF PINECREST
a COMPLETELY SATISFYING one.We
know that once you experience the
AUTOCITY TOUCH you’ll be an
AUTOCITY CUSTOMER FOR LIFE!

GM Plans Onslaught of Crossovers by 2009!

Date Posted 08-05-2005

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — General Motors confirmed Thursday it will launch at least eight more crossover — car/SUV "mixes" — vehicles by 2009.That goal, combined with the six crossovers the company has introduced already, will account for 20 percent of all GM vehicle sales in the U.S."Four years from now, we'll have 14 crossovers, accounting for 800,000 units annually, give or take, representing about one out of every five GM vehicles sold," John Smith, vice president of global product planning at GM, said at the Center for Automotive Research's annual conference here.As Inside Line reported in June, the expanded crossover lineup will include new large crossovers from Buick, GMC and Saturn, as well as smaller crossovers from Chevrolet and Pontiac. GM says it currently sells about 430,000 crossovers per year. Market-wide sales of the popular vehicles in the U.S. increased 15 percent to about 991,000 during the first half of 2005, compared with the same period in 2004.Smith added that GM has boosted its investment in product development to $8 billion from $7 billion a year ago in order to develop more exciting vehicles.What this means to you: Despite its commitment to crossover vehicles, GM will face increasingly stiff competition from the Japanese and crosstown rivals Ford and Chrysler.

EMPLOYE PRICING WIPES OUT INVENTORIES FOR MANY DEALERS!

Automotive News---August 2005

For many dealers, the Big 3's decision to extend employee-discount-for-all deals on 2005 models won't mean much. The reason? After the discounts set summer sales ablaze, there aren't many 2005 vehicles left. Chevrolet dealer Edgar McGraw normally has 120 vehicles from the outgoing model year on his Camden, Ala., lot in early August. This year he has fewer than 20, he says. General Motors' Employee Discount for Everyone promotion in June and July drained his new-car inventory to a 10-year low, McGraw says. That means McGraw isn't expecting the promotion, extended for a third month, to help August sales. "We'll have some dead time, but we'll just have to move the used cars," he says. 'Almost out' Dealers say small stores are hurting the most. Steve Lindsey, sales manager at Superior Chevrolet in Merriam, Kan., says his store has adequate inventory. But, he says, "The smaller dealers are done. They're barbecued from it." Said Henry Oliveros, a salesman at Bredemann Chevrolet in Park Ridge, Ill.,"We have a few, but it's almost out. We have about three or four Cobalts, about eight of the Malibu and six of the Impala, five of the Suburban and Tahoe, and about eight Aveos and a few trucks. But it's not just me, everyone else in town is having a tough time."

ENVOY DENALI: ESCALADE JR.?

by Casey Williams - www.car-data.com --June 2005

Until the Cadillac SRX was knitted out of a silk-lined rear-drive sport sedan platform, American luxury SUVs had been solely derived from truck carcasses. Lincoln’s Aviator evolved from the Ford Explorer, the Lincoln Navigator was an Expedition with a big chrome grille, and even Cadillac’s own hip hoppin’ Escalade came from the Chevrolet Tahoe. But, for the SRX, Cadillac chose the world-beating STS/CTS architecture, leaving the truck-based GMC Envoy to itself. Perhaps suffering from “Caddy envy,” the Denali was born.Actually, it was the other way around. The first-generation Cadillac Escalade was nothing more than a GMC Yukon Denali with Cadillac badges and a wood steering wheel. The branding scheme never would have worked if the Denali hadn’t been so good in the first place. Since Cadillac skipped over the Envoy and launched the SRX instead, GMC was left to develop the General’s mid-size truck-based SUV for itself. What could have been the Escalade’s spiritual little brother is instead GMC’s mid-size flagship. Little brother or not, the Denali is good enough to stand on its own.Said Jim Bunnell, Pontiac-GMC general manager, “The Denali name has become synonymous with style, comfort and performance and the Envoy Denali and Envoy XL Denali bring those desirable attributes to the midsize utility segment. And they provide the capability you expect from a GMC.”GMC’s Denali trademark chrome honeycomb grille, 17” polished aluminum wheels, integrated body color running boards, and new facias visually lower the vehicle and flash with American luxury touches. Details like air deflector extensions around the trailer hitch area and a rubber mat on the rear bumper are as beautiful as they are functional.Exterior trim distinguishes the Denali models from regular Envoys, but interior upgrades are what put the Escalade in GMC. Sweet-smelling Nuance leather seats greet the senses as soon as doors are opened and continue to delight passengers with a soft surface that is comfortable on very long trips. Tight stitching adds a handcrafted look and keeps the seams from pulling apart over time. Woodgrain and nickel trim are both luxurious and sporting.Yet, the wood rimmed steering wheel is what convinces drivers they are in something much more elegant than the typical hard-working GMC truck. Other interior luxuries include in-dash navigation, XM Satellite Radio, a Bose 6-disc audio system with rear controls, dual zone automatic climate control, electric adjustable pedals, and a power glass sunroof. Typical in General Motors trucks, the air-conditioning will freeze you on 95-degree days and the wide seats will keep you comfortable even during 1,000-mile days.For those long days, I think I finally found my favorite Envoy powertrain/chassis combination. Our test vehicle arrived in short-wheelbase configuration with two rows of seats (three rows come standard on XL models), rear-wheel drive (all-wheel-drive is optional), and a 5.3-litre V8 engine. Rated at 290 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque, the engine packs plenty of punch to move the truck down the highway. Without the added weight of all-wheel-drive or an extended wheelbase, the Envoy feels lighter, more agile in corners, and simply accelerates with less effort. Electronic traction control keeps the rear wheels from spinning uncontrollably. Fuel economy ratings of 16/20 mpg city/highway are a penalty of full-framed luxury trucks.Having driven Escalades many times and loving them all, I was surprised at how much I liked the Envoy Denali. The suspension is luxuriously smooth, the exterior is upscale in appearance, and the interior is absolutely loaded with a wood steering wheel, Nuance leather, and a full load of electronics. Then, there’s the super smooth V8 engine. The GMC Envoy Denali is officially my favorite mid-size GM SUV and is so good that it could have been a Cadillac. With a price of $40,225, GMC Escalade, Jr. competes against the Volvo XC90, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes ML500, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Acura MDX.

REVIEW OF 2006 G6 COUPE!

by Trevor Hofmann , Canadian Auto Press

There just aren't as many personal coupes on the market as there used to be, which makes the introduction of an entirely new one, the Pontiac G6, a bit of a celebration.
No doubt General Motors is celebrating the success its Pontiac division is enjoying with the sedan that goes by the same alphanumeric designation even more. It's a strong entry into an almost overwhelmingly challenging midsize market segment, and with its success GM is learning first hand that good products bring positive cash flow.
What makes it so much better than the Grand Am it replaces? Absolutely everything! From styling to interior fit, finish and materials quality, interior room to driving dynamics, the new G6 is a solid step up from the old model.
The new G6 coupe will also go far in changing perceptions new car buyers have about domestic cars. Will it pull Accord Coupe and Toyota Camry Solara owners away from their imports? Possibly some will jump ship and buy into GM's sportiest brand, but more realistically and of equal importance the new G6, in all of its configurations, will do much to slow the exodus of previously loyal customers out of the General's fold.
There will be three versions of the G6 when the latest two finally arrive on the scene. When will that occur? The coupe will show up in dealerships later this month and the convertible will come to market next January. The retractable hardtop (read convertible with a collapsible metal roof) will be a first for the G6's entry-level midsize segment.

PONTIAC SOLSTICE IS ALMOST HERE!

By Bob Lutz--GM Vice Chairman

As I write this, I'm on an airplane, returning from Portland, Oregon, where a group of leading auto journalists got their first opportunity to drive, or should I say, wring out the Pontiac Solstice on some of the world's nicest mountain roads, including a closed-course, private mountain pass put in by the legendary Sam Hill (origin of the question "Where in the Sam Hill....?", testifying to the high-altitude remoteness of his chosen luxury residence).
Compared to earlier pre-production examples, these cars had the latest air induction system for vastly reduced induction noise, and a freer (but still legal) exhaust system, which produces a very pleasant sporting exhaust note and adds greatly to the character of the car.
While most professional journalist-evaluators hate the question, "So, what did you think?" (it is considered bad form for the host to ask this question, which puts the guest on the spot), in this case the reaction to the car was offered spontaneously: it was declared an overwhelmingly competent and desirable car by all, with special praise going to style, refinement, compliant ride, sharp steering, high grip, and neutral handling at outrageous cornering speeds, especially considering the almost-incredible price.
I do believe the car made the point we intended for it to make: the product development process at GM is back on track. We understand beauty, excellence, the best-in-class imperative, and value for money, and the organization has the will and the capability to deliver. I felt huge pride in the GM team that created this exceptional car, and optimism knowing it is but an early signal to the public, and a warning to our competitors, of more to come, as GM finally musters its enormous global talent pool and focuses it on winning products.
And, speaking of delivering, I am told that the First 1,000 Solstices are being built now in our Wilmington, Delaware, assembly plant and will be shipped the first week of August.

GM'S TOTAL VALUE PROMISE!

By Mark LaNeve Vice President GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing

While many of the business media and industry analysts were understandably impressed with the success of our GM Employee Discount for Everyone campaign, some suggested that it was just a new twist on the marketing approach we’ve been using since Keep America Rolling in late 2001. They warned that we might be eating into future sales and future profits by holding what amounted to a summer fire sale. However, we saw some very encouraging signs in America’s response to this promotion. And we think we have good reason to be pumped up about the launching of our 2006 product line. First of all, this program proved that customers like our products. That’s undeniable: we sold record numbers of trucks and sport utility vehicles, and our launch vehicles continued to be hot properties. Unprecedented numbers of GM cars and trucks moved into consumers’ garages in June and July, and a lot of those consumers were new to the GM family. OK, you say, if people like those products so much, why weren’t they flying out of the showrooms before June? Well, it’s obvious that the sales promotion made the difference. Customers liked the lower prices we offered, and they really liked the idea that “you pay what we pay.” It was a simple idea that really caught their attention, and, in fact, the attention of our competitors and lots of other retailers.

GM Promises Consumers Outstanding Value in Their Purchase!

GM Lowers Prices, Redesigns Vehicles, Improves Warranties or Adds Equipment to More Than 50 Models
DETROIT - With the introduction of its 2006 models, General Motors is fulfilling its promise to consumers to provide industry-leading value. As part of that commitment, GM is lowering prices, redesigning vehicles, improving warranties or adding standard equipment to more than 50 models.
This "Total Value Promise" is a cornerstone of GM's strategy, which began with mid-model-year price repositioning of select 2005 mid-size sport utility vehicles and the announcement that a year of OnStar service and StabiliTrak will be standard on most retail GM vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada by 2010.
"It's real simple, Americans love a great value and know it when they see it," said Mark LaNeve, GM vice president, North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "So for 2006, we've lowered prices, improved warranties and either redesigned or added great features - like OnStar and StabiliTrak - to nearly our entire lineup."
The Total Value Promise goes beyond just reducing sticker prices. It includes a number of steps that will improve the value that consumers realize when they purchase a GM car or truck. It starts with sticker prices that demonstrate clear value to consumers.
GM is repositioning prices on some vehicles for 30 of its 76 models, including some of its best-selling vehicles. The base price of the Saturn Ion.2 sedan, for example, was reduced $2,455, positioning it almost $1,335 below a base 2005 Honda Civic DX. The Pontiac G6 V6 sedan is priced $645 below the 2005 MSRP. GM also introduced the G6 1SV value leader at $17,990. For 2006, the base Chevrolet Malibu is $1,835 below the 2005 version, placing it about $2,600 below the 2005 Toyota Camry.
Additionally, each GM division is offering vehicles priced specifically to create very affordable alternatives for price sensitive customers. Details on these value leaders will be available on GM's web site, where many consumers begin their shopping process and make important decisions about which vehicles they will consider. Among GM launch vehicles, Pontiac Solstice priced at $19,995, Chevrolet HHR starting at $15,990 and HUMMER H3 starting at $29,500 will break through the crowded marketplace and attract new customers to GM's hottest products. Pontiac Solstice has limited availability.
The Total Value Promise also includes a number of vehicles with new standard features and enhanced warranties that add to the outstanding value of 2006 GM products. GM has made significant moves in 2006, including a 4 year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty on all 2006 HUMMER and Buick models. This will make those brands even more competitive in the luxury markets where they compete.
Standard equipment has been added to many 2006 GM models. For example, Buick has added as standard a Quiet Tuning package, a year of OnStar service, Rear Park Assist and Theft Deterrent system on Rendezvous, along with the 4 year/50,000 mile warranty, without raising the base price. This represents a $1,500 value to the consumer. GMC Canyon now has tilt wheel with cruise control standard on all models. Chevrolet Silverado's and GMC Sierra's uplevel Performance Edition Package is reduced by $500. XM Satellite Radio, including three months of service, is standard on Cadillac CTS, SRX, STS, Escalade and XLR, a $325 value. The new Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0T, which combines features of the former Linear and Arc into a single-entry-level model, includes a 2.0L 210-hp, 4-cylinder turbo engine, power driver's seat, automatic climate control and LCD-screen infotainment/audio head unit as standard equipment. The 2006 9-3 2.0T's base MSRP is $950 less than that of the 2005 9-3 Linear Sport Sedan.
The final point in the Total Value Promise is a more targeted approach to incentives and financing tools. Given the intensely competitive automotive market, incentives will continue to play a role in GM's marketing strategy, however, the focus will be on the vehicle and the value it offers to consumers. GM will continue to provide its dealers with the tools necessary to keep them competitive.
"All of us at GM hope that American consumers will shop and compare our cars and trucks against the competition," LaNeve said. "When we are on consumers' shopping lists, we like our chances. We are confident that with our brands you get more without paying more. That's our Total Value Promise."
General Motors Corp. , the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 317,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gm.com/.

Milka Duno Invited to Attend 3rd Annual "Women in the Winner's Circle" Event

2005.Winning female racer Milka Duno will
participate in the 3rd annual "Women in the Winner's Circle" luncheon in
Indianapolis this Thursday. August 4, 2005. The luncheon will be held from
11:00am to 2:00pm in the Schwitzer Student Center at the University of
Indianapolis.

Hosted by the Lyn St. James Foundation, the "Women in the Winner's Circle"
program was established in 2003 to celebrate the achievements of women in
motorsports and to help pave the way for the sports' future growth. The
foundation and its Driver Development Program provide leadership, vision,
resources and financial support in order to create an open environment for
women's growth in automotive fields.

This year's program features a reception, a silent auction and a luncheon
with over 30 female drivers, as well as women who work in technical fields
of motorsports. All net proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Lyn St.
James Foundation, a 501(C) 3 not-for-profit organization. St. James was the
first female driver to earn the Indianapolis 500 "Rookie of the Year" award.

She was also named as one of the Top 100 Women Athletes of the Century by
Sports Illustrated for Women.

"I'm honored to be invited to attend and participate," commented Duno.
"Women have made tremendous advances and have earned many achievements in
motorsports. This event serves to highlight these contributions and to
promote women in this sport and this industry. It is also an outstanding
forum to discuss and explore the challenges and opportunities that women
face in motorsports. I'm very excited and proud to be involved."

Duno competes with CITGO sponsorship and Pontiac power in the #2 CITGO
Pontiac Crawford Daytona Prototype in the 2005 Rolex Sports Car Series. She
is the first woman in history to race in the Rolex Series' fastest class -
the Daytona Prototype. In 2004, her very first year in the Rolex Series,
Milka earned two wins, one second-place finish and one third-place finish.
She also finished fifth in the Driver Point Standings - out of a field of 80

male drivers. When Milka won her first race of 2004 at the Grand Prix of
Miami she became the first woman in history to win overall a major
international sportscar race in North America.

Duno recently scored her 3rd Rolex Sports Car Series win at Le Circuit
Mont-Tremblant in Canada and a top-five finish at the Brumos Porsche 250 at
Daytona International Speedway. She is currently 7th in the Driver Point
Standings in the series.
The luncheon is open to the public and a limited number of tickets may still

be available. Information on how to purchase tickets is available by calling

(317) 920-2251.

THE AUTOCITY TOUCH AT WORK!

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE AUTOCITY TOUCH AT WORK....GIL,
GREAT JOB!

LP

Name: Paul Espeseth
Comments:
Mr. Perez, just a quick note to acknowledge Gil Reyes for going the extra
mile for a customer who is also a real car guy. I am certain that you are
aware that because of Pontiac's incredibly stupid design of the front plate
bracket on the G.P., mounting it to the car causes permanent damage. I have
already complained to Pontiac about a design that defaces a brand new car.
It is unnecessary and unconscionable. Gil and Veda in the body shop made it
right. I appreciate his doing the right thing, but what is most appreciate
is the manner in which he did it. When I spoke to him about it, with no
hesitation whatsoever he stated, "We are not satisfied until you are
satisfied." I tip my hat to Gil, please convey to him my thanks.

JULY,A RECORD MONTH FOR GM.....EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT TO CONTINUE!

DETROIT - General Motors dealers in the U.S. sold 530,027 new cars and trucks in July, up 20 percent compared to year-ago sales and GM's best July sales since 1979. Truck deliveries (360,655) increased 34.5 percent, establishing a new record for July and posting the second-best-ever sales month, outpaced only by June 2005 industry-record truck deliveries. Deliveries of sport utility vehicles established an all-time industry sales record, with a 22 percent increase over year-ago levels.
Car sales (169,372) declined 3 percent, due to significantly reduced fleet sales. Retail car sales were up over 9 percent, led by strong retail sales of new vehicles, including Cadillac STS, Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G6 and Buick LaCrosse. Every GM division posted sales increases for the month.
"Over one million Americans drove off in a new GM car or truck in the past two months," said Mark LaNeve, GM vice president, North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "It's proof that an excellent vehicle, offered at an easily understood, fair price is compelling to consumers. Sales results for June and July demonstrate that once they experience our products, more and more Americans come to appreciate the high quality, tremendous value and benefits of owning a GM car or truck."
GM continued its truck sales leadership, led by an all-time sales record for utilities and the continuing surge of full-size pickup sales. Deliveries of Chevrolet full-size pickups (Silverado and Avalanche) increased 52 percent. Chevrolet Silverado (up 55 percent) and GMC Sierra (up 64 percent) each achieved second-best-ever sales months, surpassed only by June 2005 sales. Record sport utility sales were led by a 16 percent increase in large utility deliveries and small utility sales (Chevrolet Equinox and Saturn Vue), which improved 105 percent.
Retail car sales continue to gain momentum, paced by ongoing strong sales performance of several new vehicles. Total sales of GM's entry level cars were up 19 percent, with Chevrolet Cobalt achieving its best-ever sales. Luxury car sales rose 6 percent compared to year-ago levels, with sales increases by Cadillac CTS (up 25 percent) and XLR (up 37 percent), Chevrolet SSR (up 43 percent), Saab 9-2X and 9-3 (54 percent). Cadillac STS had its best sales since launch, beating the previous high mark set last month.
Cadillac sales were up 10 percent. A significant reduction in fleet sales was offset by strong retail sales, which were up 30 percent. Total car deliveries were up 11 percent, paced by record STS and CTS deliveries. CTS has set sales records in five of the last seven months. Escalade ESV and EXT both posted sales improvements in July. ESV was up 35 percent and EXT sales increased 16 percent.
Chevrolet posted its strongest July since 1978 as sales increased 18 percent, led by record truck sales, which were up 35 percent. This was the first time since March 1979 that Chevrolet posted consecutive months with more than 300,000 sales. In the full-size truck segment, Silverado was up 55 percent and Avalanche sales improved 28 percent. Among Chevrolet's newest trucks, Colorado continued its strong sales results, with a 34 percent increase, and Equinox had its best-ever sales with nearly twice the number of deliveries achieved last year. Aveo sales were up 57 percent.
GMC sales set a new July record, up 33 percent compared to record sales last year. GMC has strong sales across its portfolio, with gains by Sierra (up 64 percent), Canyon (up 68 percent), Yukon (up 28 percent) and Envoy (up 7 percent).
Pontiac deliveries in July were up 9 percent, led by solid sales of the G6 and Vibe. Vibe set an all-time sales record, with deliveries up 36 percent.
Buick also posted strong sales in July, up 20 percent. LaCrosse sales were 79 percent higher than year-ago combined Century and Regal deliveries. LaCrosse has set month-over-month sales increases for seven of eight months since its launch.
The all-new HUMMER H3 continued its strong start with 4,664 sales in July, a 21 percent increase over June sales. This is noteworthy given that the H3 was not included in the GM Employee Discount for Everyone program. HUMMER easily surpassed its best-ever July sales with 7,476 deliveries, a 210 percent improvement compared to last year. H2 deliveries were 16 percent higher than year-ago levels.
Saturn had its best July since 2003, with sales improving 11 percent. Vue set a new July sales record with deliveries up 39.5 percent.
Saab had record July sales, with deliveries improving 94 percent and falling less than 200 units short of its best-ever sales results. 9-3 deliveries improved 54 percent, and 9-2X achieved its second-best sales month. Production of the 9-7X continues to ramp-up with 685 deliveries recorded in July.
GM also announced the continuation of its GM Employee Discount for Everyone program. The program will run through September 6, 2005. It includes all available 2005 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, HUMMER and Pontiac-GMC cars and light-duty trucks except for Chevrolet Corvette, HUMMER H1 and Pontiac GTO.
"GM's Employee Discount program will continue as a 2005 model clearance program," LaNeve said. "It is simply the most consistent transition to our Total Value Promise and is consistent with our desire to offer simple and compelling prices for all our products. The fact that our Employee Discount program was so widely copied by our competition, and even by other industries, is testimony to its effectiveness."
Certified Used Vehicles
July sales for all certified GM brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Used Cars from Saturn and Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, established a new monthly sales record for the certified category with sales of 50,366 units, up 8 percent from last July. This marks the first time any manufacturer has surpassed 50,000 certified used sales in a month. Total year-to-date certified GM sales are 309,719 units, up 1 percent from the same period last year.