GM FYI Blog

By Brian Riendeau
Pontiac Ad Manager, GMCanada

Want to know what General Motors of Canada has been up to recently? Two words: PontiacPulse. (Well, one word actually).

This brand new online community for Pontiac fanatics, by Pontiac fanatics is taking the Internet by storm and is definitely a first for Pontiac enthusiasts from around the world.

At PontiacPulse, you’ll find over 200 historical brochures to peruse and download at your leisure, as well as histories and specs from basically every Pontiac ever made.

The rest, well, is entirely up to you!

PontiacPulse is what you make of it. You can post pics and videos, create and join clubs and events, show off your wheels and comment on others. The canvas is yours and the community is ever growing.

Sounds cool doesn’t it?

So come join the elite community of Pontiac aficionados. Create a profile at PontiacPulse and I’ll see you there.

Will Stewart
Blog Editor

Enjoy September’s Flickr calendar. Download the large size over at Flickr.

General Motors sells the only vehicles in the world built in a facility with Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Soon, customers may be able to buy those vehicles in one of the nation’s first LEED-certified automotive dealerships: the LaFontaine Automotive Group’s new $15-million Buick-Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac dealership in Highland, Mich.

The 63,000-square-foot facility incorporates key principles of sustainable design that enable it to qualify for LEED certification under the Council’s Green Building Rating System. When the LaFontaine operation achieves the designation, it will be the first dealership in Michigan and among the first in the nation to do so.

See what makes the facility different in this video tour, as well as these photos over on Flickr.

-Alicia Dorset, blog editor

Pontiac Communications Manager Jim Hopson has been travelling around the country introducing the new Pontiac G8. Here are his thoughts on his recent encounters. - Nicole Burguess, blog editor

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time at various race tracks around the country driving the Pontiac G8 with members of the automotive media.

In addition to some kind words about Pontiac’s new performance sedan, the vast majority of the journalists think that GM is on the right path. Vehicles like the Chevy Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, and G8 are getting a lot of positive ink and are being favorably compared to Toyota, Honda, Lexus, and BMW products. Here are some of those articles:

Pontiac’s Return to Oz, Wall Street Journal

2008 Pontiac G8 Preview, Mother Proof

2008 Pontiac G8 V6, Velocity Automotive Journal

But, those high-level accolades are a two-edged sword. While, at least in the minds of some of our biggest critics, we are now producing cars truly worthy of consideration, the bar has been set higher than ever before. The fit of every material and part, powertrain, and interior bit of plastic is under a bigger magnifying glass. We’ve proven we can build world-class cars and now we’re expected to excel.

At no time in the past 20 years has the North American car market been this competitive, but I personally believe that we have the people and the products necessary to meet the challenge. Just like on the track, we’ve got look at where we want to be, not where we are, and steer toward that goal.

Tonight, students from the International Academy of Design & Technology will unveil clothing they designed based on GM cars and trucks during the annual Imagine Fashion show in Chicago. The students attended the Chicago Auto Show in February and based their designs on their impressions of five vehicles – the Hummer HX Concept, the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ, the Pontiac G8 GT, the Saturn Astra 3-Door and the Saab Turbo X. Winning designs will be chosen during tonight’s show and the winners will receive $500 cash prizes from GM.

We checked in with Ana Cantillano, a 2006 winner for her jacket based on the Cadillac Escalade front grill, to see how the event shaped her own design career. – Will Stewart, blog editor

By Ana Cantillano

It seems like yesterday that I was caught in a whirlwind of media frenzy after winning the 2006 GM Student Design Competition for the Cadillac Escalade. Constructing the outfit I designed was very challenging, but nonetheless super fun. The fully lined quilted jacket was created after the car’s bold textured chrome grille, while the fitted skinny pants borrowed elements from the sleek angles of the vehicle. This ensemble had a massive amount of details even for the most talented students out there. From an over-sized notched collar and an adjustable belt to hand embroidery and matching jewelry, this was for sure an ambitious project, but in the end, I have to say, it looked absolutely perfect!

The GM Award has opened several doors for me in the fashion industry because of the press it receives, and employers are always impressed to learn that I have been the recipient of such distinctive prize.

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A while back we posted a video of some Pontiac G8s to the GMblogs YouTube channel. Shortly thereafter we started to receive messages from one individual who was particularly excited about the G8. To make a long story short, this individual ended up buying a G8 and sent out the following message - Adam Denison, GM Social Media

Dear GM Blogs:

The G8’s have finally arrived and I picked up my fully loaded G8 GT a month ago, the day after arriving at my dealership.

I just wanted to let you know that the G8 is doing great, with no initial problems in the first 700 miles. Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing did a great job and build quality is excellent, one of the best cars I have had out the door at 700 miles. My past cars were both Japanese marks (including Acura and Lexus) and German marks, with plenty of problems that would have showed up by now, by far this is the best initial build quality car I have had. I also wanted to mention that this is my very first new domestic car purchase, congratulations to GM for a conquest buyer.

The car I just came out of was a BMW 530i sport package, which I held onto for an extra year just to get the G8 GT, and I am happy to report that I am really pleased with the GT and have no regrets with my decision.

I am getting lots of compliments and stares from people on the street, in parking lots, and at gas stations. It has received lots of comparisons to German cars (is that a new Audi, BMW, etc), and complements of what a great stance the car has. Cars on the roadway even slowdown to take a look and give a “thumbs up” of approval as they drive by.

Friends, family, and others on the street can’t believe it is a Pontiac (or GM for that matter) and most think it is European at first. The folks at Holden have done a great job along with those at Pontiac who have integrated the Commodore into the American market.

It looks like Pontiac and General Motors, have a real winner on their hands. Fit and finish on the car are great, body panel gaps are minimal and even.

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