Pontiac Vibe

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Pontiac Vibe

Manufacturer	NUMMI
Parent company	General Motors
Production	2003–present
Assembly	Fremont, California
Class	Compact
Body style	4-door hatchback
Engine	1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4 1.8 L 2ZZ-GE I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	102.4 in
Length	171.9 in
Width	69.9 in
Height	62.2 in
Related	Toyota Matrix Toyota Voltz Toyota Corolla
Similar	Dodge Caliber Mazda3 Subaru Impreza

The Pontiac Vibe is a car produced in Fremont, California, in the United States by NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc), a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. It is a short and tall hatchback that is being marketed as a trendy, quasi-SUV 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.

Toyota markets the similar vehicle in North America as the Toyota Matrix. Due to lack of capacity at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, the Matrix is produced at a Toyota plant in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

The car features a standard household-style 115 volt AC electrical outlet so that common electrical devices can be used inside the car without a separate inverter. The Pontiac Vibe features Air Conditioning as standard equipment, along with a roof rack, and numerous other items over its sister, the Matrix. Interior trim, materials and colors differ, as well.

The Vibe is available in an economical base model, a "sporty" GT trim with more power, or an all-wheel drive model.

Powertrains available for this car are a Toyota-built 1.8 L I4 16-valve engine producing 126 hp 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 for the GT (manual 6-speed only). The Vibe is currently the most fuel efficient vehicle sold by GM in North America.

There have been some minor changes between model years. The Vibe was first produced in 2002 and went on sale as a 2003 model. Horsepower ratings for the first three model years were slightly higher, with the GT up to 180 hp, the base model rated at 130 hp, and the all-wheel drive model rated at 126 hp. Engine power claims were decreased for 2006 as a result of Toyota's re-testing of its engines for the new SAE ratings standard. The 2007 model year no longer offers 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.

Pre-facelift Vibe GT

2006 Vibe

1 Toyota Voltz
2 Scale models
3 Future
4 External links

[edit] Toyota Voltz

Main article: Toyota Voltz

The Vibe was exported to the Japanese market (with minor badging changes) and sold as the Toyota Voltz from 2002 to 2004.

[edit] Scale models

Road Signature has manufactured two diecast models of the Vibe; a 1:18 scale version of the 2003 Vibe GTP show car and a 1/24 stock Vibe GT. In Mattel's Hot Wheels line, a Vibe is available in about 1/64 scale.