| Manufacturer | NUMMI |
|---|---|
| Also called | Toyota Matrix Toyota Voltz |
| Production | 2002–August 2009 |
| Model years | 2003–2010 |
| Assembly | Fremont, California, United States |
| Successor | None; brand defunct |
| Class | Compact |
| Body style | 4-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 in (2,601 mm) |
| Related | Toyota Corolla Toyota Celica Toyota Auris |
The Pontiac Vibe is a compact hatchback car that was produced in Fremont, California, in the United States by NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc), a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, and marketed under General Motors' Pontiac brand. The Toyota Voltz was an identical twin to the Vibe (with different badging and right-hand drive) that was sold in Japan for a short while before being dropped due to lack of popularity. It was a short and tall hatchback that was being marketed as a trendy, quasi-SUV (or Station Wagon) 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. The Vibe was the mechanical counterpart of the Toyota Matrix and was based on the Toyota Corolla's E-platform.
|
| Also called | Toyota Voltz |
|---|---|
| Model years | 2003–2008 |
| Body style | 4-door hatchback |
| Engine | 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4 132 hp 1.8 L 2ZZ-GE I4 164 hp |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Length | 171.3 in (4,351 mm) |
| Width | 69.9 in (1,775 mm) |
| Height | 60.6 in (1,539 mm) |
| Designer | John Mack |
The 2003-2006 Vibe was available in an economical base trim, an all-wheel drive mid-trim, or a "sporty" GT with more power. The 2007 model year only offered the base model.
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.
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.
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. The Vibe was one of the most economical, low-emission cars sold by GM.
The Vibe was made right-hand drive and exported to the Japanese market as the Toyota Voltz from 2002 to 2004.
| Production | 2008- August 2009 |
|---|---|
| Model years | 2009–2010 |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Engine | 1.8L 2ZR-FE 132 hp I4 2.4L 2AZ-FE 158 hp I4 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 5-speed automatic 4-speed automatic |
| 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) |
| Designer | Ron Aselton |
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 straight-4 engines (Toyota's 2.4L 2AZ-FE used on the Camry for the AWD and GT trims as well as optional on the base trim, and a new 1.8L 2ZR-FE standard on the base trim) are offered.[1]
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.
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.[2]
Cahokia, IL police have added the Pontiac Vibe to their fleet, as a way to "cut corners and reduce costs". [3]
On April 27, 2009, GM announced the discontinuation of Vibe production, as well as all other Pontiac models, by the end of 2010.[4] 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. [5]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.
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. [6] 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.[7][8]
On August 26, 2010, another recall has been 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.
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| Subcompact | Sunbird | T1000/1000 | LeMans | G3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | J2000/2000 Sunbird/Sunbird | Sunbird | Sunfire | G5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vibe | Vibe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phoenix | Grand Am | Grand Am | Grand Am | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | LeMans | Bonneville | G6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Am | 6000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Prix | Grand Prix | Grand Prix | Grand Prix | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Bonneville | Parisienne | Bonneville | Bonneville | Bonneville | G8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catalina | Safari | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size crossover | Aztek | Torrent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Trans Sport | Trans Sport/Montana | Montana SV6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Firebird | Firebird | Firebird | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Roadster | Solstice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||