After closing 2005 with brisker sales than the rest of the mid-size car segment, the Pontiac G6 family of vehicles is expected to continue its growth in 2006 with a game-changing new entry - a G6 retractable hardtop convertible. With GM’s recently announced pricing strategies, the new G6 convertible will be offered at a price point far below vehicles with comparable features.

The addition of a coupe and two new engine options allowed the G6 to move from the 25th to the 11th best selling car in North America in 2005. Fourth quarter G6 sales were up 137 percent compared to 2004.

“The growth of the G6 continues to buck industry trends for mid-size cars and sets the pace for Pontiac as our top-selling vehicle,” says Mark-Hans Richer, Pontiac marketing director. “With overall mid-size car sales down in the second half of 2005, the G6 actually increased sales and we expect to continue that trend into 2006.”

And those who purchased a G6 seem very satisfied with their car. In three separate surveys of new car owners, the G6 came out on top in its segment. Following up on G6’s Strategic Vision “Total Quality Award,” the company’s latest survey gave G6 the highest “Customer Delight” score in the mid-size car segment, besting many top selling imports. A similar result was also reached by J.D. Power and Associates, which awarded the G6 their Most Appealing Entry Mid-Size Car honour in the 2005 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) study.

This (northern) spring, the G6 family will be complete with the addition of the G6 retractable hardtop convertible, the first vehicle to offer this feature in the mid-size car segment.

“The G6 has been a great cornerstone of the entire Pontiac renaissance, blending modern styling and crisp performance with a great value proposition,” said Richer. “The G6 convertible takes that winning formula and adds the all-season versatility and security of a retractable hardtop, a feature never before available in this price range.”

Extra Statesman Luxury Now Standard
20th January, 2006
Statesman buyers receive even more luxury features as standard with the WL series 2006 Statesman International, on sale from this month ..... more

Renault's Limited Edition Mégane Coupe-Cabriolet
20th January, 2006
Renault has released a limited edition version of the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet LX packed with over $1,500 of additional features ..... more

Suzuki Grand Vitara Catches A Wave
20th January, 2006
Suzuki unveiled its Suzuki Wave concept, a specially modified version of the new Suzuki Grand Vitara at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show ..... more

Land Rover G4 Challenge UK Finalists
20th January, 2006
Counting down to one of the world's toughest driving and multi-sport adventure challenges, Scotsman and 2003 Land Rover G4 Challenge veteran, Tim Pickering, last week visited the Land Rover Experience in Dunkeld, Perthshire to administer some gruelling training on the three 2006 UK finalists ..... more

Dodge Re-introduces Performance Nameplate
20th January, 2006
A pair of names familiar to many automotive enthusiasts are again part of the Dodge performance line-up with the return of the Super Bee nameplate for the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 and the "TorRed" exterior colour for the 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T ..... more

Audi Unveils Dazzling Array of Firsts in Detroit
19th January, 2006
Audi treated visitors to the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with its presentation of three world firsts ..... more

Europe's Mitsubishi Colt CZC coupé-cabriolet
19th January, 2006
Two years after the launch of the Colt hatchback and a year after the introduction of the Colt coupé, Mitsubishi will unveil the third variant of the European Colt family at the 76th Geneva Motor Show: the sporty Colt CZC coupé-cabriolet ..... more

Daewoo's New AWD To Debut At Geneva Motor Show
18th January, 2006
GM has issued the first details of its all-new compact SUV, the Chevrolet Captiva, which makes its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March ..... more

Ford Ready For WRC
18th January, 2006
The opening of the FIA World Rally Championship season on the Rallye Monte Carlo (19th - 22nd January) heralds a new era for Ford ..... more

Mazda to Add Second Vehicle Test Track in Japan
18th January, 2006
In early March 2006, Mazda Motor Corporation will establish its second vehicle test track in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, to complement its Miyoshi Proving Ground facility ..... more

More Go For Holden's Performance Heroes
17th January, 2006
The most powerful standard engine ever offered by Holden will be installed in all 2006 model year Holden V8 vehicles. A new 6.0-litre alloy engine will deliver 260kW ..... more

America's new Chrysler Aspen
17th January, 2006
“The all-new 2007 Chrysler Aspen offers customers guilt-free indulgence,” said a wishful thinking Jeff Bell, Vice President – Chrysler, Chrysler Group ..... more

25 new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Cars Arrive
16th January, 2006
Carrera Cup racing in Australia will shoot for a world record for the most number of brand new race cars of the same type ever to line up on a starting grid when 25 of the new 997-based Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars take to the track in Adelaide in March ..... more

Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Sixth Successive Dakar Rally Win
16th January, 2006
Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team driver Luc Alphand and co-driver Gilles Picard clinched victory in the 28th Dakar Rally yesterday (Sunday). The feat marked a record-breaking 11th win for the Japanese automotive manufacturer ..... more

Dodge Challenger Concept Flexes Some Muscle
15th January, 2006
In developing the new Dodge Challenger concept car the designers at Chrysler Group’s West Coast Pacifica Studio knew they had a rich heritage to draw upon ..... more

Ford Transit Gets Better
14th January, 2006
The most successful commercial vehicle range in Europe – the Ford Transit – enters a new era in its long and successful life, with a series of extensive improvements to keep it modern and relevant ..... more

Peugeot 207 – The Next Generation
13th January, 2006
Peugeot announces the Peugeot 207, the newest member of the legendary 2 series dynasty. When the Peugeot 206 replaced the legendary Peugeot 205, nobody could have known what a success it was going to be. With over 5.4 million Peugeot 206s produced, it has become the best selling Peugeot ever ..... more

Ford Shelby GT500: Most Powerful Mustang Ever
13th January, 2006
After 40 years, racing legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Mustang are back together with the introduction of America's 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 ..... more

2005: 10th Successive Record Year for Audi
13th January, 2006
Audi was able to set a new record for vehicle sales in 2005 for the tenth year in succession: 829,100 vehicles (2004: 779,441)* were handed over to customers worldwide ..... more

Chevrolet Camaro Concept Car
13th January, 2006
Combining dramatic design and exciting performance, the Chevrolet Camaro Concept recaptures the spirit of one of the most popular sport coupes of all time and redefines the Camaro for new generations of fans ..... more

Passat "Individual" – Enhanced aesthetics edition
12th January, 2006
Europe's Volkswagen Passat "Individual" combines outstanding design and an exclusive equipment specification. From the outside the special edition already catches the eye with luxury chrome trim and 18-inch alloy wheels ..... more

Mitsubishi Concept CT at NAIAS
12th January, 2006
Mitsubishi has unveiled, at the Detroit Motor Show, the Concept-CT, a groundbreaking concept for a hybrid-powered small car that may influence development of future “Driven to Thrill” Mitsubishi models ..... more

Dodge Caliber For Global Markets
12th January, 2006
Dodge has revealed a production version of the Dodge Caliber at the Detroit Motor Show, the vehicle that will launch the brand in Australia in the third quarter of 2006 ..... more

Audi Hits All-Time Record in Australia
12th January, 2006
Audi has recorded an impressive 30 percent growth in sales during 2005, selling more than 4,800 units in Australia ..... more

Chrysler Imperial Concept
11th January, 2006
Attractive or unattractive? You decide! But the Editor asserts this is one of the most unattractive cars at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show ..... more

Jeep Reveals Two New Vehicles For Australia
11th January, 2006
Jeep has unveiled two brand new production cars at the Detroit Motor Show aimed at younger customers, the Jeep Compass and Jeep Wrangler – and both will be coming to Australia within the next 18 months ..... more

Morgan 4-seater To Return
11th January, 2006
The Morgan 4-seater is coming back! The new model is due to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2006. The new and significantly revised 4-seater ..... more

Audi Reveals New Roadjet Concept
10th January, 2006
Audi has taken the wraps off a brand new study car, called the Audi Roadjet Concept, at the North American International Automobile Show in Detroit ..... more

Mazda Kabura Concept Car
10th January, 2006
At this year’s Detroit Motor Show, Mazda is presenting Kabura, a compact sports coupe, to explore several fresh ideas that could appear in future production models ..... more

Aston Martin Rapide Concept Car
10th January, 2006
The Aston Martin Rapide concept is a four-door, high performance coupé of remarkable grace and poise. Based on Aston Martin's unique VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture, the Rapide combines the company's commitment to power, beauty and soul with space and practicality for every eventuality ..... more

A Decade Of Holden Commodore Leadership
9th January, 2006
Holden has finished 2005 with Australia’s best selling car for the 10th consecutive year, the most popular passenger car range and most popular light truck range ..... more

Porsche Announces Cayenne Turbo S
9th January, 2006
The second most powerful Porsche ever homologated for road use has been announced ..... more

Volkswagen GX3 Concept - Car Or Bike?
8th January, 2006
In a world premiere at the Los Angeles Motor Show, Volkswagen presented the GX3 – a completely new type of motorcycle. The GX3 was conceived by the Moonraker team and VW’s Design Centre in California, exclusively with the U.S. in mind ..... more

20 Years Of Saab Convertibles
8th January, 2006
Saab is raising the roof, celebrating two decades of convertible sales success by introducing an eye-catching 20th anniversary model, the Saab 9-3 Convertible Cerulean edition ..... more

Volkswagen 'Minivan' For America
8th January, 2006
DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group and Volkswagen will develop and produce a new van for the North American market ..... more

Lamborghini Miura Concept For Detroit
6th January, 2006
The House of the Raging Bull has brought back a legendary historical name with the introduction of its Lamborghini Miura Concept car, which will be shown at the Detroit Motor Show this month ..... more

New Car Sales Record For 2005
5th January, 2006
Australians bought more cars and trucks in 2005 than ever before to set an all-time annual motor vehicle sales record of 988,269 ..... more

Hummer: Here In A Year
1st January, 2006
The H3 is about a year away from its Australian release. The 5-cylinder SUV will provide Holden with another 4WD model ..... more