Pontiac Sunfire
| Pontiac Sunfire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Pontiac |
| Also called | Pontiac Sunfire GT |
| Production | 1995–2005 |
| Assembly | Lordstown, Ohio Ramos Arizpe, Mexico Lansing, Michigan |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | J-body |
| Related | Chevrolet Cavalier |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 L 2200 I4 2.2 L Ecotec I4 2.3 L Quad-4 I4 2.4 L LD9 I4 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 104.1 in |
| Length | 1995-97 Sedan & 2000-05 Coupe: 182 in 1998-99 Sedan: 181.7 in 1995-99 Coupe & Convertible: 181.9 in 2000-02 Sedan: 181.8 in 2003-05 Sedan: 183.2 in |
| Width | Convertible & 1995-97 Coupe: 67.4 in 1995-97 Sedan: 67.3 in 1998-2005 Coupe & Convertible: 68.4 in Sedan: 67.9 in |
| Height | 1998-2005 Coupe: 53 in 1998-2005 Sedan: 54.7 in 1998-2005 Convertible: 53.7 in 1995-97 Coupe: 53.2 in 1995-97 Sedan: 54.8 in 1995-97 Convertible: 51.9 in |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Pontiac Sunbird |
| Successor | Pontiac G5 |
The Pontiac Sunfire was introduced in the 1995 model year as the compact car to replace the Sunbird. Not only was the name changed, but dramatic styling changes were included as well. The new styling was shared with the Chevrolet Cavalier, though Chevrolet did not change the Cavalier name. Also during this time, the J platform was updated structurally to meet more stringent safety standards. The Sunfire could be purchased as a coupe or a convertible. However, the convertible models were not sold after the year 2000, when Pontiac introduced a refreshed Sunfire. The Sunfire name was recycled from the Canada-only Asüna Sunfire sold only in 1993.
The Sunfire was available in standard and GT trim. The GT package was 2-door only and included a sporty front bumper, fog lights, twin exhausts, 16-inch alloy wheels and the more powerful LD9 engine. In the US, only the coupe was available from 2003 to 2005. The sedan continued to be sold in Canada until the end of the overall production run.
Sunfires were built in Lordstown, Ohio (until 2004, before retooling to build the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 models) and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. The convertible models were built in Lansing, Michigan. Production of the Sunfire ended in June 2005. Over 36,000 Sunfires were sold in the US and 33,724 units were sold in Canada in 2004, each for approximately US$11,500. GM replaced the Sunfire with the G5 for 2007. Although Pontiac's rebadged Cobalt arrived in 2005, it was known as the G4 in Mexico and Pursuit in Canada, although it was renamed G5 Pursuit with the 2006 model year.
Engines
- 1995 - 2.3 L (138 in³) Quad-4 I4, 150 hp (116 kW) and 150 ft·lbf (203 N·m)
- 1995–2002 - 2.2 L (134 in³) 2200 I4, 115 hp (86 kW) and 130 ft·lbf (176 N·m)
- 1996–2002 - 2.4 L (146 in³) LD9 I4, 150 hp (116 kW) and 155 ft·lbf (210 N·m)
- 2002–2005 - 2.2 L (134 in³) Ecotec I4, 140 hp (104 kW) and 150 ft·lbf (203 N·m)
The base model had the 2.2 L engine from 1995 until 2002. The sporty GT model had a much more powerful 2.3 L Quad 4 engine in 1995, which was replaced by the 2.4 L Twin Cam engine, which was just an updated Quad 4, in 1996. In 2003, both the 2.2 L and the 2.4 L engines were replaced by the new 2.2 L Ecotec. The Ecotec was also available as an option in late 2002.
Images
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1995-1999 Sunfire convertible -
2001 Sunfire GT coupe -
2000-2002 Sunfire sedan -
2003-2005 Sunfire coupe
A division of General Motors, 1926–2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Production models (by year of introduction) |
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In pop culture
In the video game Gran Turismo 4, the concept model for the 2002 Sunfire GXP was included as a prize car for completion of License A in a Bronze rating.