What is the Pontiac version of the Chevy Citation?
The Pontiac version of the Chevy Citation was the Pontiac Phoenix, a compact car produced by General Motors from 1980 to 1984. The Phoenix was essentially a rebadged and slightly modified version of the Chevrolet Citation, which was one of GM's first front-wheel-drive compact cars.
The Pontiac Phoenix
The Pontiac Phoenix was introduced in 1980 as a replacement for the Pontiac Ventura, which had been discontinued the previous year. Like the Citation, the Phoenix was available in a variety of body styles, including a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, and a four-door hatchback.
The Phoenix shared many of the same mechanical components as the Citation, including the engine, transmission, and suspension. However, Pontiac did make some styling changes to differentiate the Phoenix from its Chevrolet counterpart. These changes included a unique grille, taillights, and interior trim.
Differences from the Chevy Citation
While the Phoenix and Citation were very similar, there were a few key differences between the two models:
- Styling: The Phoenix had a more distinctive front-end design, with a more prominent grille and different headlight and taillight treatments.
- Performance: The Phoenix was available with a slightly more powerful engine option, a 2.8-liter V6, which was not offered on the Citation.
- Trim levels: The Phoenix was available in a wider range of trim levels, including a more upscale "Brougham" model, which offered additional luxury features.
Despite these differences, the Phoenix and Citation were essentially the same car, and both models were plagued by quality and reliability issues that were common to many of GM's early front-wheel-drive compact cars.
The Pontiac Phoenix's Legacy
The Pontiac Phoenix was not a particularly successful or well-regarded model, and it was discontinued in 1984 after just four years of production. The Phoenix's poor reputation, combined with the overall decline of the Pontiac brand in the 1980s, meant that it was largely forgotten by the time the brand was discontinued in 2010.
Today, the Pontiac Phoenix is primarily remembered as a badge-engineered version of the Chevy Citation, and as an example of the challenges that GM faced in developing and marketing its early front-wheel-drive compact cars.
What is a Pontiac Phoenix?
The Pontiac Phoenix was a compact car that was sold from 1977 to 1984 by Pontiac. There were two generations of the Phoenix, both based on popular Chevrolet models, and both using the GM X platform designation.
What was Pontiac's version of the Chevy Nomad?
Pontiac Safari
The Pontiac Safari is a line of station wagons that was produced by Pontiac from 1955 to 1989. Initially introduced as the Pontiac counterpart of the two-door Chevrolet Nomad, the division adopted the nameplate across its full-size wagon range in 1957.
What was the Pontiac version of the Vega called?
Astre
The Pontiac Division was given its own version of the Vega for the Canadian market, named Astre for the 1973 model year. U.S. Pontiac dealers finally had a subcompact to sell when the Astre made its U.S. debut for the 1975 model year. The Astre used the Vega 140 cu in (2.3-liter) inline-four engine through 1977.
What was Pontiac's version of the Chevelle?
Beaumont
The Chevelle was the basis for the Beaumont, a retrimmed model sold only in Canada by Pontiac dealers through 1969.
What was the Pontiac's version of the Nova?
Ventura
From 1971, the Ventura nameplate was used on Pontiac's version of the Chevrolet Nova until it was replaced by the front wheel drive Pontiac Phoenix.
What is the Pontiac's version of the Corvette?
Banshee
Banshee (XP-798)
Codenamed XP-798, the 1966 Pontiac Banshee was a concept car inspired by European grand tourers, which evolved as a 4-seater version of a Corvette competitor study for Pontiac codenamed XP-778.
What is a Pontiac Parisienne?
The Pontiac Parisienne is a full-size rear-wheel drive vehicle that was sold by Pontiac on the GM B platform in Canada from 1958 to 1986 and in the United States from 1983 to 1986. Right-hand drive models were locally assembled in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa until 1969.
What is a Pontiac Tempest?
The Tempest was introduced as an entry-level compact in October 1960 at the Paris Auto Show for the 1961 model year. Built on GM's first unibody chassis, its new Y-platform was shared with the Buick Special/Skylark and Oldsmobile F-85/Cutlass.
What is the Pontiac version of the Chevy Monza?
Pontiac Sunbird
The Pontiac Sunbird variant was introduced for the 1976 model year, initially offered only in the Monza Towne Coupe body with the 2+2 hatchback added for the 1977 model year.
What is the Oldsmobile version of the Chevy Vega?
Oldsmobile Starfire
Oldsmobile Starfire. The Oldsmobile Starfire is a subcompact four-passenger automobile introduced in September 1974, and produced for the 1975 through 1980 model years. The Olds Starfire is a rebadged Chevrolet Monza based on the Chevrolet Vega sharing its H platform.
