Pontiac Sunfire

Infobox Automobile
name = Pontiac Sunfire
manufacturer = Pontiac
parent_company = General Motors
production = 1995–2005
class = Compact
layout = FF layout
platform = J-body
body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
related = Chevrolet Cavalier
predecessor = Pontiac Sunbird
Asuna Sunfire
successor = Pontiac G5
fuel_capacity = Convert|14.3|usgal|L impgal|1|abbr=on
engine = Auto cc|2189 "2200" I4
Auto cc|2196 "Ecotec" I4
2.3 L "Twin Cam" I4
2.4 L "LD9" I4
transmission = 5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
wheelbase = Auto in|104.1|0


assembly = Lansing, Michigan (convertible only)
Lordstown, Ohio
Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
length = 1995-97 Sedan & 2000-05 Coupe: Auto in|182|0
1998-99 Sedan: Auto in|181.7|0
1995-99 Coupe & Convertible: Auto in|181.9|0
2000-02 Sedan: Auto in|181.8|0
2003-05 Sedan: Auto in|183.2|0
width = Convertible & 1995-97 Coupe: Auto in|67.4|0
1995-97 Sedan: Auto in|67.3|0
1998-2005 Coupe & Convertible: Auto in|68.4|0
Sedan: Auto in|67.9|0
height = 1998-2005 Coupe: Auto in|53|0
1998-2005 Sedan: Auto in|54.7|0
1998-2005 Convertible: Auto in|53.7|0
1995-97 Coupe: Auto in|53.2|0
1995-97 Sedan: Auto in|54.8|0
1995-97 Convertible: Auto in|51.9|0

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 General Motors 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, and the Asuna version would also be considered as the predecessor to the Pontiac version.

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 and Mexico 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 Pursuit/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 - Auto Lrev|138 "Twin Cam" I4, 150 hp (116 kW) and Auto lbft|150
* 1995-1997 - Auto Lrev|134 "2200" I4, Convert|120|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and Auto lbft|130
* 1998–2002 - Auto Lrev|134 "2200" I4, Convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and Auto lbft|135
* 1996–2002 - Auto Lrev|146 "LD9" I4, Convert|150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and Auto lbft|155
* 2002–2005 - Auto Lrev|134 "Ecotec" I4, Convert|140|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and Auto lbft|150

The base model had the 2.2 L engine from 1995 until 2002. The sporty GT model had a much more powerful optional 2.3 L Quad 4 engine in 1995, which was replaced by the optional 2.4 L Twin Cam engine, which was just an updated Quad 4, in 1996. The 2.3 and 2.4 liter engines were optional in the base 2 door and 4 door base models. 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. A supercharger kit, made of parts mostly from the Chevrolet Cobalt SS was made available by GM in 2004 for 2003-2005 model cars.

Advertising

Some advertisements for the vehicle contained the Jimi Hendrix song "Fire".

External links

* [http://www.j-body.org/ The J-body Organization]