For Release: August 1, 2000

2001 Pontiac Sunfire: Serious Fun at an Affordable Price

DETROIT - The 2001 Pontiac Sunfire delivers serious fun while saving buyers serious coin. Its spirited performance, dynamic styling and numerous comfort and convenience features combine to create an unbeatably sporty, affordable combination for the budget-minded driver.

"With our wide array of standard and optional features, plus customer-pleasing packages like the ‘Sun & Sound' Package for the SE, Sunfire looks forward to another great year in 2001. Sunfire is Pontiac's lead brand among young buyers, as well as a segment leader in attracting buyers under age 35," said Sunfire Brand Manager Craig Bierley.

Model Lineup
Sunfire's 2001 model lineup gives buyers a choice of three well-equipped versions of fun: the SE sedan, SE coupe and GT coupe.

Hot Performance
Sunfire SE coupe and sedan provide plenty of off-the-line driving excitement with a standard 2.2-liter overhead-valve engine that produces 115 horsepower and 135 lb.-ft (183 Nm) of torque. The GT coupe ups the ante with 150 horsepower and 155 lb.-ft. (210 Nm) of torque from a 2.4-liter Twin Cam engine.

Both engines are paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Built by the well-known German transmission manufacturer, Getrag, this transmission features excellent shift feel, as well as a synchronized reverse gear for easy engagement and a reverse lockout feature for enhanced safety. The 2.2-liter engine is also available with a three- or four-speed automatic transmission.

Hot Exterior Styling
The 2001 Sunfire has plenty of hot exterior styling cues that will set the 2001 Sunfire apart from the crowd. A rear spoiler is now standard equipment on all models, enhancing Sunfire's sporty design. Side ribs and rocker panel moldings on the SE coupe and sedan give Sunfire more contour and add to its bold attitude. Sunfire's front fascias include rounded turn signal lamps on the SE and integral foglamps on the GT coupe.

Both SE versions get 14-inch (355-mm) steel wheels with bolt-on wheel covers that contribute to a sporty look that belies Sunfire's economical price tag. Fifteen-inch (381-mm) aluminum wheels are also available on the SE coupe and sedan. Sixteen-inch (406-mm) aluminum wheels with P205/55R16 tires are standard on the GT coupe, increasing its handling and road-holding ability.

Interior Comfort
Sunfire's front reclining bucket seats and full fold-down rear seat are trimmed in Fanfare Cloth on Sunfire SE and Patina/Redondo Cloth on GT, contributing to a vibrant interior atmosphere. The GT wraps the shift knob, parking brake handle and steering wheel in standard leather.

Easy-to-Read Instrumentation
The user-friendly instrument panel cluster includes an analog speedometer, digital LCD odometer and trip odometer, tachometer, coolant temperature gauge and fuel gauge. A lighted PRNDL indicator on the console provides excellent readability at night.

Functional Floor Console
Sunfire's front floor console with integral armrest combines sportiness with practicality. It includes two forward-mounted cupholders, a concealed coin holder, and ample storage space for tapes, CDs and other items. A padded armrest helps add to the driver's comfort during long trips.

Superior Sound Systems
A high-excitement vehicle like Sunfire deserves high-excitement audio. Sunfire offers a standard AM/FM radio cassette with one AM and two FM bands (six presets per band), Seek, Scan and Preset Scan functions, and a theft-deterrent system to help keep the radio where it belongs. A retained accessory feature allows the radio to remain powered for 10 minutes after power is switched off, or until driver door is opened.

Sunfire's uplevel radios include Radio Data System (RDS), which allows listeners to seek and scan stations by their preferred musical programming type, access up-to-the-minute traffic and weather information, receive text information on the radio display, or even have cassette or CD play interrupted for emergency traffic broadcasts. Programmable equalization can store up to five different settings for individual listener's preferences.

Monsoon Audio System
For the true audiophile, Monsoon® premium audio system is on Sunfire's list of available options for the SE coupe and GT coupe. Monsoon is the choice of those who want a high-performance, 200-watt audio system.

Sunfire's Monsoon system has been tailored specifically to the coupes' acoustical environment. With eight speakers placed optimally to maximize sound, Monsoon delivers musical excitement, Pontiac-style. The eight-channel amplified system with active crossovers directs low, midrange and high frequencies to the appropriate speakers.

Up front, two 0.6-inch (15 mm) tweeters – one in each door – are augmented by two low-impedance high-sensitivity speakers, each enclosed in separate housings for excellent sound reproduction.

At the rear, left and right dual-input six-inch X nine-inch (152.4 X 228.6 mm) coaxial speakers precisely reproduce the audio signals coming from the amplifier. Each coax speaker includes a tweeter backed by a subwoofer, yielding clear highs and powerful bass response.

Sun & Sound Package
Buyers who want to combine great sound with the great outdoors can opt for the Sun & Sound Package on the SE coupe. The package adds a CD player and programmable equalizer to the sound system, and throws in a sunroof for an open-air experience.

Safety and Security
Sunfire is all about style and performance. Because it's a Pontiac, it's also about safety. Standard features like four-wheel anti-lock brakes, driver and front passenger air bags, side door beams and daytime running lamps work together to help protect the driver and occupants.

To help keep Sunfire where it's supposed to be, the standard PASSLock® II theft-deterrent system immobilizes the vehicle if an attempt to start it without the proper key is made. Content theft protection, included with the remote keyless entry and power door lock security package, flashes daytime running lamps and dome lamp and sounds the horn during an unauthorized attempt to open the doors.

Sunfire gives economy-minded shoppers the opportunity to get everything they want in a vehicle, with no need to settle for less. With its combination of hot looks, cool features and affordability, Sunfire is a car that stands out – for all the right reasons.