Dressed to Thrill: Two Vibes from SEMA
By: BJ Killeen Posted 03.15.2002 12:00 PDT

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The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is an organization that is composed of automotive and aftermarket manufacturers that offer specialty equipment products and services that enhance a vehicle's style, utility and performance. The big show is held every year in Las Vegas, and it's a chance for SEMA members to dress up vehicles to show off the performance and body kits that they hope buyers will lust after.

One of the strongest players from that show is the Pontiac Vibe GT-R, based on Pontiac's new Vibe (see Vibe road test). One of the goals for the Vibe is to attract a younger audience to the Pontiac fold. The best way to do that is to show what can be done to the Vibe to personalize and customize it. The Vibe GT-R specifically was designed to showcase the aftermarket possibilities to buyers looking for an alternative to import tuner cars. According to Craig Bierley, Vibe brand manager, it is extremely important for the Vibe to appeal to the tuner car market. "That culture and those people are really the trendsetters, and having a presence and appeal with those trendsetters really projects itself onto our overall business in total."

The GT-R utilizes the production Vibe GT's 1.8-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder powerplant, but gets Ram Air induction and exhaust management that boosts the horsepower from the standard 180 up to 190 horsepower. Although the standard GT engine provides plenty of power for the lightweight (2,800-pound) Vibe, the extra 10 hp makes it considerably more competitive (15.5 hp/lb ratio) versus the 170 hp (16.3 hp/lb) found in the Focus SVT or the 160 hp (17.2 hp/lb) for the new Honda Civic Si.

General Motors' Service Parts Operations (SPO) dressed up the GT-R with plenty of exterior pieces that give the vehicle an aggressive appearance. The GT-R sports the "Street Racer" kit, which consists of a mid spoiler and upper rear wing, side rocker extensions, a functional Ram Air hood scoop and air box and new front and rear fascias. Integrated front PIAA Platinum driving lights and a 30-percent window tint add to the GT-R's aggressive appearance. The exterior package is finished off with 235/35R19 Bridgestone SO2 pole position performance tires mounted to 19-inch RO_JA Formula 7 lightweight, rolled, polished aluminum rims by Montegi with forged aluminum graphite-colored center inserts.

Inside, the GT-R gets some great customization, include MOMO Street Racer seats, Corse aluminum accelerator and brake pedals and sill plates. The shift knob is stock Vibe GT with red stitching, along with a leather shift boot with matching thread. The steering wheel is custom-wrapped with red stitching to match the red upper/lower rim with black on the side grip area. Tunes are played through a Kenwood MP3 player, digital equalizer, 6-inch front and rear speakers with tweeters, a 10-inch subwoofer and a 250-watt amp and custom-built removable speaker/amp box.

To complement the engine performance, the GT-R adds a Ground Control/Eibach ERS adjustable (up to 4 inches) suspension, AEM Big Brake Kit (13-inch/12-inch front/rear), four-wheel ABS and an A'PEXi N1 4.5-inch-diameter-tip metal performance exhaust in black chrome. The GT-R is finished in "Opera Red" body paint to make it really standout.

Bierley states that some of the parts from the GT-R likely will be built and sold through the SPO division, such as the spoilers, but the ground effects package is doubtful. There was a second Pontiac Vibe at the SEMA show, the Fx, which Bierley says is more representative of what Pontiac can do for production.

The Pontiac Vibe Fx show car offers a hint at what can be done to customize the Vibe. Along with all-wheel drive, the Vibe Fx is dressed in a concept appearance package from GM accessories that features a ground-effects kit with front and rear fascias and side rocker panels, a mid-gate rear spoiler, integrated roof rack, new GM exhaust tip and an 18-inch wheel/tire package with Mille Miglia EVO rims and Bridgestone Potenza touring rubber. To make the Fx look right, Pontiac used a Ground Control/Eibach ERS adjustable suspension (up to 4 inches) system that lowered the overall ride height 1.5 inches.

Inside, the Fx features a DVD player with a fold-down monitor mounted in the headliner, a premium sound system featuring a removable, portable, self-powered Kenwood sub-woofer to complement the videos, a six-disc, in-dash single-slot CD changer, and XM Satellite Radio to keep the music coming.

The Fx utilizes the base 1.8-liter DOHC 130-hp four-cylinder engine mated to the four-speed automatic tranny, AWD, and 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, and doesn't have the kick of the GT-R, but some like to look as if they go fast without having to spend the greenery to actually do it. The entire body is finished in Bittersweet Peal paint.

"Vibe presents a host of opportunities to accessorize and customize to buyers' individual tastes," said James Hunter, Pontiac Vibe assistant brand manager-product. "The Vibe Fx is a showcase of accessory equipment that we're strongly considering for a production option on Vibe from GM Accessories."

As far as entrenching the Vibe in the import arena, Pontiac says for now it will focus its racing efforts on the Sunfire in NHRA and IDRC, but down the road the door is open if the demand is there for the Vibe to compete.

The Vibe just recently went on sale, so it's too early to make predictions, but since it was designed to appeal to "lifestages" instead of specific ages, the range of buyers should be broad-reaching and enthusiastic. The GT-R is Pontiac's expression of the breadth of the Vibe, and we expect to see it become tremendously popular with tuners all over the country.

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Vibe GT-R Highlights
- 1.8L DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine (Air induction and exhaust management generate about 190 hp - up from 180 hp)
- 6-speed manual transmission
Functional “Ram Air” hood scoop and air box
- “Street Racer” Body Kit
Front and rear fascia and side rocker extension
Front splitter
Mid spoiler and upper rear wing
- Color: “Opera Red” body “Graphite” splitter, rocker and rear fascia inserts
- Integrated PIAA Platinum driving lights
- 30% Bronze window tint
- 19” RO_JA Formula 7 light weight rims by Montegi (rolled polished aluminum rims and forged aluminum center insert-graphite color)
- 235/35/19 Bridgestone SO3 pole position performance tires
- Ground Control/Eibach ERS adjustable suspension (adjustable up to four inches)
- AEM Big Brake Kit – 13-in. front/12-in. rear
- Four-wheel ABS
- APEX 1 N1 Metal Performance exhaust (4.5-in. diameter @ tip). Black chrome in color
- MOMO Street Racer seats
- MOMO Corse Pedals (Aluminum accelerator and brake pedals)
- MOMO sill plates
- Custom-wrapped steering wheel (red upper and lower and black sides with red stitch around circumference)
- Stock Vibe GT shift knob with red stitching
- Leather shift boot with red stitching
- Kenwood MP3 Player, Digital EQ, 6 in. front and rears and tweeters, 10” subwoofer, 250-watt amp and custom-built removable speaker/amp box

Vibe Fx Highlights
- 1.8-liter 130-hp DOHC four-cylinder engine
- Four-speed automatic transmission
- All-wheel drive
- Four-wheel ABS
- GM Accessories ground effects kit for front fascia
- GM Accessories ground effects kit for rear fascia
- GM Accessories rear mid-gate spoiler
- GM Accessories ground effects kit for rocker
- Ground Control/Eibach ERS adjustable suspension (adjustable up to four inches)
- 18-inch Mille Miglia EVO rims and Bridgestone Potenza 225/40-18 touring tires
- GM Accessories exhaust tip
- Overhead DVD player/monitor
- Premium sound system with six-disc in-dash CD changer and Kenwood KSC self-powered, surface-mounted bass system (removable)
- XM Satellite Radio
- Integrated roof rack
- Bittersweet Pearl paint