The Pontiac Aztek, introduced late in the 2001 model year and produced through the 2005 model year, was a multi-purpose vehicle produced by the General Motors marque Pontiac. The vehicle is most noteworthy for its polarizing exterior styling which was a source of extensive ridicule from both the public and the press.
Background
Given the fact that the vast majority of Sport Utility Vehicles were rarely taken off-pavement by their owners, much less driven under serious off-road conditions, a new type of car-based "cross-over" SUV was marketed that was hoped would provide all the elements that customers actually wanted from their SUVs such as cargo carrying capacity, elevated seating height and the suggestion of an active outdoor lifestyle with less of the negative attributes typically associated with traditional SUVs such as poor gas mileage, uncomfortable ride, high step-in height, propensity to roll over, etc. The formula of a car-based "soft-road" SUV had proven marketable by the highly sucessful Lexus RX300 and Toyota Highlander and was thought to be a promising new market niche within the highly profitable and increasingly popular SUV catagory.
Original Concept
First shown to the public in 1999, the Pontiac Aztek concept car was fairly well received. It featured "Xtreme" futuristic styling and promised maximum versatility in support of a young and active lifestyle for its intended Generation 'X' buyer demographic.
1999 Pontiac Aztek Concept Vehicle
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1999 Pontiac Aztek Concept Vehicle Front
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1999 Pontiac Aztek Concept Vehicle Rear
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1999 Pontiac Aztek Concept Vehicle Hatch
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The production edition of the Aztek was launched with the tagline: "Quite possibly the most versatile vehicle on the planet." in conjunction with CBS's hit game show, Survivor in 2001.
Technology/ Notable Features
The Aztek was produced at General Motors’ Ramos Arizpe , Mexico assembly plant, where it shared an assembly line with the Buick Rendezvous.
In lieu of four wheel drive the Aztek offered Versatrak , a full time, fully-automatic all wheel drive system which provided sure-footed traction in the snow and wet could handle moderately rough off-road surfaces, but was not meant for serious 4X4 boulder-climbing, Rubicon Trail-type activities.
The Aztek was one of the first automobiles to ever be designed entirely using computerized rapid-prototyping/rapid-visualization tools.
The dashboard was designed by NASA contractor Johnson Controls, and featured Pontiac's trademark red lighting scheme along with an optional heads-up display .
The Aztek was equipped with a fold-forward front passenger seat which halped maximize cargo-carrying capacity.
The Aztek was able to carry within its interior the proverbial 4'X 8' sheet of plywood, a common and useful task most of its SUV competitors were unable to perform.
In support of the Aztek's intended role as an accoutrement for a youthful, active lifestyle it offered a number of novel options/accesories, such as a center console that doubled as a removable cooler, a tent/inflatable mattress package that along with a built-in air compressor allowed the Aztek to double as an camper, seatback mounted backpacks, and a number of specialty racks for bicycles, canoes, snowboards and the like.
An optional 10 speaker Pioneer stereo system provided a set of controls located within the rear quarters of the vehicle for tail-gate parties as well as an unusual 2-piece tailgate with built-in cupholders designed to be used as a seating area during such activities.
The Aztek was also available with two rear cargo area options, a pull-out cargo tray that held up to 400 pounds that rolled on built in wheels when removed from the vehicle, or a versatile cargo net system that held up to 200 pounds and could be configured a claimed 22 different ways.
Disappointing Sales & Major Criticism
At launch the Aztek was available with either front wheel drive or all wheel drive in base and GT trim.
GM forecast sales of up to 75,000 Azteks per year, and needed to produce 30,000 annually to break even. Just 27,322 were sold in 2001 with more than 50% being sold to captive rental company fleets or used by General Motors executives.
The styling of the Aztek was a source of great derision, to the extent that it was suggested that "Aztek" could become a replacement for "Edsel" as a synonym for failure in the modern lexicon.
Although not the complete flop that many people assume, the Aztek sales performance was certainly a major disappointment, and its failure in the marketplace has been cited as the most glaring example of the failings of GM President John Smale 's now discredited "Brand Management " strategy of designing and marketing vehicles which was the guiding force in effect during the Aztek's gestation and initial marketing.
The Aztek was based on a shortened version of GM's 2nd generation U Platform minivans, which is partially to blame for the "uglyness" of the model. Relocation of the vehicle's radiator and the windshield positioning was deemed to be too costly, resulting in the disproportionate look up front as they tried to cloak a minivan's structure within a SUV-type shape.
Pricing of the Aztek was also an issue at launch. Styling issues aside, the vehicle was simply too expensive for its intended "Generation X" audience and was priced significantly higher than competing vehicles. After the 2001 model year, the GT model was dropped and pricing was slashed, in addition to extremely generous rebates and cut-rate financing instituted by GM in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
The 2001 models had extensive unpainted gray plastic body cladding which covered the lower 1/3 of the vehicle. General Motors performed an unprecedented "emergency" re-styling of the Aztek in an effort to save the model, painting the cladding body color making the Aztek more like the original well-liked concept vehicle as well as a number of styling tweaks to address some of the voluminous criticism the vehicle had recieved in the automotive press.
Somewhat ironically, the Aztek had among the highest CSI (Customer Satisfaction Index) scores in its class, and won the appellation of "Most Appealing Enrty Sport Utility Vehicle" in 2001 from J.D. Power and Associates, an independant consumer survey organization who noted: "The Aztek scores highest or second highest in every APEAL component measure except exterior styling."
Much like the 1959 Cadillac represented the zenith and final overextension of the tailfin as an desireable styling device, the Aztek's "overuse" of cladding, marked a breaking point for the automotive press' and public's acceptance of the ribbed cladding that Pontiac had been using as its primary styling differentiator for almost 15 years, a styling element Pontiac introduced on the 1986 Grand Am that quickly spread to all of its models. The re-styled 2002 Aztek's body colored cladding eliminated most of the horizontal strakes, and Pontiac began a program at the direction of Bob Lutz to substantially subdue or remove cladding from all of it's models.
The Aztek will be discontinued after the 2005 model year, to be replaced by the Theta-platform Pontiac Torrent.
Year to Year Changes 2001 - 2005
2001
- All new model available as base model and GT both in front wheel drive and all wheel drive, the latter boasting an independent rear suspension.
2002
- Pricing slashed almost 20%, GT model dropped.
- Cladding smoothed and changed to body colored, front marker light/turn signals changed from amber to clear, spoiler added to rear glass gate.
2003
- Aztek "Rally Edition" introduced, an option package which featured a lowered front suspension, a larger rear spoiler, body colored grille and 17" chrome wheels.
- DVD entertainment system, XM satellite radio and a tire pressure monitoring system added to the options list.
2004
- A CD/MP3 player was added as an available option.
2005
- In it's final model year the Aztek gained hands-free operation of its' OnStar system.
Production
| Year | Aztek
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| 2001 | 27,322
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| 2002 | 27,728
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| 2003 | 26,928
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| 2004 | 22,696
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| 2005 | *****
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While the total production numbers would not seem to indicate that the re-styling of the Aztek helped sales, in actuality sales to private individuals did increase after the first model year and thereafter, which allowed GM to cut down on the low profit, brand value eroding rental fleet sales it relied on to keep the Aztek production line in operation initially.
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