The Pontiac Aztek was ugly, but I wanted one anyway

Frédéric Mercier

Thursday, January 25, 2018 09:10

UPDATE
Thursday, January 25, 2018 09:10

Look at this article

January 2000. I was 10 years old, almost 11. I read and was already considering all that is happening in the automotive industry as if I was already doing my job.

In Detroit, the legendary auto Show opens its doors to the new millennium. We talk about the car of the future, electric vehicles, and presents concepts to the design intriguing. Sometimes even weird.

Unfortunately, I’m not in Detroit. I dream to attend this show, but I will still have to wait fifteen years before finally being able to put up the feet. In the meantime, I rely on on an Internet that is still embryonic to take a look at the latest models offered by the industry.

Among the range of new features, it is an SUV-like spaceship that attracts my attention. Pontiac Aztek, as it was called.

Oh it was strange, with his lights spaced on the front and bottom of the desk in plastic. But unlike other SUVS, this one had an attitude with him. Impossible to confuse with one another.

The following year the Aztek landed at dealerships. In the ads on tv, we praised the merits of his wheel to the full Versatrak and powered by a V6 engine of 3.4 liters. It also shows a couple who goes camping for the weekend and sleeping in a tent installed on the tailgate of the vehicle.

This is where my heart has capsized.

I’m 11 years old, 12 at most. I still have four or five years to wait before you can drive. An eternity, for a little guy of that age. Yet, already, I imagine I am camping in my Aztek. Red or yellow, I haven’t decided yet.

The fact of being able to sleep in my car fascinates me. And it is this detail a little foolish, a piece of fabric available that it can hang on the tailgate, that makes me fall in love with the Aztek. To hell with the Mustang and the Porsche 911. To me, it is a Pontiac Aztek that I want!

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January 2018. I’m 28, almost 29. I read and consider everything that is happening in the automotive industry. Normal, it is now my job.

The Pontiac Aztek is dead and buried for a long time. A lot of columnists do not hesitate to describe it as a horror. One of the worst flops of the modern automotive industry, even. And must admit that they are not wrong.

However, there is a part of me that’s still dreaming. Because with the Aztek, Pontiac was selling more than a means of transport. She was selling a dream, an adventure.

And in a world where the vehicles resemble each other a little more, this approach fails me. Instead of extolling the virtues of their vehicles ever more techno-savvy and smart, the automotive manufacturers would be to your advantage to make a small return to the sources.

Sell a partner of adventure, not a computer on four wheels.

And if it has no navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity, this is not more serious than that. We will come out the road maps and the old CD.