Pontiac Shares 'Secrets Of The Stuntmen'

Collaboration With "Fear Factor" Director Highlights Performance Vehicles

DETROIT - Car chases, narrow escapes, fiery explosions, and precision driving combine to provide viewers an inside look at the world of movie stunts while featuring the performance credentials of Pontiac's vehicles in the new long-format advertisement, "Secrets of the Stuntmen." The 30-minute program will begin airing on several cable networks beginning Monday, April 19, and offers viewers the chance to register to win one of the four Pontiac cars featured in the show.

"We wanted to find a very visceral way of telling customers about the power and handling characteristics of the new Pontiacs," said Mark-Hans Richer, Pontiac marketing director. "With 'Secrets of the Stuntmen,' we don't have to do a lot of talking about the cars. The way they perform on screen speaks for itself."

"Fear Factor" director Rupert Thompson and stunt coordinator Chuck Picerni assembled a team of four of Hollywood's hottest stunt drivers and introduced them to four of Pontiac's best performing cars: Vibe GT, Grand Prix GTP Comp-G, Bonneville GXP and GTO. Over three days of shooting at the San Pedro pier area in Los Angeles, the team used up to 20 cameras simultaneously to capture enough automotive action to create a two-minute chase scene that provides the finale for the program.

Viewers are given a behind-the-scenes look at the planning, practice and filming of each stunt. "Our goal was to make the stunt look as scary and fast and dangerous as possible," said Thompson. The climactic stunt features a 100-foot jump by a GTO onto a moving river barge.

Although the vehicles used in the program were modified for safety, the performance characteristics of each featured car remained the same as production models.

In addition to the stunts, viewers also will get a glimpse at three future Pontiacs that will hit the streets within the next 18 months: G6, Montana SV6 and Solstice. The GTO's stunt work in the new USA Network movie "The Last Ride" (airing June 2) is also featured.

By registering at the www.pontiac.com/stuntwebsite, viewers have the opportunity to win their choice of a 2004 GTO, Bonneville GXP, Grand Prix GTO Comp-G, or Vibe GT with a special course of driving instruction at the renowned Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Phoenix. The final stunt of the program can also be viewed on-line.

"Pontiac has a long tradition of being a favored stunt car for television and movies," said Richer. "Programs like 'Secrets of the Stuntmen' provide us with a fun way to keep that tradition alive and highlight the new power of Pontiac to customers."

"Secrets of the Stuntmen" will air through May. A complete schedule of showings is available at www.pontiac.com/stunt.

Pontiac is a division of General Motors Corporation and markets the Bonneville, GTO, Grand Prix, Grand Am, Vibe, Sunfire, Aztek and Montana. Pontiac sold more than 475,000 vehicles in 2003, ranking third among GM divisions in total sales. In 2004, Pontiac will introduce the Montana SV6 crossover sport van and G6 sedan, followed in 2005 by the G6 coupe and convertible and the Solstice roadster. More information on Pontiac and its products can be found on the division's website at www.pontiac.com.