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The Piranha concept was developed with young people and young attitudes in mind, so Pontiac went to the source, visiting a college campus and an indoor rock climbing facility and talking at length to consumers in the 18 to 26 age range. These young drivers talked about what they want in a vehicle, what they use it for, what hobbies and other activities they engage in. They gave feedback on Piranha's overall philosophy and specific design elements.
The result is a highly customizable vehicle that allows drivers to express themselves and their individuality. Athletic forms and materials reflect the active lifestyles of these consumers. The design team drew inspiration from items such as sports tents, athletic shoes and biking head gear and mountain bike components. Because young drivers are looking for affordable driving excitement, Piranha's designers explored low-cost manufacturing strategies. The resulting lightweight construction and visible structure make Piranha inexpensive both to buy and maintain.
Its angular exterior is inspired by the tension seen in stretching fabric over the wire frame of a camping tent, the steering wheel styling is mountain bike-inspired, the aluminum instrument panel is covered with the same spandex material used in exercise wear and the glove box is made of the same compressed impact foam used in bike helmets.
All four of Piranha's seats are designed to be foldable and can be removed to double as beach chairs, GM said. The car also has a removable cargo tub on rubber wheels that, when taken out, creates a mini-pickup complete with a fold-up tailgate. A supercharged 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder engine provides the Piranha with 212 horsepower.
The Piranha concept aims to introduce a new generation of drivers to Pontiac's driving excitement. Says Pontiac Design Manager John Mack, "The Piranha concept can offer young consumers the opportunity to buy new, not used; expressive, not traditional; in a quality performance that meets their very active lifestyle needs."
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