July 30, 2002

Classic Pontiac GTO has role in XXX movie starring Vin Diesel

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Detroit, Michigan - A classic 1967 Pontiac GTO will have a role in the new action adventure movie, XXX, starring actor Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson. Diesel plays Xander "XXX" Cage, a new breed of secret agent who drives a vintage 1967 Pontiac GTO in the film. The movie, produced by Revolution Studios will be released nationwide by Columbia Pictures on August 9th.

XXX is directed by Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious). Cohen was the one who chose a 1967 GTO as the highly modified spy car. Pontiac and its entertainment-marketing agency Norm Marshall & Associates, which works with the Hollywood production community to place GM cars and trucks in movies and promotions, identified this film and its potential exposure for Pontiac almost one year ago. "It's the kind of movie Pontiac should be featured in, and it's timely exposure for us, since we're introducing an all-new GTO next year" said Pontiac Advertising Manager, Dino Bernacchi.

Pontiacs have appeared in other movies over the years. In 1977, Actor Burt Reynolds drove a Pontiac Trans Am - and Trans Am sales soared. Bernacchi says it's unusual for an auto manufacturer to endorse a movie that features an historical car. "It's usually only done with new cars, but the car's age doesn't matter," he explained. "This movie's raw energy and excitement speaks to who Pontiac is as a division."

Consumers can visit www.pontiac.com/gto on the web and register to win one of several movie-related prizes. The grand prize is a trip to the 2003 Daytona 500 NASCAR race and a chance to meet Vin Diesel at the race. Other prizes include 1967 Pontiac GTO die cast models, XXX theater movie posters, photos of movie outtakes featuring the 1967 Pontiac GTO - all autographed by Vin Diesel. Pontiac plans to advertise the promotion in weekly publications, including Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, People, Rolling Stone Magazine and USA Today. Pontiac will also display the GTO used in the movie at several NASCAR events this year. The promotion will run until Sept. 30, 2002.

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