DETROIT, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Pontiac has decided to cease production of its "ugly duckling" -- the odd-looking sport-utility vehicle derided by some and loved by others.
The angular, plastic-clad Aztek will be replaced by the sleeker Pontiac Torrent, which will go on sale next fall as Pontiac's midsize competitor to Ford's popular Escape small SUV, Honda's CR-V and the Toyota Highlander.
Pontiac sold about 27,500 Azteks a year over its three years of production. The Canadian-built Torrent will use the same Chinese-built, 185-horsepower, 3.4-liter V-6 engine as the Chevrolet Equinox, the Detroit News said.
The last Aztek, built on the same line as the Buick Rendezvous at a plant in Mexico, hits the highway in December.
Torrent will be available with both front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The new sport-ute will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January.
