The Pontiac G8 is a rear-wheel drive sedan that was produced by Holden, the Australian General Motors (GM) subsidiary. The G8 was released in 2008 in the United States, and in 2008 for the 2009 model year in Canada. Production stopped in mid-2009, following the GM decision to suspend the Pontiac brand. While available, the G8 took the place in the Pontiac lineup of both the Pontiac Bonneville, which ceased production after the 2005 model year, and the Pontiac Grand Prix, which ceased production after the 2008 model year. The G8 was Pontiac's first full-size car since the Bonneville and the GTO coupe last sold in 2006. The G8 was a captive import of the Australian Holden VE Commodore.
The G8 has been cited by CNN and other automotive reviewers as comparable to four-door sedans from BMW and Mercedes, but with prices tens of thousands of dollars less than the competition. Nevertheless, by December 2008, the rear-drive G8 had still not become the expected sales replacement for the previous front-drive models, with 11,000 unsold G8s in the inventory and just 13,000 sold. With car manufacturers worldwide threatened by the global economic downturn, market prices have dropped by $3000–5000 below GM's sticker price for the car. By July 2009, there were only 5,000 unsold G8's in inventory, with almost 30,700 sold.
With the imminent demise of the Pontiac brand, a result of GM's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the 2009 model year marks the end of all Pontiacs, including the G8. However, in July 2009, Bob Lutz made an off-hand comment during a press review that the G8 would be revived as the Chevrolet Caprice. Subsequently, Lutz retracted this statement, citing market conditions.
Background
See also: Holden VE CommodoreThe G8 is based on the GM Zeta platform, created by Holden for the VE Commodore in the Australian market. The G8 differs from the Commodore mainly in frontal styling and interior details. At the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM chairman Bob Lutz confirmed that GM intended to import Holden Commodores into North America as Pontiac G8s. The news was not planned to be officially announced until the Chicago Auto Show in February.
Holden chairman Denny Mooney announced that the G8 is imported from the Elizabeth, South Australia plant, South Australia for the life cycle of the car, but refused to comment on possible future production at GM's Oshawa, Ontario facility. At the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, GM Global Chairman Bob Lutz announced that the G8 was expected in US Pontiac dealerships in "early 2008". On July 4, 2007 the first Pontiac G8 prototypes rolled out of the Elizabeth assembly plant in Australia. General production began December 18, 2007.
The G8 was the first rear-wheel drive four-door sedan sold under the Pontiac name since the 1986 Bonneville and Parisienne. However there are other rear-wheel drive Pontiac offerings on the road such as the Solstice and the discontinued GTO. The GTO was another Holden product, known as the Monaro in Australia, repurposed and rebadged for U.S. consumption. Production was discontinued in 2006 due to new US safety regulations and the architecture being phased out worldwide in favor of the new Zeta platform on which the G8 is based.
At least one Australian company is offering body part sets which are intended to change the G8s appearance to that of the Holden VE Commodore by installing Commodore front bumpers and other parts.
Specification levels
G8
The base G8, referred to in Pontiac sales literature as the "G8 Sedan", is available with a 3.6 liter High Feature V6 engine, producing 256 horsepower (191 kW). The only transmission available is a five-speed GM 5L40-E automatic; fuel economy is officially rated at 17/25 mpg (city/highway).
Base G8 models come standard with six-airbags (including full-length side curtain airbags), traction control, electronic stability control, dual tailpipes, 18-inch alloy wheels (fitted with either all-season or summer performance tires), sports body kit, fog lights, power windows and locks, cruise control, black cloth seats and a seven-speaker audio system, including front center speaker, single-disc CD player, and auxiliary input jack.
A "Comfort And Sound" package is available on V6 powered G8s, which upgrades the seven-speaker audio system and manual HVAC controls to the 11-speaker audio and automatic climate control found in the GT model. The "Premium" package upgrades the Sedan's cloth seats to leather seating surfaces, driver and passenger heated seats, six-way power driver seat adjuster, 6-way power front-passenger seat adjuster, rear center armrest, leather-wrapped shift lever, and the GT's standard leather-wrapped steering wheel. Both the base G8 and the GT utilize the "FE2" suspension package.
G8 GT
The GT comes with a 361 hp (269 kW) 6.0 L (364 cu in) Generation IV V8, featuring a 6-speed 6L80 automatic and Active Fuel Management, capable of reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) in just over 5 seconds, with quarter-mile times as low as 13.5 seconds. The G8 GT averages a fuel economy of 15/24 mpg (city/highway). A 6-speed manual was formerly being considered as an option on the GT model, but Pontiac dropped the option, stating that it would instead be offered as an option on the G8 GXP.
In addition to the larger engine and 6-speed transmission, GT models also contain additional equipment, including all of the standard Sedan features plus quad tailpipes, clear taillight lenses (as opposed to the Sedan's traditional red taillights), automatic dual-zone air conditioning, a larger center-console display screen, and an 11-speaker Blaupunkt premium audio system with 2 subwoofers, six-disc CD changer, and auxiliary input jack. Some (but not all) of these features are available as options on the base model. A sports package is available on the GT, adding sport metallic pedals, QS4 19" machine-faced aluminum wheels, summer performance tires and a slightly smaller diameter, leather-wrapped Sport steering wheel.
G8 GXP
A G8 GXP version was shown at the New York International Auto Show in March 2008 with a 6.2 L (376 cu in) 402 hp (300 kW) V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette and a 6-speed manual transmission. The production version of the GXP has since proven to be more powerful, with its LS3 V8 producing 415 hp (309 kW) and 415 ft-lbs. of torque. Both the six-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual transmission and the six-speed automatic transmission are available. The GXP's performance is substantial, reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 4.5 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at nearly 110 mph (180 km/h), and 0.90 g of lateral acceleration on a skidpad.
The GXP utilizes the upgraded, Nürburgring-tuned FE3 suspension package as well as larger, ventilated Brembo disc brakes. It also features a unique front bumper cover and rear diffuser to differentiate it from the standard Sedan and GT models. The GXP was not made available in Canada.
Holden VE Commodore versions (2009)
Main article: Holden VE CommodoreFollowing the cancellation of Pontiac brand, it was reported that Holden planned to sell 1,500 limited edition version of the Commodore SS V fitted with the Pontiac G8 front-end fascia and other trimmings. Unlike the G8, which was offered only as a sedan, Holden will be offering utility, sedan and wagon body variants of the G8. They would be sold locally in November and December, with production beginning on November 2.
Production versions are sold as VE Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition (Sedan, Sportwagon, Ute), with the choice of manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions. SS V-Series Special Edition was unveiled in 2009 Deni Ute Muster. Production version for SS V-Series Special Edition went on sale in 2009-11.
Cancelled body variants
G8 ST
In addition to the sedan, a two-seat pickup truck (also known as a coupé utility) called the G8 ST was shown at the New York International Auto Show in March 2008. Based on the Holden Ute, it was built on the same G8 platform with a 73-inch (1,900 mm) cargo bed. The Sport Truck had the same 361 hp (269 kW), 6.0-liter V8 used in the G8 GT, as well as the 3.6-liter, 300 hp (220 kW) direct-injection V6. After a naming contest with more than 18,000 suggestions, the name remained the G8 ST.
The G8 ST, slated for release as a 2010 model, was to be Pontiac's first pickup truck, and GM's first coupe utility in North America since the Chevrolet El Camino was discontinued in 1987. In January 2009, GM announced to Pontiac dealers that the G8 ST was cancelled due to budget cuts and restructurin
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