Pontiac today announced pricing on the 2009 G8 GXP Sport sedan. The car will go on sale in February 2009 and the pricing will start from $39,995, including $685 destination and freight charges and $1,700 in applicable federal gas guzzler taxes. A 6-speed manual is available for an extra $695. A sunroof is optional with a price-tag of $900.
The G8 GXP is powered by a 6.2L LS3 small-block V-8, currently rated at 402 hp and 402 lb.-ft. of torque pending final SAE certification. This engine is the newest member of GM’s small-block V-8 family. It features a revised, larger-bore cylinder block, high-flow, L92-style cylinder heads; larger-diameter pistons; unique camshaft and camshaft timing; revised valvetrain with offset intake rocker arms; high-flow intake manifold; and high-flow fuel injectors.
The G8 GXP is expected to deliver 0-to-60 mph performance of about 4.7 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at 108 mph.
The Nurburgring has become General Motors’ benchmark for its performance cars. Although this seems like a no-brainer considering the public road/race circuit is a standard for the world, GM has been relatively absent from this track until about this last decade. Now GM uses it to test everything from the Chevrolet Corvette to the Cadillac SRX.
One car that isn’t a surprise appearance on the German road is Pontiac’s G8 GXP, but what did make news was its unoffical time, eight minutes and thirty seconds. That’s not too bad considering the benchmark performance sedan, the BMW M5, does the same lap in 8:13, and the M5 costs more than double the GXP’s $40,000 base price.
This run was touted as driven by a development engineer and not a professional driver. But that doesn’t always mean this is just some everyday driver. General Motors employed former racer John Heinricy as its director of Performance Vehicles Operations. GM used Heinricy when the Cadillac CTS-V beat out the BMW M5 during a challenge at the Monticello Motor Club.
The G8 GXP is powered by a 6.2L LS3 small-block V-8, currently rated at 415 hp and over 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Current figures peg the G8 GXP’s 0-to-60 mph performance at 4.7 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at 108 mph. It features a larger-bore cylinder block, high-flow cylinder heads, larger-diameter pistons, unique camshaft, revised valvetrain with offset intake rocker arms, high intake manifold, and high-flow fuel injectors.
The Pontiac G8 ST (Sport Truck) unveiled at the New York Auto Show will go into production in July 2009, and the first G8 STs are expected to go on sale here in the fall of 2009. Pricing for the G8 ST (V8 version) will start in the low $30k.
GM will build the rear-wheel-drive G8 ST in Australia, where it also manufactures the Pontiac G8 sedan and Holden VE Ute and VE Commodore sedan. According to Hopson, it will take about two months to ship the car-based pickups to the U.S., with the first G8 STs arriving as early as next September but likely in October 2009.
The sport truck draws its strength from the same powerful 6.0L V-8 engine used in the G8 GT. It puts out 361 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. The G8 ST will debut with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Neil Tjin, a West Coast journalist/designer/tuner will present at the SEMA Show a hot Pontiac G8. Built by Unique Fabrication, the Tjin Edition G8 CST features an intercooled Vortech supercharger, American Racing headers, Corvette Z06 brakes, 20-inch Dunlop tires, seven-spoke One Lug wheels, Eibach springs, a Visteon navigation system and Focal audio system.
The car will also feature a Webasto twin-vent sunroof, a PPG blue-gray exterior scheme and a diamond-stitched interior with plenty of bells and whistles.
The Pontiac revolution may be dying. A few years ago, everything looked promising with rear-wheel drive coupes and sedans on the horizon. But when times get tough, the lower volume and speciality cars are the first to go.
First on the chopping block was the Solstice. It’s a flagship car that draws attention to the brand but doesn’t directly make much money. Goodnight.
But now it seems the that even the more everyday cars are getting the ax. General Motors latest report has the rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan dying off in five years. Pontiac will not get the version of the next rear-drive platform that underpins the Australian Holden Commodore. This move is likely partially due to the current expense it takes to import the G8s from Australia.
So in five years, the current plans show Pontiac with no rear-wheel drive cars. In their place will be re-badged Chevy Aveos (which are just re-badged Daewoos.) Times are tough indeed.
