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.
When GM unveiled the 2009 G8 GXP at the New York Auto Show they said the 6.2L LS3 small-block V-8 engine is rated at 402 hp and 402 lb.-ft. of torque. But after the SAE dyno testing, it seems the car is giving more than paid for. The G8 GXP was officially rated at 415 hp and 415 lbs-ft.
GM will also offer the six speed manual transmission along with the standard six speed auto trans on the G8 GXP. The car’s LS3 V8 is the third engine available for the G8 line up joining the 261hp 3.6 V6 engine and the 360hp 6.0 V8 engine.
After 18,000 people wrote to GM during the “Tame the Name” promotion, GM has finally chosen a production name for the Pontiac G8 ST, and the winner is...G8 ST. GM decided to scrap all the entrants ideas and stick with the initial decision, with ST standing for ’Sport Truck’. "’G8 ST’ was one of the most popular suggestions, plus we noticed a far broader trend toward simple, easy-to-remember names," said Craig Bierley, GM’s BPG product marketing director for cars and cars and crossovers.
GM even toyed with the idea of naming it after the infamous El Camino. “We actually thought very long about El Camino,” said Bierley. “In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honor the El Camino’s unique place as part of Chevy’s heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac.”
The G8 ST will fill a niche that GM hopes U.S. consumers will embrace: a truck that handles, drives and looks like a sports sedan. Pontiac is still sticking with the 361 hp V-8 as the only engine, sending the G8 ST from 0-60 mph in 5.4 sec. Not too bad for a truck offering a 73.9-in. cargo bed with 42.7 cu ft of cargo space. The tradeoff is the G8 ST’s small 1000 pound payload and 3500 lb towing capacity. That isn’t exactly Silverado territory, but then again no Silverado besides the hybrid comes close to the V-8 G8 sedan’s estimated 15/24 mpg city/highway.
Pontiac unveiled the G8 SXP sports sedan earlier this year at the New York Auto Show. The company announced that sales will begin around the end of 2008 as a 2009 model. Here’s now a few spy shots of the pre-production G8 GXP.
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. 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.
Pontiac unveiled at the New York Auto Show the G8 sport truck. Back then the company announced that the production version will be powered by the same 361-hp 6.0L V8 power plant that is found in the Pontiac G8 GT.
But since then gas price went crazy! And a V8 engine might not be the best choice. So, Pontiac decided to put a V6 engine under the hood of the future G8 ST (or El Camino, or what ever the name will be!).
This would be the same 3.6L 256-hp V6 found in the G8 V6 sedan, and would have the same 17/25 mpg fuel economy as the V6 sedan.
Until recently the Pontiac G8 GT was "fastest car under $30 grand". We say "was" because today GM announced will be raising the base GT sticker price $1,365.00 to $31,365.00.
All 2009 G8’s will come standard with XM Radio and eventually Bluetooth connectivity; both options deeply missed on the 2008 model. The G8 V6 base price will remain at $27,995.00.
The G8 GT is powered by a 361 hp 6.0L V-8 engine.
With over 25 years of turbo tuning experience, APS unveiled its latest masterpiece: the 557 hp
Pontiac G8. Featuring the 6.0 liter V8 engine, the vehicle received an intercooled twin turbo system mounted cleverly under the chassis in order to move the heat from the engine. With over 590 Nm of torque, the car is capable to sprint from 0-100 km/h in less than 5 seconds while the top speed is of 300+ km/h. APS announced that owners of VXR8s and HSV Clubsport R8s are also welcomed at APS in order to see how much further their car can get.
Remember the Holden Coupe 60 Concept unveiled at the end of February? Pontiac wants to put it into reality and as as result in the next three years we will see a production version of it. The future model wil be a GXP Coupe version of the current G8 and will compete with the future Camaro SS, Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR and Dodge Challenger SRT8.
The G8 GXP Coupe will be powered by a 402-horsepower LS3 6.2-liter V8 (same used in the G8 GXP sedan). The G8 Coupe GXP won’t be a true hardtop like the Holden Coupe 60 Concept. Like the Camaro and Challenger it will grow a B-pillar and fixed rear side glass in production trim.
It will feature the GXP sedan’s 19-inch wheels, 245/40ZR19-spec summer tires and a version of the GXP’s aggressive front fascia. That rolling gear would be attached to the sedan’s stiff FE3 suspension and, like the sedan, the GXP coupe would offer an optional Tremec six-speed manual transmission.
Pages: 
Post a comment
Picture Gallery
RSS -
Webmaster free news |