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.
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.
Looks like Pontiac is taking things seriously in its latest ad. By comparing the Pontiac G8 with Bmw 5-Series, the American manufacturer puts the German vehicle in a bad light in front of millions of people. The 5.3 liter V8 engine of the Pontiac transforms it in a cool ride while the Bmw is seen as a ride for old and dum people.
Honestly this is a crazy ad…the American manufacturer take risks with this video and let’s hope it will not backfire at them, at least they show they have the sense of humor, at least that the way we decided to see it.
Now all we have to do is to wait for Bmw’s answer...
Amid the hoopla of the New York Auto Show and GM’s preview of the upcoming Pontiac version of the Holden ute produced in Australia – what we’d call the El Camino of today – comes a dissenting opinion, presented by one Peter M. DeLorenzo, the voice of AutoExtremist.com.
DeLorenzo thinks the things going to bomb.
DeLorenzo’s opinions are never equivocal, though his crystal ball sometimes needs Windex. After all, it was Lorenzo who said that the next Corvette was a sure thing for 2012 and would be mid-engine.
On the ute, his point is that the sport truck doesn’t fit into either the Pontiac line-up or the professed image of Pontiac for, as Bob Lutz put it in New York, “seductive performance.”
In fact, DeLorenzo doesn’t believe there’s any market for such a truck, under any nameplate. And then he asks why Pontiac doesn’t, instead, seek to exploit those of its model names that still have meaning, such as GTO and Trans-Am.
A curious owner has performed a dyno test on his new brand new Pontiac G8 which has clocked only 30 miles. Its become a common habit for owners to put their new sports cars through the test and verify how far the power output claims made by their makers are true.
The 6.0-liter V8 engine produces 361 horsepower as per the claims Pontiac makes. Two runs were made on the dyno and the readings obtained were 286.62 and 310.37 horse power respectively, the maximum value deviating 50 hp from the manufacturer’s claim. The results were spot on as the 50 hp difference accounts for transmission losses. Usually, the power measured at the wheels is about 15% lesser when compared to the power measured at the crankshaft making the claim valid and accurate.
Dynojet dyno was used to calculate the power output and torque values.
Pontiac will unveil at the New York Auto Show the 2009 G8 GXP, a new high-performance sedan that will Solstice, G6 and Torrent GXP models in Pontiac dealerships in late 2008.
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.
Pending final testing, 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 G8 GXP rides on the G8’s 114.8-inch (2915 mm) wheelbase with wide front ( 62.7 inches / 1,592 mm) and rear ( 63.3 inches / 1,608 mm) tracks. The four-wheel independent suspension is fully adjustable and is tuned for the highest performance in the G8 family. The GXP’s ride and handling was developed and validated on racetracks and highways around the world, including the famed Nuremberg Ring. It rewards the driver with sharp, immediate responses, as well as a well-balanced road feel during spirited driving.
While we wait to drive it for ourselves, check out what TopGear had to say about the Vauxhaul VXR8, the G8 GXP clone for the European Market:
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