The Pontiac G8 GXP is a tremendous performance bargain, built with the best parts from the GM parts bin; the GXP offers owners quite possibly the best fun/dollar ratio on the market. It comes complete with a 19 inch Cadillac CTS-V inspired wheel and brake package as well as an LS3 V8 from a Chevrolet Corvette sending 415 HP to the rear wheels via an optional six-speed manual and a very racy limited slip differential. This is all good for a quarter mile time of 13 seconds flat at 108 MPH and a 0 to 60 MPH time of, with the luxury of four doors.
There was once a Car and Driver comparison with a subtitle that read: Dundee and Goliath: A dark knight from Down Under rattles the BMW M5, and you’ll never guess who builds it. The car that author Aaron Robinson was comparing with the luxury performance sedan back in 2001 was the Holden Commodore HSV GTS R 300. Think Cadillac Catera body on top of an LS1 Corvette power train and whatever other special parts that GM had ad their disposal. At the end of the article, the BMW squeezed ahead thanks only to fit and finish, but the fun to drive award went to the Holden. This was even more astounding because the special edition HSV was selling for only a fraction of the pride of the M lineup.
Since the turn of the century General Motors has invested heavily in their rear wheel drive platform and imported another Australian V8 super car, the Holden Monaro based GTO with LS1 power. After the initial test run, Pontiac brought over the 21st century goat’s cousin, the Commodore, except it was more commonly known at the G8, which is a tremendous performance sedan. With the recent demise of the brand the Pontiac G8 could go the same way as the ill-fated GTO, but if that means no more GXP we are going to have to ask Obama for our bail out money back. It would be just like an American automaker to kill a $37,610 sedan that makes a BMW M5 seem ridiculously overpriced. GM is offering a $3,500 cash incentive on all variations of the G8 Sedan.
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Maybe now Bob Lutz has learned a lesson about making promises he can’t keep. It wasn’t that long ago when the high-ranking GM official talked to Automobile Magazine and all but guaranteed that the Pontiac G8 would be spared from the chopping blocks and be re-christened as the Chevrolet Caprice.
Lutz’ declaration was met with raised eyebrows, especially those coming from GM CEO Fritz Henderson who previously said that the G8 – and all subsequent Pontiac models – would cease to exist by the end of the year. Turns out that Lutz may have bitten off more than he could chew and in a recent entry on GM’s blog took back his proclamations and said that upon further review, the supposed G8-turned-Caprice wouldn’t make too much sense given the unstable state of the US auto industry.
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We have just received a real gem into our Top Speed test fleet. The once endangered and now recently saved Pontiac G8 is an excellent performance sedan. The stylish sedan came from the land down under where the Australians prefer their race cars with a V8 up front and four doors all around. It was this rear wheel drive formula that made the G8 such a hit when it originally debuted with either V6 or V8 power. However this is no ordinary G8, this is the high performance GXP version, a model that combines the fun of rear wheel drive, the power of an LS3 and the control of a six speed manual and is said to compete with much higher priced sports cars like the BMW M5.
Our Sport Red Metallic car rides on a set of stylish 19 inch polished aluminum rims that when combined with the oversized Brembo brake calipers, bears a striking resemblance to the Cadillac CTS-V. Aside from the impressive rolling stock the exterior of our G8 GXP looks just like any other of the four door imports from Queensland. The only other features that hint at the outstanding performance under the bonnet are the pair of sport inspired hood scoops and a set of reasonably flared fenders. Apart from the cleared out taillight lenses and the aforementioned details, there is no other way to tell this hot rod G8 apart from any other of Pontiac’s rear wheel drive grocery getters.
The Onyx interior is about the same as a base Pontiac G8 except that the aluminum sport pedals and GXP logos embroidered into the backrests of the leather wrapped front sport buckets hint at something special. That sensation is further reinforced by the Corvette-like shifter. The grip is connected to a six speed manual that sends 402 HP and 402 lb-ft of torque from the 6.2 Liter V8 through a limited slip differential directly to the rear wheels. The G8 GXP should be good for a 0 to 60 MPH time of about 4.7 seconds and a quarter mile time of 13.0 seconds flat.
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If General Motors is to bounce back from its beleaguered state, it’s got to deliver on its promises. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz made one when he said that the Pontiac G8, scheduled for the chopping block at the end of the year, will eventually resurface in Chevrolet showrooms as the Caprice.
"The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet," Lutz said. "It is kind of too good to waste." Despite the Vice Chairman’s promise, there still seems to be mixed feeling within the organization regarding the future of the G8. One of the people against the move happens to be CEO Fritz Henderson, who has been repeatedly heard saying that he isn’t a fan of rebadging.
Nevertheless, Lutz is bent on keeping his promise, saying that the wheels have already been set in motion and that export agreements with a number of countries, specifically Australia, where the Holden Commodore has already been rebadged as Chevrolets in a slew of countries. This precedent, according to Lutz, is something that he is looking at using in order to repackage the G8 as a Chevrolet-badged vehicle under the Caprice name.
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The American muscle car tuner Hurst is preparing a High Output version of the Pontiac G8 and a G6 convertible. The special edition edition GM cars will be limited to a total of 52 units, each one being built by hand.
The H.O. Pontiacs will each recieve their own numbered identification and will feature Hurst’s iconic white/gold and black/gold paint scheme along with a set of forged alloy Hurst wheels, a supercharged engine, high performance suspension mods, a specially trimmed interior and of course a Hurst shifter.
The aftermarket manufacturer will also commemorate Gerorge Hurst’s partner, the Doc, by recreating a modern interpritation of his famous Pace Cars. Only ten HURST/Pontiac G6 convertibles will be built and used as parade and special event vehicles, we couldn’t think of any better duty for a HURST modified muscle car.
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The Pontiac G8 GXP and Dodge Charger SRT-8 are two of the most powerful modern muscle cars on the road. If you have an extra $35,000 in your pocket – which can be pretty difficult with the current economic situation - you can buy either an American Commodore or an angry Bublebee.
The Pontiac G8 GXP is powered by a 6.2L LS3 small-block V-8, currently rated at 415 hp and 415 lb-ft. of torque. It takes the G8 only 4.7 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH and can run the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds flat at 108 mph. Pontiac has priced the high performance sedan at $38,295.
The Dodge Charger SRT-8 is powered by the venerable 6.1 liter Hemi V-8 engine that delivers 425 hp and a peak torque of 420 lb-ft. The Hemi powered machine take a little longer to reach 60 MPH, 5 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 165 mph. The Dodge is priced at $41,120, but with cash incentive packages you can pay anywhere from 6 to 7 thousand dollars less.
If you are a Pontiac fan, then you should be familiar with the term Firehawk. It was the name given by Street Legal Performance to a series of Firebirds in the early 1990’s. SLP has decided to bring back the name with a new Pontiac Firehawk G8 GT.
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The car industry is becoming like playing Russian roulette with five chambers loaded. A lot of cars are winners (dead) with very few losers (survivors). The latest confirmed car to get the big bang is Pontiac’s G8 ST (the El Camino.)
Although disappointed, we are not surprised. The car was too late in the game to be effective. Had it arrived a few years earlier, when everyone had the credit to buy whatever car they wanted, a unique V8 powered truck/car would have netted a handsome sum. But then gas prices and unemployment rates went up. The public is not buying cars, especially novelty ones. General Motors went scrambling to find a place for its new El Camino, but importing the Holden-based car from Australia was looking too costly. Rumors swirled that the car would be a V6 only; then back to a V8; then the car would be delayed; now finally, BANG it’s dead.
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.
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