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Pontiac G8
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The Pontiac G8 is a rear-wheel drive sedan produced by General Motors (Holden) released for the 2008 model year (2009 in Canada). The G8 takes 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 ceases production after the 2008 model year. The G8 is Pontiac's first full-size car since the Bonneville. The G8 is a captive import of the Australian Holden VE Commodore.
The Pontiac G8 had been shortlisted for the 2009 North American Car of the Year award, but lost to the Hyundai Genesis.
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Encyclopedia
The Pontiac G8 is a rear-wheel drive sedan produced by General Motors (Holden) released for the 2008 model year (2009 in Canada). The G8 takes 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 ceases production after the 2008 model year. The G8 is Pontiac's first full-size car since the Bonneville. The G8 is a captive import of the Australian Holden VE Commodore.
The Pontiac G8 had been shortlisted for the 2009 North American Car of the Year award, but lost to the Hyundai Genesis. In February 2009 GM announced that in the US the G8 production would be cut by 97 percent.
Overview
The G8 is based on the GM Zeta platform which was created by Holden for the Holden VE Commodore in the Australian market and is derived from the Commodore, differing 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 G8s. The news was not planned to be officially announced until the Chicago Auto Show in February. The G8 is GM's first North American Zeta vehicle and shares all of that platform's advantages, including a good 52/48 weight distribution, unitized chassis/body structure, and four-wheel independent suspension.
Holden chairman Denny Mooney announced that the G8 is imported from the Elizabeth plant in Adelaide, 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.
The G8 is the first rear-wheel-drive four-door sedan sold under the Pontiac name in North America 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.
General Motors heavily promoted the Pontiac G8 on January 1, 2008 by having it as the official sponsor of the Times Square New Year's Day Countdown, as well as the Rose Bowl. In March 2008, a commercial based on the 1980s arcade game Spy Hunter ran nationally. In the commercial, the Pontiac G8 GT takes the place of the hero car when it is destroyed by enemies.
Versions
G8 Sedan
The base G8, referred to in Pontiac sales literature as the G8 Sedan, is available with a DOHC VVT V6 engine, standard with a 5-speed automatic. For 2010 onwards, the 3.6-liter, direct-injection LLT V6 engine will be used, similar to the engine employed in the 2008 Cadillac CTS and 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. This engine is expected to produce approximately .
Base G8 models come standard with 6 airbags (including full-length side curtain airbags), traction control, 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 7-speaker audio system, including front center speaker, single-disc CD player, and auxiliary input jack.
A Comfort And Sound package is available on V-6 powered G8's, which upgrades the 7-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, 6-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 Sedan and the GT utilize the FE2 suspension package.
G8 GT
The GT comes with a 6.0 L (364 cu in) Generation IV V8, featuring a 6-speed 6L80 automatic and Active Fuel Management, capable of reaching in just over 5 seconds, with quarter-mile times as low as 13.5 seconds. 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 , 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 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 from a standstill in 4.5 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at nearly , and 0.90g of lateral acceleration.
The GXP utilizes the upgraded, Nurburgring-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.
Cancelled models
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 cargo bed. The Sport Truck had the same , 6.0-liter V8 used in the G8 GT, as well as the 3.6-liter, 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 restructuring.
G8 Sportwagon
A Pontiac variant of the VE Commodore Sportwagon station wagon was considered as well, but not imported, partially due to poor sales of the market in general, especially of the Dodge Magnum as compared to its Charger sedan counterpart. Unlike the G8 ST, the Sportwagon model was never announced by General Motors.
2008
For the 2008 model year, the Pontiac G8 was initially offered in 6 colors: Stealth Blue, Liquid Red, Ignition Orange, White Hot, Magnetic Gray, and Panther Black. Stealth Blue was discontinued after the first batch of vehicles were shipped from Australia. First deliveries to dealerships were posted on GM's Website in March 2008, with comments that initial sales were brisk. Subsequently, May 2008 monthly sales were reported at 1,832 units against a May 2007 sales volume of 12,230 units for the Grand Prix.
2009
The G8 lineup also adds standard XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth connectivity and four new exterior color choices: Maverick Silver Metallic, Sport Red Metallic, Stryker Blue Metallic and Pacific Slate Metallic. Meanwhile, Stealth Blue and Ignition Orange are unavailable for 2009 (Stealth Blue having already been eliminated during 2008 model year production). Also for 2009, the oil pressure and battery voltage gauges at the top of the center console have been eliminated. Heavy criticism among the automotive press of the outdated appearance of these red LED gauges no doubt factored heavily in their removal. The gauges were simply replaced with a small storage compartment.
The 2009 model year adds the GXP version powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine with a standard 6-speed automatic transmission or optional 6-speed manual transmission (see above). The GXP is available in all standard G8 colors.
Australian company, the National Safety Agency, displayed a prototype Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) squad car based on the Pontiac G8, at the APCO 2009 Conference in Sydney, 2 March 2009.
The vehicle is fitted with a large portrait format touch screen in the centre console, replacing the clutter of controls common in police vehicles.
Yearly American sales
| Calendar Year | Total American sales |
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| 2007 | n/a | | 2008 | 15,002 |
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