German Car Zone

Maybe we should merge threads: http://www.germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=10469

Wel, here are a couple pictures I ganked from TCC.com. They've redone the Pontiac badge, as you can see:

it actually looks good, but not digging the funky steering wheel. any spec on this?

Finally the Chrysler 300 has some American competition. Now if GM doesn't screw this car up by leaving off things like they did with the GTO they'll have a winner on their hands. The hp numbers are good and there will no doubt be a hotter GXP model with the 400hp V8 from the Corvette! Put GM in a crisis and they start to turn out one interesting product after another. The transformation of the Saturn division is almost unbelievable. Now come the RWD cars, G8, Impala, GTO, Camaro, etc..... I can't believe it!

M

People please listen. GM has NOTHING to do with this car at all !!! Holden did. Holden invest the money, and develope the car entirely by itself. This Pontiac G8 is a Holden VE Commodor with a different front bumper, the interior and the steering is the same as the Commodor, but the Pontiac has different trim. Holden currently offer this car with a 3.6 V6 with 195kw and a 6.0L V8 with 270Kw. You can have a 6 speed manuel, or a 6 speed auto. Holden also offer a performance division called the HSV, similar to AMG. the HSV versions have a 6.0L Gen 4 LS2 V8 with 307kw. please check out my aussie performance car post. http://www.germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=10729 (Aussie Performance Cars)

I think you're getting my post wrong. I'm talking about what GM here in the U.S. will do to the car when they bring it over. Trust me I know the American arm of GM couldn't even conceive such a product on their own. I'm familiar with Holden and their various models, GM has been trying to bring them here in one form or another for years: Cadillac Catera and Pontiac GTO, both flops, thought the latter was a fun car to drive.

You have to understand that the American car makers are starved as is the market for a cheap rwd sedan with this kind of power that is also fun to drive. Until now the Chrysler 300 was the only game in town.

M

O i get it now. This new Pontiac/Holden will definitely give the 300 a run for its money. but i am not sure if the styling will appeal to the majority of the american market. The Americans find the styling of the GTO a bit boring, and that is party of the reason why it didn't sell as much as GM hoped for. That is what the local press told us anyway, not sure if it is entirely true

Well some buyers may have had trouble with the GTO's looks, but in reality it was the lack of featues and the rush job oversights that killed the GTO. People expect a 30K car to have a nav systems, heated seats and a sunroof for starters. Then the trunk space was cut down due to the re-location of the gas tank, and then there was no dead pedal either. The GTO did have the best interior of any GM branded car I've seen, but the car had too many faults. It was fun to drive though. A friend of mine is still toying with the idea of getting one.

GM did their usual by trying to fix some of those flaws (like the dead pedal) after the car went on sale, but to no avail.

M

Yeah you are dead right, the GTO/Holden Monaro was never intended for exporting at all. But this new Holden was designed with export in mind so i think it will do much better. Holden needs this car to sell well overseas because the local large car market is decreasing month by month.

PRESS RELEASE: ALL-NEW G8 ACCELERATES NEW ERA OF REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE PERFORMANCE AT PONTIAC

CHICAGO – Confirming its commitment to style and performance, Pontiac introduced a show car version of an all-new, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. The 2008 Pontiac G8 will be available in dealerships early next year.

“With the balance of rear-wheel drive and the availability of V-8 power, the G8 represents another step in Pontiac ’s commitment to its performance DNA,” said John Larson, Pontiac general manager. “Added to the Solstice and the recently announced additions of the G6 and Torrent to the GXP series, the G8 demonstrates that Pontiac has never been more serious about the business of performance – and we expect this vehicle to be very competitive in the segment, even against cars that cost far more.” The G8 is the first North American application of GM’s new global rear-wheel-drive architecture developed by Holden, GM’s Australian subsidiary.

G8 GT show car details

The G8 show car unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show is representative of the production GT model, including use of the 362-horsepower (270 kW) 6.0L V-8 engine and optional six-speed manual transmission. The show car also features some unique items not found on the production model, including:

* Twenty-inch “shadow chrome” wheels and performance tires
* Ride height lowered approximately half-inch
* High-performance brake rotors with painted brake calipers
* Custom interior trim color, including a leather-wrapped dash
* Exclusive exterior paint color: Phantom Grey
* Concept of “modernized” Pontiac badge, to gauge public opinion.

Production model details

The 2008 Pontiac G8 lineup will offer two models: G8 and G8 GT. Each will come with a host of standard performance, convenience and safety features, including:

* Four-wheel independent suspension
* Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control
* Electronic stability control
* 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch wheels available with sport package)
* Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger sensing system
* Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows
* OnStar
* XM Satellite Radio
* Power-adjustable front seats
* Fog lamps
* Chrome exhaust tips
* Rear lip spoiler

A sport package will be available for both models and adds features such as specific wheels – including 19-inch aluminum wheels and performance tires on GT – a rear wing spoiler, leather shift knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy pedals.

Design

The G8 has a progressive styling package highlighted by strong Pontiac design cues, such as a dual-port grille, fog lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners stance. The design accents the car’s performance lineage, with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging the wide tires and enhancing the sporting stance.

Distinctive elements include hood scoops and front fender vents, as well as projector-beam headlamps housed in crystal-clear lenses. At the rear, jewel-like taillamps also are mounted in housings and feature bright detail work surrounding the red lighting elements. G8 models have red taillamp lenses and twin chrome exhaust outlets, while G8 GT models feature clear taillamp lenses and quad chrome exhaust tips. All models have an antenna mounted at the rear of the roof.

Powertrain

The base G8 model receives a 3.6L DOHC V-6 with variable valve timing, rated at 261 horsepower (194 kW). It is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode.

The G8 GT is powered by a uniquely configured 6.0L small-block V-8, rated at 362 horsepower (270 kW) and 391 lb.-ft. of torque (530 Nm). A six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode is standard and features the fuel-saving Active Fuel Management system, which enhances fuel economy by alternating between eight- and four-cylinder power. An optional six-speed manual transmission will be available soon after launch. A limited-slip rear differential is standard with GT models.

Suspension system

A 114.8-inch (2915 mm) wheelbase, wide front ( 62.7 inches / 1592 mm) and rear ( 63.3 inches / 1608 mm) tracks, and a fully adjustable, four-wheel independent suspension system combine to give the G8 a confident, sharp driving experience.

The four-wheel independent suspension system employs a MacPherson strut design in the front and a four-link coil-over-shock design in the rear. Tuning is specific between the base and GT models, but both models use a direct-acting front stabilizer bar, decoupled rear stabilizer bar and lateral ball joints on the rear suspension. This system delivers increased lateral stiffness for enhanced handling.

The front suspension features fully adjustable caster, camber and toe; the rear suspension has fully adjustable camber and toe, which enables more precise, tailored suspension tuning.

Brake system

A four-wheel disc brake system includes standard anti-lock and traction control features and is partnered with a standard electronic stability control system. Both the base and GT models feature vented front and rear disc rotors, with twin-piston alloy calipers in front; the rear brakes feature alloy calipers with single-piston actuation. The brakes are approximately one-inch larger on the higher-performance GT model.

Interior

Designed to meld form and function with world-class fit and finish, the G8’s interior delivers both comfort and convenience, packaged in a level of sophistication not often found in its price range. A driver-oriented instrument cluster positions the gauges for easy, direct line of sight; an electronic driver information center is located between the large, round tachometer and speedometer.

Attention to detail includes jewel-like instruments, selective use of satin and chrome trim and rich-feeling, grained textures throughout. The instrument cluster glows with crisp, white light on the primary instruments and Pontiac ’s signature red lighting illuminates the rest of the instrument panel cluster.

The seats offer firm support to hold occupants in place during aggressive cornering; all seats were designed to deliver excellent comfort during long drives. Cloth seating surfaces are standard, with heated leather seating available. G8 GT models will also offer an optional two-tone cloth or leather combination that pairs black with either red or blue inserts and color-matched instrument faces on certain exterior color combinations.