El Camino Fans Rejoice: Pontiac G8 ST On The Way

While we wait to test drive the new Pontiac G8 sedan, PickupTruck.com has confirmed that Pontiac will add a sport utility version of the G8 that harkens back to the days of car-based pickups like the Chevy El Camino.

Like the G8 sedan, the ute, to be named G8 ST, will be built in Australia and imported to the U.S., with a V-8 engine as the only option and pricing to stay around $30,000. The picture above is of the Holden Ute. The G8 ST — and perhaps the G8 sport wagon — could bow at the Detroit auto show.   

El Catalina: Pontiac to Get U.S. Version of Holden Ute (PickupTruck.com)

Comments

I thought GM tried this already with the SSR (even though it was truck based) and Subaru with Baja. There's really not a market here for that and I can't see a lot of people buying this with only 2 doors and 2 seats and not marketed as a "halo" car.

I don't think there's a big market for it no.

But the SSR was really expensive and a convertible.

This could still sell enough to make money.

Although I think this is going to be a great car, I agree with Jay, there simply isn't a market for car/pickup combos...

And of course only offering a gas-hog V8. Give me a break already. First the Charger and now this. Two days, two stupid announcements.

LM - you mean first the Challenger and now this?

And KITT is now going to be a mustang! Stop the world and let me off!

Actually, we had an El Camino in my family when I was a kid, and there wasn't much point to it that I remember. I like this as a sedan and the wagon version would be a great idea but I don't think this will sell well. Subaru stopped making the Baja after only a few years and at least that has a back seat. I'd rather buy a car or a truck - the combo thing just doesn't do it for me.

Car based pick-up, huh?

hm...
Somehow a Motor Trend ex-Truck of the year came up in my mind.

No..... Somehow i really doubt this will sell enough to last more then a few years, only El Camino fans, i mean rabid fans, will probably buy this, and people who want somthing different instead of another cookie-cutter sedan, coupe, or truck.

I have a Subaru Baja and I love it but I think it's greatest weakness is the size of the bed -- too small for most stuff but I guess that was the sacrifice for a pretty sweet interior. I think there's a market for a good car/truck combo but I don't think this Holden is it either -- needs more room inside. One of these car companies should start with a wagon platform, give it a really comfortable car interior w/ an extended cab or at least a little interior space and as close to a regular short bed as possible.

These utes are big in Australia which is where this will come from. I doubt it will do well here. V8 and $30,000 won't be a plus. GM probably figures crank out a few more and we'll try them in the US. The GTO was also Australian. I really liked it, but it didn't do too well here either.

I agree with several of the previous comments. There's no market for this type of vehicle.

It's much too cute, attractive, and good-looking. Factor in the small size and nothing computes.

Americans love big, ugly, trucks that require frequent stops at the gas station.

You know it just occured to me, it kinda looks like a slipper.

Cool car for mods, but not really practical, people who works as carpenters or gardeners will still get big trucks for work, and families will get sedans or suv's.

Maybe they can sell some of them and recover the investment.

I loved the Baja, but the bed was very small.

SHOULD GM/PONTIAC GET 83% (invoice) of the $30,000 retail price plus the manufacturing profit in Australia due to the increased volume WHY NOT?

$24,900 to GM coffers times a few thousand units to dealers for a foreign produced product may make sense? As we know they need the money.

Until Hyundai comes with theirs for $15,000!

The mark up question is usual in the car industry. Everybody remembers people spending 30k or more for the FJ Cruiser and now they have 3k rebate or more.

Might make a good parts hauler for Napa or UPS

GM could have done this years ago.They have been making Utes down under since the 50s.Now,is not the right time.I have always liked the El Camino concept...a comfortable car,with car styling,but with a useable pickup bed in back to carry things that wont fit in a normal sedan.However,when one comes right down to it,a station wagon (where did those go?) cab do everything a pickup can do,and better even.Totally enclosed cargo area,with access to the passenger area.Time to make station wagons again,and start dumping these hulking SUVs and ugly crossovers.

Infosaur, the 'ute' as its called here is not a very good hauler as the payload is quite small of a max about 750 kgs (i dont know what it is in pounds)but its quite low compared to the ful size pick ups currently sold in America.
The car itself is ok, but it has scored lowly because of its small max payload.

If you are interested the vehicle that competes with this vehicle in Australia is the Ford Falcon which is also a great car. You can find it on www.ford.com.au, please look because its a really great car that should be a replacement for the dated Crown Victoria (i think)

Also check the Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) they are high performance sedans and utes, and soon to be FPV F6X (Territory) crossover (which would have to be the best family car ever made)
www.fpv.com.au

elcamino fan here ok, they will sell, and there is a market for them , not a huge market,elcamino power ok

The Chevy SS was retro. Alot of people did not like the styling. It was also too expensive to use as a truck. It was more like a production show car. This thing has great style, a LSX motor, and a good price. I will buy one for sure.

I understand that some people are concerned that there is not a market for this type of vehicle. Let's think about that for a second. GM will probably only ship a few thousand of these vehicles each year. You can rest assured that there are at least a few thousand people that want a V8 performance coupe that they can occasionally haul a few things in. Of course truck buyers are not the target market as a lot of truck owners have specific towing/hauling needs. Obviously this vehicle doesn't have much payload but I know I can think of several instances that I could use that kind of space.

Now on the other hand I an surprised that it will be released as a Pontiac instead of a Chevrolet considering that GM probably wants to keep Chevrolet sales ahead of Toyota as long as possible. One more Chevrolet model certainly wouldn't hurt that. That being said, I'm a Pontiac man myself and I applaud GM for sending a niche vehicle to Pontiac. Hopefully this isn't the Camaro "cousin" since Pontiac still needs another (GTO/Firebird/Trans Am) high performance coupe.

One final thought, in regards to the Subaru Baja comparison. The Baja was first of all ugly, almost Pontiac Aztek ugly. It had very limited hauling capacity with it's very short bed. The interior was cramped and the true performance factor wasn't there, even on the turbo model.

Kudos to GM for recognizing another potential profit maker from Holden. Hopefully soon we won't be having to ship this product from overseas.

I want one and I want it NOW!!!

I want one and I want it NOW!!!

I love this ute. I will never be able to afford one though with a BASE price of $31,000. GM will never learn. The SSR was doomed by being too expensive ,the GTO was doomed by being too expensive. Why is it everytime a really cool car comes out they price the target demo out of the picture. If they got the price down to $25,000 well optioned. I'd be willing to say they'd sell twice as many.

Too Expensive? In Australia, it costs another 15 thousand more, and is the flag-ship version of it utility. There is the trades version of the ute which is comparable to American Utilities, named the one tonner, but is no longer in production due to low sales.

People are trying to say that there is no market for a car/truck combo, boy are they wrong. The new el camino will get about the same gas mileage as a car with the durability of a truck. For the truck lovers out there, it will allow them to still be able to afford to drive a truck with the accessibility of driving a car. there is always a market for vehicle combinations.

I have a beautifully restored black cherry/ charcoal silver 1987 El Camino. Thye last year they made them.

Big V-8, headers, 700R4 tranny.

I live in Texas and work offshore out of Louisiana. I run this truck 500 miles every two weeks, hauling all my gear. It tachs 2700RPM at 87 mph all day long. 22 mpg.

I also have a 1996 Impala SS same color. I have always wondered how to get my LT1 in my
El Camino.

Well Pontiac has done it for me and then some.

My wife loves the El Camino, easy to load groceries in the back. No tall truck bed to fight getting stuff ito and out of.

I hope to buy the first one in South Texas.

I still remember the old 68 and 69 SS Elky's. It was great to have a power-full truck to run on the strip and haul parts later. Being lower to the ground helped it to perform and ride more like a car which was a plus. I will be glad to see this new performance truck come out in the US.
No, it wont replace full size trucks for heavy hauling, but it will have a market.
Any one remember the 454 SS truck? Most were not used for any heavy hauling, just more power than the next guy.

I've got my check book ready.