First Drive: 2008 Pontiac G8 V-6

Pontiac recently loaned us the keys to its new G8 GT, a V-8-powered sport sedan that Cars.com senior editor David Thomas reviewed, but it wasn't until this week that we got our hands on the base V-6 version of the car. So how does the V-6 hold up to its big brother?

The first thing you notice is how similar the base sedan and the GT model look; both have thin slits in the hood, wide fender flares and aggressively styled twin-kidney and lower grilles. They do have different wheels, taillights and exhaust outlets, though.

El Camino Likely Out As G8 Sport Truck Name

Yesterday, Cars.com attended a press event featuring the new Pontiac G8 Sport Truck. If you recall, Pontiac asked consumers to name the new model. Names came flooding in, and the company is now down to 10 finalists, and they’re going through a vetting process. According to Pontiac spokesman Brian Shipman, the name El Camino is most likely out as the name, because of internal discord about a Chevy nameplate being applied to a Pontiac vehicle. Sorry, El Camino fans.

Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Pontiac G8

Our reader reviewer of the week didn’t start out as a super fan of the 2008 Pontiac G8, but after comparing the vehicle's power, interior and pricing, the conversion began. A few minor tweaks aside, he points to the car's ability to compete neck-and-neck with vehicles that cost tens of thousands of dollars more. Post your own review here.

Pontiac Asks: What's in a Name?

And the winner is…

That's the question everyone wants answered when it comes to the 2010 car/truck rendition of the Pontiac G8. And the answer is: All those inquiring minds will have to wait.

The deadline for consumers to submit names for the upcoming two-door car/truck version of the G8 sedan came and passed last week, but don't expect the winning moniker to be revealed until the end of May at the earliest, says Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. 

Friday Fleet Notes: 3.28.08

This week our staff takes a look at the Audi R8, Scion xB, Pontiac G8 and Hyundai Veracruz. Check out what our reviewers and editors had to say, then get the full picture with our expert reviews.

2008 Audi R8

• This is the best cure for a bad day since ice cream. You’d have to be pretty far gone (or hate cars) to drive this and not feel better when you were done. The only complaint I had was that the clutch travel was quite long and my foot slipped around on the pedal face a couple of times. My shoes did have some snow on them, but it was a bit disconcerting. The brakes were the best I’ve driven: Right there, easy to modulate and confidence-inspiring. Overall, the R8 makes you smile. Just the right amount of engine noise comes into the cabin, the steering weight is just right (heavy, but not obtrusively so) and it looks really good. - William Jackson, Buying Guides editor, Weekend Athlete

Why the Sport Truck is Back

It's been about 20 years since the Chevrolet El Camino passenger car/pickup truck was sold in the U.S., but GM is planning to resurrect the concept for the 2010 model year under its Pontiac brand. Why now? Why Pontiac?

According to Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson, the company decided to launch the G8 Sport Truck in response to changing customer demand, specifically the movement away from traditional pickup trucks to cars.

"We're doing it primarily to explore if there is a market for this," Hopson said. GMC also recently showed a carlike concept truck, dubbed Denali XT, that featured a fuel-saving hybrid drivetrain.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Pontiac G8

Not only did I travel to New York City to cover the auto show last week, I also got to test drive Pontiac’s all-new sedan, the G8. The finished review is now live, complete with a video, which you can also watch to the left. I must say I liked the G8 GT a lot, but it did have some eccentricities that people will have to get used to. Read the review and feel free to ask questions in the comments below.

2008 Pontiac G8 GT Expert Review 

Video: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

Everyone's seen pictures of the modern El Camino, but has anyone see the tailgate fold down? Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder lowers that tailgate and takes a look inside. He also shows the behind-seat storage, which we haven't seen in photos yet. Check it out.

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More on the 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

Up Close: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

I've heard the term sport truck before, but this one definitely has more sport than most. The G8's aggressive front end, combined with long, clean flanks and a jacked-up rear end, make for a compelling presence. The cab is shorter than I expected, really exaggerating the length of the cargo box. Honestly, I can't tell if the profile is awkward or if it's just that I'm looking at an animal that's altogether unfamiliar to the eye.

The rear window is right behind the occupants' heads — similar to a roadster, and resulting in surprisingly good rear visibility. The interior is straight out of the G8 sedan, which is to say of decent quality and design, but a little foreign compared to the average North American-built GM car.

Everyone's wondering aloud who the buyer for this model would be, and some have suggested that it's the casual pickup truck buyer who wants to pay less for gas. I don't think someone who wants to pay less for gas is going to go buy a new car — especially not this one, seeing as its starting price will be around that of the G8 GT, which is almost $30,000. Then there's the fact that it's powered by the GT's 361-hp V-8, which delivers 15/24 mpg city/highway in the sedan. Pontiac says the sport truck’s fuel economy estimates should be similar because its standard soft tonneau cover eliminates any aerodynamics penalty. There's currently no plan for a V-6 version of the truck, but Pontiac says there's no reason it couldn't be done if it's demanded. Maybe pickup truck fans will be drawn to the base GT's 17/25 mpg. Or maybe buyers will be more interested in sport than in truck.

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2008 New York Auto Show: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sports Truck

2008 New York Auto Show: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

• Competes with: Dodge Magnum, Honda Ridgeline, your uncle’s old El Camino
• Looks like: GM is serious about pleasing its mulleted buyers
• Drivetrain: 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2009

We’ve been expecting the G8 Sport Truck for some time, but finally seeing the real thing, even if just in the photos here, is something else entirely. GM actually went out and built a car with a truck bed … in the 21st century!

The sport truck is clearly reminiscent of the classic El Caminos many of us remember from our youth. Seeing one again nearly 20 years later is jarring in some respects. Helping ease our minds is the modern car it’s based on: the Pontiac G8 sedan that recently went on sale.

The sport truck shares the same powerful V-8 engine and rear-wheel drive as the G8 GT, and GM says it will get to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. It also has 18-inch wheels standard, with 19s optional. A color-coordinated soft tonneau cover is also standard. We’d still expect there to be various accessory tops to choose from when it goes on sale late in 2009.

It might not look like it, but there is a cargo area behind the seats that measures 8.5 cubic feet, which is pretty surprising. Stability control, side curtain and side thorax airbags are welcome standard safety equipment.

That late on-sale date is a killer, but it does give GM time to name the sport truck, an honor it will bestow upon one lucky consumer. If you go to www.pontiac.com/namethiscar you can submit your own idea for a name. The famed El Camino-ologists over at Jalopnik spent some up close time with this inheritor to the Camino throne and have a video and exclusive photos besides the ones provided by General Motors. Pickuptruck.com also delivers a video here. Give them both a visit and you can check a gallery of manufacturer photos and a few extra Jalopnik exclusively shared with us.

2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

• Competes with: Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8
• Looks like: A meaner G8
• Drivetrain: 402-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

Every car really should have a Corvette engine wedged into it. Imagine your daily driver, whatever it is, with the vroom-vroom of a 402-hp V-8. Pontiac’s engineers live in this world; they’ve taken the V-8 engine that graced the 2007 Chevy Corvette — the ‘08 ‘Vette gets 430 hp — and dropped it into the newly on-sale Pontiac G8 sedan.

Dubbed the 2009 G8 GXP, this rear-wheel-drive sedan comes with either a manual or an automatic transmission, and GM says it’ll hit 60 mph in “about” 4.7 seconds. Or, as we like to say, fast.

There’s more, of course: 14-inch Brembo brakes rest behind some nice-looking 19-inch wheels. GM also says the suspension has been revised to offer better grip.

The GXP’s looks aren’t too over-the-top; it has the customary lowered stance, extra body cladding and interior touches. The big news is that you can finally get the wheels that were on the original G8 GT concept car.

The currently top-of-the-line G8 GT, with a 361-hp V-8, starts at $29,310. We’d expect the GXP to have a considerable “upgrade” cost. We’ll have to wait for a test drive before we decide if it’s worth it. More photos below.

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)

Pontiac G8 GT SEMA Edition

• Looks like: The Nightmare Before Auto Show Season
• Defining characteristics: Halloween-themed color scheme
• Ridiculous features: Halloween-themed color scheme
• Chance of being mass-produced: Zero … we hope; the regular G8 GT we can’t wait for

We’re once again breaking our self-imposed rule of not showing any tuner-special cars that you won’t be able to buy at a local car dealership because … well, it’s still a Pontiac G8. We can’t get enough of the Aussie-imported V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive sedan, no matter the jarring colors.

The cool thing about this show car is that it is pretty much exactly what we’ll get when the G8 GT goes on sale, except for the paint, a lowered suspension, enhanced brakes and 20-inch wheels. Although we’d like to see these wheels available as an option. Two more photos below.

We Need a Pontiac G8 Wagon

There, we said it. We want Pontiac to build a station wagon version of its upcoming G8 sedan. You see, the G8 is based on an Australian GM product called the Holden Commodore. Well, today GM revealed the wagon version of that car because, in Australia, folks — hold on to your hat — prefer wagons to SUVs.

Now, Pontiac could easily get away with adding a wagon to the G8 lineup. The Dodge Magnum proved you could sell a RWD wagon in the U.S., and Pontiac wants to shy away from non-car products — meaning SUVs. This would be a perfect fit. The 362-hp V-8 engine in the G8 GT would be great, but the 261-hp V-6 wouldn’t be bad either if you just wanted the utility.

What do you think? Are American soccer moms and dads ready for another big, bold station wagon? More photos below to help you make up your mind.

2008 Pontiac G8 Comes in Under $27,000

One of the most anticipated new cars for 2008 is the rear-wheel-drive Pontiac G8 sedan. This Grand Prix replacement comes standard with a 256-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 for $26,900 and, even better, the 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 G8 GT will start at $29,300. Neither price includes the $695 destination charge.

We’ve had a first-hand look at a preproduction G8 and can say that, for the money, this is a very good value — especially the G8 GT. The interior quality is far superior to anything else in the Pontiac lineup. In fact, you’re getting more for your money — and at a lesser price — than the recently discontinued GTO that featured the same V-8 engine. Not only that, it beats the starting price of the Hemi-powered Chrysler 300C and Charger R/T, which come in at $35,100 and $30,640, respectively.

What do you think? Is the G8 price right?

Pontiac Launches G8 Microsite

Pontiac does two things right with its new microsite for the upcoming G8 sedan: First, the G8 on the microsite is black. All big, muscular cars, sedan or otherwise, better look good in black. Second, the site lets you build your own G8. No, there are no prices attached, but you can find out what colors — like the oddly purple Stealth Blue Metallic — and option packages will be available.

There are also full specs and a photo gallery but, alas, only a few more images of the G8. We’ll keep an eye out for more information from GM on the new G8 when it gets closer to its on-sale date early in 2008.

Pontiac G8 Microsite

Related
Hands On: Pontiac G8, Buick Enclave (KickingTires)
More Pontiac G8 News (KickingTires)

Hands On: Pontiac G8, Buick Enclave

I'm still in the wilds of Wisconsin, but have non-track camera photos that might be of interest. Last night we got an early look at the all-new Pontiac G8 sedan and Buick Enclave crossover. Check out the photo album for some cell phone shots (we didn't know the cars would be there or we would've brought a better camera) below.

Some initial reactions:

The G8 is really nice. This red G8 we got a look at isn't a production model, but it's the most polished prototype I've ever seen. I can't believe the one that goes on sale at the end of the year will be different in the least. Perhaps, the new emblem will get some alterations. A Pontiac rep said the new, silver one is getting a lot of positive comments though.

The interior is far beyond any Pontiac in a long time, mainly because it's from Australia, but even still, it is an improvement from the GTO's interior. The armrests for example are padded in leather. The rear seats are quite comfy too.

The red really shows off the car's menacing look well, and looks a hundred times better than the grey show car from the Chicago auto show.

We did get some vague comments on the price of the G8 which should be in the low $30,000 range up to "around" $35,000 for the top of the line GT, but no one was announcing anything this far in advance of the on sale date.

The Buick Enclave was exactly what I expected; a very nice adaptation of the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia. There isn't more to really say. The layout is identical, the Enclave simply has nicer leather and trim pieces. The most obvious difference is the exterior styling which was quite nice in the maroon color of the display car.

Check out the cell phone photos here. I apologize for the low res. Feel free to ask me more questions in the comments below. 

GM Halts Rear-Wheel-Drive Development Over Bush Mileage Proposals

We just got some major news from General Motors by way of Jim Mateja of the Chicago Tribune. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told Mateja that GM is stopping rear-wheel-drive vehicle planning because of possible new fuel efficiency standards.

The upcoming Chevy Camaro is still on the docket, but the future Impala — which Lutz says may not be named Impala — could be shelved until a front-wheel-drive model is designed. The article didn't mention the upcoming Pontiac G8, due out in 2008, but we assume it's still in the pipeline.

Lutz says the RWD cars can’t achieve 30% better mileage, which is part of the Bush administration’s proposal to raise fuel economy over the next 10 years.

The move also curtails development of some exciting new vehicles we now may never see, including a high-performance midsize Pontiac — a possible G6 replacement? — a small Cadillac below the CTS, a Buick Lucerne replacement, and 300-hp versions of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters.

It’s an interesting article — maybe even a “must read.”

[GM Puts Brake on Rear-Drive Vehicles, Chicago Tribune]

Pontiac's New Experimental Logo

We’ve gone a few days without talking about the Pontiac G8, so it should be safe to bring it up again, right? OK, we promise not to talk about the G8 itself, but instead the new Pontiac emblem GM unveiled on the show car. The silver emblem was created to replace the conventional red Pontiac logo we’ve grown accustomed over the past 40 years or so. Obviously, a car company doesn’t mess with that much tradition without some market research, and the Chicago Auto Show is ripe with consumers. We like the new look, and it sure will be easier to swallow on certain exterior colors. What do you think? Is it time for a change? Should GM keep it the way it is? Is this more interesting than the Ford Taurus naming announcement?

2007 Chicago Auto Show: Pontiac G8 Video

We don’t normally point to enthusiast sites, but Worldcarfans.com posted via YouTube this video of the new Pontiac G8 that debuted in Chicago on Wednesday, and we just had to put it up. There’s nothing quite like seeing a car in motion to tell you how it will look in the real world. Plus, this one’s red! We will say that the sound doesn’t seem to always be coming from the G8, but otherwise it’s worth the time to watch. Enjoy.

Pontiac G8 Interior Up Close

Pontiac's new G8 performance sedan was one of the most significant debuts at the Chicago Auto Show, and any enthusiast going to the show should check it out. If you can't make it, no problem; this photo blog of the car's interior will bring it to you.

2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Pontiac G8

GM answers the rear-wheel drive full-size sedan question with the all-new Pontiac G8. The angled auto is based on a popular Australian sedan and will hit the U.S. in August with a choice of a 260 hp V-6 engine or 360 hp V-8.

That’s some serious power going to rear wheels, a set-up enthusiasts have been clamoring for ever since … well, forever, but especially since Chrysler introduced the 300C.

We’re most excited about, well, the V-8, but the interior looks to be of a high quality ,similar to the now-defunct GTO, also based on an Australian GM vehicle. More photos below and more information will be coming from the show floor later today.

Pontiac G8 to Debut at Chicago Auto Show

We all knew it would happen, but GM made it official today, announcing that the all-new Pontiac G8 sedan will debut at the Chicago Auto Show next week. The announcement was prompted by an ABC News special that aired last night in which GM’s Rick Wagoner showed off the front end of the new G8 to Charlie Gibson. As we told you before, the new G8 is based on the also-new Holden Commodore sedan that GM produces in Australia. It will be rear-wheel drive, with an optional V-8 engine of some type, we’re sure.

Photo Courtesy of Jalopnik

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2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Pontiac G8