Drumroll Please: Pontiac Names G8 Sport Truck

At least they didn't call it El Camino Junior.

After months of excitement that a new car/truck was coming from Pontiac in the form of a Chevy El Camino-type machine — and a flurry of speculation that the car/truck might even revive the El Camino name — Pontiac has picked a moniker: G8 ST.

G8 refers to the fact that the sport truck is based on the G8 car’s platform, while ST indicates that it's a sport truck.

G8 ST won out over names from Pontiac’s past, such as Ventura and LeMans. Some names from the past, however, such as GTO and Firebird, weren't submitted.

"There were some variations using the word ‘fire,’ but none with ‘bird,’" Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said.

"What about Aztek?"

"Not a lot of votes," Hopson laughed.

New Models Not Breaking Through in Tough Market

We have a saying around here that new cars sell, meaning a new design or totally new model will usually draw in shoppers. Whether it’s thanks to a ridiculous amount of money spent on advertising, positive reviews in the press or just a head-turning man-on-the street reaction, these cars usually perform. However, some much-hyped new models are not selling well these days as Americans tighten their belts. Check out which models whose sales we found surprisingly lackluster for the month of May. 

Pontiac G8: 1,832 units sold
Last year at this time, the outgoing and completely outdated Pontiac Grand Prix, which the G8 replaces, sold 12,230 units. Let’s just say for the sake of argument that half of those were fleet sales (which is probably on the high side). That would still mean it sold three times as well as the all-new, very-well-reviewed Pontiac G8. For the past few years, GM loyalists have begged GM to build this car, but now it seems these people aren’t willing to part with their cash for this large sedan. The V-8 version gets 15/24 mpg and the V-6 gets 17/25 mpg, both near the top in the segment, but still not attractive in $4-a-gallon-gas territory. That could be one issue. 

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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