A round of applause for Pontiac. GM’s performance division has been working hard to lift its game after a long series of lacklustre offerings and this year it hits the jackpot with its new G8 series. Not only has the G8 gained sophistication by losing a lot of the over-the-top spoilers and add-ons, it has gained a high performance member of the team in the GXP, and the best news of all, has introduced manual transmission on the GXP which has been much longed-for. It looks better, goes faster and is more fun to drive. What more could we want?
Pontiac is all about performance, and this year the 2009 series really delivers. The new GXP is a design triumph with a 6.2-liter V8 that produces more than 400hp, 402 pounds-feet of torque and goes from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. It is one of the new generation of small-block V8s with larger diameter pistons, high flow cylinders and fuel injectors to optimize efficiency in the combustion chamber, plus a new design camshaft and valvetrain. With its six-speed Tremec manual transmission option it is pure fun to drive, featuring premium gear synchronization, machined gear teeth and the counter-shaft in single piece for clean movement. It’s handling has been developed on the racetracks so the result is that it really feels like a racing car in its handling, with superior MacPherson high performance suspension, front stabilizer bar and lateral ball joints on the back suspension for more responsiveness. Topping off the package are the 19inch performance tyres which give the exceptional handling and fully justify all the other improvements.
Having said all that, even the base model G8 is great this year with its 3.6-liter V6 engine pumping out 256hp and 248 pounds-feet of torque. Its five-speed automatic transmission offers manual shift control for a more hands-on ride. The next model up is the GT which has a 6.0-liter V8 and 361hp with 385 pounds-feet of torque and a six-speed automatic. It rivals its big brother the GXP for speed, making it to 60mph in just 5.3 seconds, as opposed to the V6 which does it in 7 seconds. The automatic transmission models are much improved with a steeper first gear to provide a burst of acceleration and then longer overdrive ratios to lower the rpms for more economical fuel consumption. However you certainly don’t buy a Pontiac G8 for its fuel economy, so the 17/25 mpg (city/highway) EPA rating for the V6 and 15/24mpg for the V8 probably won’t faze too many buyers, although with gasoline prices the way they are Pontiac drivers may not be making so many long trips.
2009 Pontiac G8 Interior
On the inside the 2009 Pontiac G8 series has also undergone a revolution in styling. Gone is the plastic obsession and in its place is stylish satin and chrome trim for the GXP and quality textiles for the seats in all models. A Comfort and Sound package is available on the base model G8 which upgrades the materials, and the Premium Package even throws in leather heated front seats. When you drive a car like the Pontiac G8 you need to play your music loud, and the base model sports a 7-speaker sound system with 6-CD/ MP3 player while the GT and above have 11-speaker Blaupunkt sound systems which will really pump it out loud. There are XM Satellite Radio and audio jacks in all models, plus dual-zone auto climate control and an optional sunroof.
There is plenty of space throughout, even in the back seat which has looked more like an afterthought in recent models. There is still that centre tunnel running under the rear middle seat’s legroom, but it is a small sacrifice to pay for the superior rear-drive equipment housed under there. Seats in the front are particularly comfortable and supportive, and are reminiscent of racing seats to hold the driver steady while cornering – even more incentive (if you really need it) to push your Pontiac to its limits every now and then.
2009 Pontiac G8 Safety
There are a full range of safety features for the Pontiac this year, including Electronic Stability Control partnered with ABS and traction control for superior performance in emergency situations. Together these features automatically detect when the car is going out of control, actively reducing engine power and selectively apply brakes to prevent understeering and oversteering. Full airbags are also provided.
Standard safety features include:
- Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control
- Electronic stability control
- Seat-mounted thorax air bags, dual-stage frontal airbags and automatic passenger sensing system
- Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows
- OnStar emergency communication
Overall the 2009 G8 is a triumph of reinvention for Pontiac who have been relegated in recent years to the status of building good lease cars and not much more. The GXP is a masterly stroke of high performance heaven, and indeed the whole range is brilliantly engineered for quality driving.