By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
General Motors has had some bad luck with naming their vehicles in the past. The Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Nova both left its public relations department a little red in the face. Pontiac will not suffer the same fate with its upcoming G8 sedan.
In politics, the G8 represents the pinnacle of international conferences between the leaders of eight nations that represent 65 percent of the world’s economy. Similarly, Pontiac’s G8 will signify the efforts of a great international collaboration.
Pontiac will use GM’s Australian-based Holden division to build off the success of the G6 and Solstice. A full-size replacement for Pontiac’s aged Grand Prix, the G8 will feature two very important aspects, rear-wheel drive and a V8 engine, as Pontiac guns for import performance sedans, as well as the ever-popular Chrysler 300.
Last week, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner showed a sneak peek of the all-new G8 by pulling back the cover that was draped over the front end of the car in GM’s design studio. This week, GM has completely removed the cover to show official pictures of its new flagship sedan just days before the doors open for the 2007 Chicago Auto Show.
The G8 GT will feature a 362-horsepower, 6.0-liter V8 mated to either a manual or automatic six-speed transmission. The standard G8 will get its power from a 261-horsepower, 3.6-liter DOHC V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission. Both automatics will come standard with a manual shift mode for enhanced driving excitement. Visually, the GT and standard G8 will differ only in the rear with different taillights and exhaust outlets. The GT will offer clear-lensed taillights and four chrome-tipped exhaust outlets while the base G8 will have conventional taillight lenses and dual chrome exhaust outlets.
The G8’s design is attractive and crisp. The front end features Pontiac’s iconic dual-port grille and twin hood scoops. The bulging wheel arches will house standard 18-inch that will hopefully mock the show car’s 10-spoke “V” wheels. Front fender vents and sculpted body lines help give the G8 a stylish, yet aggressive look. In the rear, high mounted taillights flank the decklid spoiler while the rear bumper houses a trendy mock air diffuser between the exhaust outlets.
Inside the G8, GM’s latest trend of creating elegant interiors continues. While the hand-stitched leather instrument panel won’t make it into production G8s, the four-pod gauge cluster with a central information center will. Radio and HVAC controls are conveniently laid out in the center stack while the radio and information center are easily accessible to the driver thanks to controls on the sport-inspired steering wheel.
Safety features are plentiful on the new G8. A total of six airbags will be standard on all models and will include seat-mounted driver and passenger side airbags (or thorax airbags) and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for front and rear outboard passengers. Anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control are all standard as well.
Originally, the G8 will be imported from Holden in the same fashion that the latest GTO was produced. This time the Commodore VE will be the donor vehicle, and after just two years Pontiac will redesign the G8 and move production to Canada alongside the upcoming 2009 Chevrolet Camaro and the next generation GTO. The redesigned G8 is expected to use similar styling to the current Solstice.
The 2008 G8 should go on sale in mid 2007, but the G8 show car should be a main attraction when the public begins to file into the 99th edition of Chicago’s Auto Show.