Not too long ago (two posts below this one), Autotropolis.com broke down the all-new Pontiac G8 performance sedan for you. As much as we like the G8 around here, Pontiac has a few more tricks up its sleeve.
Gearing up for the 2008 New York Auto Show, Pontiac added even more excitement with the introduction of a Solstice hardtop coupe and two additions to the G8 lineup: a 400-horsepower GXP offering and a two-door sport pickup truck.
While the G8 GXP and Solstice coupe will be low production cars and will probably come with a hefty price tag, the G8 sport truck seems like the real winner of this exciting trio. Even better, if Pontiac prices this thing right, it could actually become a contender in the pickup truck market.
From the front seats forward, everything is the same as the basic G8 sedan. Behind the B-pillars, however, it looks like an old Chevrolet El Camino slammed into the back of the car. Fortunately, the overall look is 10,000 percent more attractive than if that were really the case. Inside, the pickup uses the same parts from the sedan, which means it will remain a two-seater. The G8 sport truck is one fine looking vehicle and should be even more fun to drive than the sedan.
Riding on a stretched version of the platform used on the G8, the sport pickup truck rides on a 118.5-inch wheelbase (3.7 inches longer than the sedan) and an overall length of 201.8 inches (5.7 inches longer than the sedan). Curb weight matches the G8 GT at 3,995 pounds.
The true test for any pickup depends on how much it can haul in the bed and how much it can tow. The G8 pickup has a payload capacity (how much can be hauled in the cargo bed) of 1,316 pounds – more than the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. The independent rear suspension, which should provide a sporty ride and stellar handling, is an obvious weak point in the G8’s towing capability, which is limited to just 3,500 – the same as a four-cylinder equipped Nissan Frontier.
With its small cabin, the G8 pickup will probably have interior volume small enough to give it an EPA classification as a compact truck, which would make the G8 the only compact pickup on the market that offers an available V-8. Currently, there are two midsize pickup trucks on the market that have an available V-8: the Dodge Dakota and Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Powering the G8 sport truck, which has still yet to be officially named (follow this link and submit your idea to Pontiac for a possible name), is the same arsenal underneath the hood of the G8 sedan that includes a 256-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 and a 6.0-liter V-8 with 361 horses readily available to your right foot. Similar to the 2008 G8 sedan, the only transmission listed by Pontiac is a six-speed automatic. It is worth mentioning that the G8 GXP will feature a six-speed manual transmission that is sure to find its way into the other G8 models.
If Pontiac decides to make a GXP version of its latest sport pickup, it could be one of the most powerful pickups to grace GM showrooms since the legendary 1991 GMC Syclone. If the G8 sport truck turns out to be a wild success, Pontiac could easily offer a four-door G8 pickup truck based on the Holden Crewman.
Review written by: Jeffrey N. Ross
All photos courtesy of General Motors