If my Taurus goes belly-up any time soon, I know what I’ll be looking into. Via Left Lane News, I heard about the positively drool-worthy 2008 Pontiac G8:
General Motors has revealed the 2008 Pontiac G8 sports sedan. Based on the Commodore from GM’s Holden subsidiary in Australia, the G8 will serve as a replacement to the aging Grand Prix.
The base model features a 261 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 250 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful G8 GT delivers 362 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque thanks to a 6.0-liter V8.
The basic G8 features a five-speed automatic with manual mode, while the GT version is offered with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox.
Curb weight for the V6 model is 3,885 lbs, while the GT weighs just five pounds shy of 4,000. 18-inch wheels come standard, while 19-inch alloys can be ordered with the GT model.
The sedan rides on GM’s new Zeta rear-wheel-drive platform, which underpins the 2009 Camaro and the next-generation Impala, in addition to several other planned vehicles.
G8 deliveries are expected to begin in August — a relatively short lead time made possible by some very effective badge engineering.
I love the lines on that thing and it’s flippin’ awesome that GM is finally availing itself of the excellent RWD platforms that it has been squirreling away in Oz for far too many years under the Holden badge.
As someone whose family has had several Pontiac Grand **’s, I think that is a fine looking car. But I’m not sure how much I like the hood scoops or how I feel about RWD. I realize that the automatic controls on new RWD cars are really good, I still don’t always like knowing that in emergency maneuvering, the car is at heart an unstable system.
Also of note, now that I have a GM card and am earning some decent reward dollars, my motivation to buy a new GM car continues to decrease.
nothing like cramming a corvette engine (LS2) into a sedan. Maybe they will make a SS with the LS7? I doubt it. Too bad they discontinued the GTO (same idea minus 2 doors). Maybe they will bring it back on the new platform.
In response to nobrainer – I think GM cars are better now than they have been for the last 20 years. When I bought my car 5 years ago, i didn’t even look at anything made in the US (well, my honda WAS actually made in ohio, but you get my point). Now I think there are several great options from Pontiac & Saturn.
I know I’ve read that GMs have been good-to-improving in initial quality for quite some time. I’m mostly worried about long term quality… but of course you can’t really wait around to learn that kind of information.
OK – late to the party.
Andy2 – expect a new GTO about when this launches. Also a Holden. In fact, Pontiac is basically going to be badge engineered holdens, just like Saturn is becoming rebadged Opels. Not that this is a problem, as at least the US brands are seeing some divergence.