General Motors’ Pontiac division has again gone shopping ‘down under’ in Australia for a powerful V8 sports model.
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Last time, it was Holden’s Monaro two-door coupe that migrated to the US, with a big GM US-made V8, a mild restyle and some changes such as a relocated fuel tank to meet Federal safety rules.
This time, it’s the sporting SS variant of the Commodore four-door sedan going Stateside with left-hand drive, again with a large US-made GM V8 engine (plus a V6 alternative) and badged the G8, replacing the long-serving Grand Prix line. There’s already a US-made line of smaller V6 sedan, coupe and convertible models called G6.
Pontiac said the base G8 model has a 3.6-litre DOHC V6 with variable valve timing, rated at 261 horsepower (194 kW) and paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode.
Holden makes this ‘global V6’ in Australia for its own models and exports a proportion to other GM affiliates.
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By GlobalDataThe G8 GT has a “uniquely configured” six-litre small-block V8, rated at 362 horsepower (270 kW), and a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode is standard along with a fuel-saving ‘active fuel management system’ which enhances fuel economy by alternating between eight- and four-cylinder power. An optional six-speed manual transmission will be available soon after launch. A limited-slip rear differential is standard for GT models.
The redesigned Commodore, launched in Australia last year, was developed in-house by the Melbourne-based GM Australian unit and is built on a redesigned platform expected to underpin other large GM rear drive cars in the future.
First pictures of the US-specification Pontiac spin-off show a redesigned nose and bonnet (hood) scoops but most of the interior looks similar to the Holden versions. Cloth seating is standard with heated leather available. G8 GT models will also offer an optional two-tone cloth or leather combination that pairs black with either red or blue inserts and colour-matched instrument faces on certain exterior colour combinations.
Standard equipment on all models includes four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control, electronic stability control, 18-inch aluminium wheels (19-inch wheels optional with sport package), seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger sensing system, roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows, OnStar telematics, XM Satellite Radio, power-adjustable front seats and fog lamps.
A sport package will be available for both models, and adds those 19-inch aluminium wheels and performance tyres to the GT, plus a rear wing spoiler, leather shift knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy pedals to both models.
The show car also features some unique items not found on the production model, including 20-inch “shadow chrome” wheels and performance tyres, ride height lowered approximately half-inch, high-performance brake rotors with painted brake callipers, custom interior trim colour, including a leather-wrapped dash, exclusive ‘phantom grey’ paint and a concept of a ‘modernised’ Pontiac badge, to gauge public opinion.
Holden already builds left-hand drive Commodore variants badged as Chevrolets for the Middle East where the line replaced the US-sourced Lumina line some years ago.
As well as the new G8, General Motors’ Saturn unit is using the Chicago show to preview a new model line it will source from Adam Opel in Germany.
