This stunning Pontiac G8 was designed by Neil Tjin and is being built by Unique Fabrication in time for SEMA next month. Mods include a custom PPG blue/grey one-off paint job, a rewrapped and diamond stitched interior, a prototype Vortech supercharger kit with front mount intercooler, Corvette Z06 brakes and seven spoke one lug wheels. Check out Neil’s G8 ride page to see how the build is progressing so far, and we’ll keep you posted as the car nears completion.

We already have 37 Pontiac G8s on CarDomain. The top rated G8 has an APS stealth twin turbo kit and has dynoed at 553.6 RWHP and 588.8 FT/LBS torque. Oh, and it’s rolling on 22s. Check it out!

When Pontiac decided to going ahead with production on their version of the Holden Ute, they were stuck on what to name it. So a few months ago they set up a web site to let the public submit their ideas for names. It was a nice idea, and showed that GM really cared what its potential customers thought. Well now the long wait is over, and it’s official—GM has released the name of their stateside "ute" and the name is…

Pontiac G8 ST

As in, the name that they were going to call it in the first place. Do you feel as cheated and let down as I do? After 18,000 submissions to the web site, GM apparently thought we were all a bunch of rubes and went with its concept name anyways. All I can say is, thanks to the watering down of the American auto industry, we will never have another new exciting product name or a color other than silver.

After the CarDomain editorial team had dinner with Bob Lutz last week, I teased you with the revelation that the G8 GT would be getting an optional 6-speed manual. Guess what: I was totally wrong! In addition to whipping the G8 community into an absolute frenzy and providing massive unintentional link-bait, the mistaken "news" drew a response from Manager of Pontiac Communications Jim Hopson, who confirmed that the manual shift is in fact going the way of the dinosaurs, even in Pontiac’s flagship muscle car. (But, the silver lining: the GXP will get the coveted six-speed). The ones who really lose out are G8 enthusiasts like those at the GM Inside News forum, who are now heartbroken after my fuckup boosted their hopes for a truly cool affordable G8 and are threatening to go buy Subarus. Sorry to mess with your emotions, guys. Bob Lutz must’ve been hella sloshed to throw out a patently false doozie like that one. Oh no, wait—that was me! Check out Pontiac’s damage control after the jump.

Thanks, G8 Nation, for sorting it out!

Continue reading "Sorry G8 GT, You Don't Get A Stick Shift. But GXP Does!" »

Check out this incredible new Pontiac G8 advert. It’s Spy Hunter gone Laguna Seca, complete with an Excaliber, something that looks vaguely Landie, and I can’t decide between a Monte Carlo or a Grand National. Whatever. Pontiac is back, and this ad is putting the G8 in front of the right people. I love it!

Ok, so maybe its not actually called the El Camino yet. In fact, Pontiac doesn’t really know what the hell to call it, so they’re having contest to figure it out. One thing they do know is that they’re building it—and it’ll be here by the end of this year. The new El Camino (yeah, baby!) is actually a Pontiac G8 with the tush cut off and replaced by a pick-up bed. These babies are huge in the land down under, where they’re simply known as Utes. Power will be the same as the G8 GT, meaning it will get the same 361hp/385lbs-ft mill. This is good news because aside from hauling whatever you can fill the bed with it will surely haul some serious ass as well. Check out the rest of the pics after the jump.

And remember, people: "Business in the front and PARTY IN THE BACK!!" Long live the mullet.

This is a car that I’m really diggin’ and have been waiting for for some time. You see, when it comes to fast 4-doors, there aren’t that many choices. We have the Dodge Charger SRT-8, Chrysler 300 SRT-8 (basically the same thing), Nissan Maxima (yes it’s front wheel drive but it’s fast so don’t bitch), the BMW M5 and M3 but they’re a bit out most people’s price range. In my opinion, the market is prime for a good ol’ American muscle sedan which is exactly what the G8 is. I’m speaking mainly of the G8 GXP: this is the one that’ll be priced around 40k, have 400+hp and a six-speed manual tranny. It will also have 14" rotors with some big honkin’ Brembo calipers and 19" wheels… nice, right? It’ll also do 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and most likely top out around 160mph.

This is good news for those of us who are in the market for a fast sedan. The paint on the show car was some kinda funky bowling ball gold, but other than that though they built a really nice car. The interior is somewhat reminiscent of the GTO, meaning it’s nice with some quality materials—and that, combined with the bulldog exterior styling makes for handsome muscle ride. When the G8 comes out at the end of the year I may have to make some room in MR. ANGRY’s garage for one. We’ll see.

Edmunds just published a comparison test between the Pontiac G8 GT and the Dodge Charger R/T. It wasn’t even close. They found the Pontiac to be superior in just about every category, despite its lower price.

Forget for a moment that in every performance category the G8 GT walks all over the Charger R/T. Go ahead and overlook the G8′s more aggressive decoration and attractively sinister countenance. Just concentrate your mind on this: The Pontiac is cheaper. Its $29,995 base price is $1,460 under the cost of a Charger R/T, and the as-tested price of this red G8 GT is a thick $3,810 less than the as-tested price of this Charger R/T.

The G8 GT’s $32,745 price is a flat raging bargain. And we Americans love bargains — even when the car is built in Australia.

Read the full test at Edmunds.

Well, we knew it was coming: the Indy Racing League and CART have gotten back together. Most of the details have been keep secret, but we were able to learn a few things. IRL has promised to help out around the house more, and CART says IRL’s friends are welcome anytime. Let’s hope those two kids make it work. Here’s the news:

• GM’s Bob Lutz is standing by his declaration that global warning is a "total crock of shit." Since Lutz is in his ’70s, his statement makes us think of four words: mandatory, retirement, John, and McCain. Automotive News
• Tata is planning to release the world’s cheapest new car, but of late, the company has been making the kind of noise usually associated with polysyllabic supercar manufacturers. Today’s big news?  Sales will start in October 2009. AutoObserver
• Yup, Bentleys are pricey. They’re actually so pricey that even when they’re sold as salvage, they can set records. Check out how much this banged up Continental GTC brought at auction. AutoExpress
• It’s been a long time since Pontiac actually built excitement, and it’s hoping to change that with the new G8. But did they pull it off? Popular Mechanics

In its February issue, Motor Trend confirms that GM will be bringing a version of the Holden Ute to the US market. It will be known in the States as the Pontiac G8 ST ("Sport Truck"), and is due to become available this fall. The ST will be available with either a V6 or a V8, and unfortunately at this point, only a 6-speed automatic. A special edition with a 6-speed manual is rumored to be in the works. Another potential Aussie import that has enjoyed significantly less fanfare is the "SW," which, you guessed it, stands for "Sport Wagon." GM has confirmed that it will not be offering a Pontiac G8 SW on the domestic market, amidst dwindling interest in wagons among US buyers. Solid details on the US Ute are still far and few between at this point, but that wont stop me from staking out the local Pontiac dealership come September!