The Pontiac G8 ST is Coming to the New York Auto Show + Info on G8 wagon

[jetsetter]

Start packing the car truck, we're leaving today - to grab a front row seat at the New York Auto Show for General Motors’ press conference.

Very reliable sources have told PickupTruck.com that the production Pontiac G8 ST (Sport Truck), based on Holden's VE Ute, will bow in the Big Apple in late March during the NY Auto Show’s media days. WO0t!

The decision to move forward with the G8 ST was made even though there are still lingering concerns inside GM about the exchange rate between the Australian and U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar had continued to weaken against the Aussie buck recently, the price for the imported Ute would have been too high for the market.

This news follows GoAuto.com’s Lutzian scoop last week that a four-door GMC-badged ‘Crewman’ Ute concept would also appear at the NY Auto Show. Now, other online sources are reporting that the GMC pickup concept will instead appear at the Chicago Auto Show early next month. We’ll keep our pens sheathed on that point. There’s an embargo, dontcha know.

Last year our sources also gave us the official name of the Pontiac G8 ST and news that only a 361-hp V8 would be offered, starting at $31,000 USD. The name remains the same but a lower-priced 256-hp V6 version of the ST will also be available.

Here’s why.

The recently cancelled Pontiac G8 version of Holden's VE Sportwagon was only going to be available with a V6 for CAFE reasons, to offset the G8 ST’s V8 fuel economy rating. But with the wagon gone, the Ute will have to average out CAFE on its own. Hence, the V6 has been added. Good news for G8 ST owners looking for a cheaper Ute to park in their driveways.

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/auto...8stcoming.html

That last bit was interesting. I was sad that the wagon was canceled but now that I know it would have only been offered with a V6 I feel slightly less sad.

[MadCow809]

looks like the lumina bakkies we have in SA(same as Aussie spec i think? called the UTE or something. Those V8 bakkies are quite something to be rekoned with. I raced one last year sometime with my mate in the 130. i got a decent launch with the beemer, took him in first and second, as i hit third, the guy is by my side mirrors, he managed to open up a gap by end the of third gear. i backed off after shifting into fourth, knowing its impossible to catch the oke. im impressed, that thing farks off properly, sounds mean as well.

i want one.

[klutch]

Maybe I'm tired...but that article made no sense to me. Is the thing coming with a V8 or isn't it?

[jetsetter]

Originally Posted by klutch

Maybe I'm tired...but that article made no sense to me. Is the thing coming with a V8 or isn't it?

Originally it was thought that it would only come with a V8 but now that the wagon has been canceled it will now also come with a V6.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by MadCow809

looks like the lumina bakkies we have in SA(same as Aussie spec i think? called the UTE or something. Those V8 bakkies are quite something to be rekoned with. I raced one last year sometime with my mate in the 130. i got a decent launch with the beemer, took him in first and second, as i hit third, the guy is by my side mirrors, he managed to open up a gap by end the of third gear. i backed off after shifting into fourth, knowing its impossible to catch the oke. im impressed, that thing farks off properly, sounds mean as well.

i want one.

That's an old generation ute in the second picture, SA has the same as us I'm fairly certain. I'm not sure if you guys get the HSV version or not

[thedguy]

If the Ute/Wagon are anything like the Sedan, the V6 seems pointless, as I mentioned in the review of the G8... you save 1 measly mile per gallon, and only on the highway.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by thedguy

If the Ute/Wagon are anything like the Sedan, the V6 seems pointless, as I mentioned in the review of the G8... you save 1 measly mile per gallon, and only on the highway.

Not around town, the v6 uses substantially less fuel

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

Not around town, the v6 uses substantially less fuel

hmmm Edmunds article posted in the Mag reviews section says otherwise. But US EPA site says 15 for the v8 and 17 for the v6, must be a misprint on Edmunds part.

[Bakis]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

Not around town, the v6 uses substantially less fuel

Yeah but u gotta rev it to 7000rpm to get anywhere no torque ftl.

[BlaRo]

G8amino!



YES. Fucking FINALLY.

[cdbob]

Another Home Run for GM

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Bakis

Yeah but u gotta rev it to 7000rpm to get anywhere no torque ftl.

Thats the fun of it for some of us though. Granted it's a bit pointless in a pick-up. Based on numbers alone though, this new v6 is better than the old 3.8.

Personally I wish GM would drop all non Direct Injected versions of this motor. Even if it means detuning the power on some for even better fuel economy.

[MattD1zzl3]

I demand it be renamed "Pontiac El Camino"

[JipJopJones]

OH SWEET!!!!!!! There are no words to describe how stoked I am right now. God damn, why can't chvy sell it as an El Camino though?

And here's to ford bringing the FPV Persuit to North America as the Ranchero!

[Lupin_IV]

Originally Posted by MattD1zzl3

I demand it be renamed "Pontiac El Camino"

I'd rather they throw out the Denali XT, and just make this a GMC Sprint.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by JipJopJones

OH SWEET!!!!!!! There are no words to describe how stoked I am right now. God damn, why can't chvy sell it as an El Camino though?

And here's to ford bringing the FPV Persuit to North America as the Ranchero!

Ford USA told Ford Aus that there was no market in the US for the falcon.....

[Crazyjeeper]

Seriously? ARGH, stupid ford execs.

[MattD1zzl3]

I want one, and i HATE pickup trucks!

Hell, i'd buy the V6 for a cheap daily. This should be coming into production by the time i can afford a new car, i might just have to go for it!

(Ouch, Camaro with T-Tops AND a Modern El-Camino? I'm really racking up the redneck points with my car choices... I was born in new york and raised in the north, i swear it!!!1)

[tigger]

Gah, fuck you CAFE! Fuck you right in the eye! At least we'll get the ute, although I wasn't too impressed with GMC's take on it. I was really looking forward to the wagon though. A base V8 model G8 wagon with a manual sounds like the perfect daily driver to me.