Pontiac G8
The Pontiac G8 is a full-size sedan which was produced by Holden in Australia for export to the United States, where it was sold by Pontiac. The G8, a rebadged Holden Commodore, was released in early 2008 for the 2008 model year in the United States, and in 2008 for the 2009 model year in Canada. Production stopped in mid-2009, following the GM decision to suspend the Pontiac brand. While available, the G8 took the place in the Pontiac lineup of both the Pontiac Bonneville, which ceased production after the 2005 model year, and the Pontiac Grand Prix, which ceased production after the 2008 model year.
| Pontiac G8 (GMX557) | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Holden (General Motors) |
| Also called | Chevrolet Lumina (Middle East, South East Asia, South Africa) Chevrolet Omega (Brazil) Holden Commodore (VE) |
| Production | December 2007 – June 2009 |
| Model years | 2008–2009 |
| Assembly | Australia: Elizabeth, South Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Platform | GM Zeta platform |
| Related | Buick Park Avenue Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Caprice Holden Statesman/Caprice (WM/WN) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 5-speed 5L40-E automatic 6-speed 6L80-E automatic 6-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 114.7 in (2,913 mm) |
| Length | 196.1 in (4,981 mm) |
| Width | 74.8 in (1,900 mm) |
| Height | 57.7 in (1,466 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,946 lb (1,790 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Pontiac Bonneville (1958–2005) Pontiac GTO (2004-2006) |
| Successor | Chevrolet SS (U.S.) Chevrolet Caprice (U.S.) |
By December 2008, the rear wheel drive G8 had not become the expected sales replacement for the previous front-drive models, with 11,000 unsold G8s in the inventory and just 13,000 sold. During the 2009 global economic downturn, market prices had dropped by $3000–5000 below GM's sticker price for the car. By July 2009, there were only 5,000 unsold G8s in inventory, with almost 30,700 sold.
With the imminent demise of the Pontiac brand, a result of GM's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the 2009 model year marked the end of all Pontiacs, including the G8. However, in July 2009, Bob Lutz made an off-hand comment during a press review that the G8 would be revived as the Chevrolet Caprice. Subsequently, Lutz retracted this statement, citing market conditions. Nevertheless, General Motors announced the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) in 2009, which Car and Driver described as a successor to the G8. To fill the gap left by the G8, GM announced the Chevrolet SS, a RWD V8 powered sedan for 2014 based on the Holden Commodore (VF).