Two New G8 Models Heading Pontiac’s Way?
Industry insiders are reporting that General Motors will bring two new variations on the G8 platform to the U.S. after the launch of that car in 2008.
A station wagon and a sporty utility vehicle should be headed Pontiac’s way. The pair will be Australian built, based on the Commodore wagon, and Holden VE SUV (pictured).
If the weakening American dollar holds enough value to make importing the cars financially viable for The General, the move would likely add a little excitement to the lineup as both the wagon and the sport Ute are to be based on the G8’s versatile rear-drive platform. With the truck probably sharing a drivetrain with Chevrolet’s Camaro, we see this move netting a pair of uniquely desirable vehicles.
Are Pontiac-badged imports the way back for GM’s brand of driving excitement? Share your thoughts in ‘comments’.
Take a look at Pontiac's recent G8 on display at SEMA last month:
+ Autoblog: Report: Pontiac G8 will spawn wagon, sport truck
Comments
The Stig
SUV? Looks like an El Camino to me - something that I would definitely not classify as an SUV. The wagon might work. It would give the Magnum crowd something to trade up to.
john Riley
An Australian Ute and an American SUV are not the same thing, so I would avoid using "SUV" in this context.
fstst56
Why not? SUV: Sport Utility Vehicle. Works for me. Let us know when they're taking orders. I'd like mine in a diesel, though.
Southern
Looks like a pickup truck.
What's wrong with "pickup" truck?
More like el Camino as mentioned. A "crossover" PU built on a car frame......... The El Camino no was a copy of the Ford Ranchero. The Camino went on to be more successful than the Ford.
It has worked before and as such is not a "breakthrough" product.
Will it work again?
If I was in charge, we would never know............
GM doesn't need more models, they need better models.
Drop slow models (Except for signature models) and improve current Models.
The new CTS is the way to go.
Aaron
I'm strangely interested in the truck model. Even small pick-up trucks are big and cumbersome these days compared to the little nissans and toyotas of the 80's. This looks like it would be great for most runs to the local home improvement center and fun to drive, too.
This vehicle configuration is common in Europe, especially amongst the service industry. I always wondered why it never caught on here.
jason
That "SUV" model is a bad idea. That will never sell here. Subaru tried their own version this not too long ago (that four door car/pick-up bed thing) and we all know how that went. Maybe sharing the Camaro drivetrain will prove me wrong, but I really don't see that body style catching on.
Aaron
jason,
I think Subaru just made some critical mistakes with the Baja: they made it 4-doors, with a uselessly small "bed", and it was too nice and expensive. The original suby Brat made a lot more sense. It had a useable bed and was build to take abuse and was a lower line car to begin with. If the Baja had been a more faithful tribute to the Brat it would have been a small two-door with a bigger bed and would have been on the Forrester platform and priced like a base Impreza. Come to think of it, that would be pretty damn sweet.
Jeb
No no no no no...pleaaaaase, Pontiac, do NOT start shoving a bunch of G8 variants into showrooms. I don't want a wagon, I don't want a neo-Camino, keep the G8 a BALLS-OUT PERFORMANCE SEDAN and leave the family hauling to Chevy. To me, this stinks of "Mustang sedan" but in reverse. Release a GTO successor, but stop trying to "leverage the platform" into half a dozen variations on a theme.
hwyhobo
Jeb wrote
I don’t want a wagon, I don’t want a neo-Camino
I do want a wagon, and I do want a new Camino, just not based on the G8. ;)
hwyhobo
Oh, I forgot to add - fender skirts and low-profile wheels on a G8 El Camino? Brilliant. Does it come with a built-in collection of "Best of Rap"?
E46
This is the old model Commodore ute; try this link for a timeline of Holden utes
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=15
Rob
It does not help that the Car in the pic is the wrong car, but who cares? You'll find this car to be stylish and durable thanks in part to the stiff competition against Ford here in Australia. Its a shame Ford [US] didn't realise the potential they have for exporting their own Falcon as a "Ranchero" from here. They have not even engineered their "all new" units due next year for LHD. Dumb Eh? Even worse when you consider it was Ford Australia who invented and perfected the "Ranchero / El Camino style pick ups.
PS. In Australia These cars have always been called Utilities [Utes} way back before the SUV acronym had been coined.
and come on Winding Road, get the right pic next time!!
Ducati Minor
Believe it or not, the 1964-66 Plymouth Barracuda was referred to as a "sport-utility vehicle" in that it was a sporty car with lots of versatility.
hwyhobo
Well, if we go down the memory lane (or way before our memories start), the original "station wagons" were what we now call SUVs. They were tall vehicles designed to haul train passengers with their luggage from train stations to their final destinations. Hence, station wagons.
Jeff
Please, keep it like that that Holden and not something high-riding like the Cadillac SRX.
oldngrays2k
why waste the G8 platform on Pontiac? That brand is dead; throw the dirt on it and let GM move on.
Greg
GM made Saturn better by re-badging Opels, now they're going to try to fix Pontiac by re-badging Holdens. Whats next??
Ducati Minor
Buicks as re-badged Daewoos.
Perfect.
hwyhobo
Buicks used to symbolize unostentatious quality (yes, it was a while ago). Rebadging Daewoos would indeed be the last step in dismantling the GM facade. So far only Chevy Aveo is a rebadged Daewood, n'est-ce pas?
dw
Love the product, but, our weak dollar could doom these imports.
Greg
Chevrolet Epica and Chevrolet Optra are also rebadged Daewoos that GM sells in Canada. Not sure where else.
JIm
It's not a suv it's a sport truck, and its gonna eat some asphalt. I've heard that the G8 "Ute" is going to be more like the Camaro than the G8. It will have Camaro suspension and engines.
I'd love to have a GXP version. LS3 anyone?
Dick C
I own a 2005 GTO. I have been highly impressed and happy with it. Holden AG knows their business very well and knows how to build sport vehicles. Fit, finish and power trains are superb. If the new vehicles ae built and brought in, Americans will like them.
Winding Road » Archive » Pontiac Ute to be Dubbed ‘G8 ST’
[...] Here’s a quick update for all those of you out there alert for more information about the Pontiac G8 version of the Holden Ute. [...]
Muscle Cars World » Blog Archive » Pontiac Ute to be Dubbed
[...] Here’s a quick update for all those of you out there alert for more information about the Pontiac G8 version of the Holden Ute. [...]
Robert Ryan
The Holden Ute or more likely the one being sent to the US, is more like a Pontiac Trans Am with a bed, or in the case of the Maloo almost Corvette like handling and performance with some Utility. "Diesels", "Pickups" are not words you relate to a Holden Sports Ute..bit like a Corvette Duramax.
bob
THE HOLDEN UTE PICTURED IS NOT A VE MODLE 07 IT A VZ THUNDER 06 THE G8 WILL BE VE 08 6L V8 A GTO WITH A BOOT
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