2008 Pontiac G8 GT

Pontiac has long been positioned as the more exciting, performance-oriented division of General Motors. In the 60’s, this reputation was well earned, with the GTO, the Firebird and a host of other sporty models leading the way for the company. However, as the decades wore on, Pontiac descended into producing little more than re-badged Chevrolet clones, retaining few unique vehicles and building almost nothing with a serious performance edge. When Pontiac began selling minivans in the 1990’s, many people found it hard to link the current iteration of the company with the sporting heritage that had almost completely washed away.

Pontiac continued to compete in racing, notably in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, but unlike their racing entry, none of their street sedans were available in rear-wheel drive, or with V8 engines. For a period of over 10 years, Pontiac has been without such a sedan, and in the meantime, the market has passed them by. However, for 2008, everything changes with the introduction of the Pontiac G8 GT.

The G8 GT is a full-sized performance sedan that is based on the same platform that underpins the Holden Commodore, an Australian-market brand which has recently become a popular source of powerful vehicles for General Motors. Unlike the Pontiac GTO, which was also imported from across the Pacific, the new G8 bears much more aggressive styling in order to make sure it does not get lost in the same crowd that neglected the otherwise fun to drive coupe. The G8 GT brings its own fun to the table, with a 6 liter V8 engine that generates 361 horsepower and 385 lb-feet of torque – more than enough to lay rubber all the way from your house to the supermarket. Pontiac claims that the GT can reach 60 miles per hour from a standing start in 5.3 seconds.

While the power numbers are certainly there, when it comes to competing with other rear-wheel drive sport sedans on the market like the BMW 3 and 5 series, the G8’s transmission holds it back. While the 6-speed automatic is smooth and capable, the lack of a manual option removes the Pontiac from the must-drive list of many sports sedan enthusiasts. As a sort of a consolation prize, the auto transmission does have a sport mode which blocks out up shifts and provides complete manual control. General Motors has promised a manual transmission will be available for the 2009 model.

Other facets of the G8’s design also targeted BMW as a performance benchmark. The weight balance of the car was set to be split 50/50 between the front and the rear, and the G8 GT has a 4-link independent rear suspension. This is a far cry from the ponderous, solid-rear axle Pontiacs of old. 11-inch disc brakes are found at all four wheels, with twin piston calipers providing the stopping power in the front. 18-inch wheels are standard and checking the box for the optional sports package gives drivers 19 inch rims with performance tires. Inside the car, 6-way power leather seats are also an option, and the vehicle’s rear legroom is spacious and comfortable for adults on a long-distance trip. Ipod integration and a premium stereo system are available for those who like it loud.

Pontiac has really gone out of their way to make sure that their foray into the rear-wheel drive sport sedan market doesn’t pull any punches. Driving the G8 GT gives one the impression that this is the kind of car Pontiac should have been building ten years ago. Hopefully, the company will continue to follow in the footsteps of their new flagship sedan.






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July 7, 2008, 9:04 am