Aussie sourced Pontiac G8 to feature Solstice front-end

Pontiac’s replacement for the Grand Prix, the Australian sourced VE Commodore, will feature new front-end styling when it goes on sale in 2008 as the new G8. Automotive News reports that the car will feature a unique nose similar to that seen on Pontiac’s smaller Solstice roadster (pictured above) including unique sheet metal from the A-pillar forward.

General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz confirmed that the Australian built car would be exported to the US during the recent Detroit Motor Show but stated that final details won’t be revealed until next month’s Chicago Auto Show. The G8 will be built of GM’s new Zeta platform, which will also spawn the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro and Impala sedan. The new car will be slightly longer and wider than the 2007 Grand Prix and comes in RWD only.

GM previous attempt at selling Holden’s Monaro coupe as a rebadged Pontiac GTO didn’t meet expectations, mainly because of criticisms of the car’s conservative styling. This is something GM would not like to repeat with the new G8 and according to Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson, the car would definitely require styling changes "to make it uniquely Pontiac, uniquely American."