Motor Authority - blog Tag: GXP

Pontiac may be dead in the water but some enthusiasts - and until today, Bob Lutz among them - have been clamoring for at least one of the brand’s cars to be rebadged and sold under another GM brand - the Australian-built Pontiac G8. Designed and constructed by GM's Holden subsidiary Down Under, the G8 had been pegged for re-branding as a Chevrolet Caprice. Today, however, Bob Lutz made it clear that no such plans are in the works.

GM CEO Fritz Henderson has previously answered with a resounding "no" when talking about a future for the Pontiac G8 GXP, but today's news sounds the death knell for the more rational G8 and G8 GT as well.... Pontiac may be dead in the water but some enthusiasts - and until today, Bob Lutz among them - have been clamoring for at least one of the brand’s cars to be rebadged and sold under another GM brand - the Australian-built Pontiac G8. Designed and constructed by GM's Holden subsidiary Down Under, the G8 had been pegged for re-branding as a Chevrolet Caprice. Today, however, Bob Lutz made it clear that no such plans are in the works. GM CEO Fritz Henderson has previously answered with a resounding "no" when talking about a future for the Pontiac G8 GXP, but today's news sounds the death knell for the more rational G8 and G8 GT as well. On the GM Fastlane Blog, Lutz wrote, "The G8 will not be a Caprice after all. I’d mentioned it, and said we were studying it, giving it a serious look, because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste. That’s all still true. I have to say that, with my new 'marketing' hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today’s market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be." Henderson ostensibly remains committed to retain other aspects of GM's sporting heritage, including previous assurances that the Corvette will remain in the portfolio along with other performance models. The G8-to-Caprice rumor started with Lutz himself. Within hours of announcing his plans to take on a marketing role at GM, Lutz revealed to Automobile Magazine that the Pontiac G8 would find its way into Chevrolet showrooms under the Caprice name. "The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet," Lutz said. "It is kind of too good to waste." Lutz also explained that GM’s U.S. operations still has export agreements with Australia and its Holden subsidiary, and also mentioned that the Pontiac G8 is sold in other markets, such as South Africa and the Middle East, wearing Chevrolet badges. The rumor gained further credence when an 'insider' revealed a supposed plan from within GM. Speaking with Automotive News, the insider claimed that one possible option was to make the G8 a Chevrolet flagship sedan and price it relatively high. The insider also reaffirmed Lutz’s comments that the car would likely be renamed the Caprice, as well as revealing that the 415hp (310kW) G8 GXP might be retained as a sort of a “five-passenger Corvette” type of vehicle as well as a law enforcement vehicle. Instead, the new national fuel economy standards have carried the day, and the G8 will no longer see American shores under any badge. Unfortunately, the model loss may not stop there, as GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson explained that there are “real issues with CAFE and rear-wheel drive.”2009 Pontiac G8 GXPPontiac G8 Read More

General Motors is trimming its model lineup to get rid of its underperforming sport models across all its brands. Just yesterday, it was revealed that Chevrolet will no longer offer the Impala SS variant for 2010, nor will it offer the 2010 Cobalt SS sedan.

Following in the footsteps of these two will be two more GM models facing the axe, for 2010 at least. These include the Cadillac STS-V, the high-performance variant of the STS, and the Pontiac G6 GXP. The Cobalt SS Coupe and HHR SS Panel are also expected to disappear, though these two will stick around until the end of calendar 2009 or early 2010 at least.

The 470hp (350kW) STS-V has... General Motors is trimming its model lineup to get rid of its underperforming sport models across all its brands. Just yesterday, it was revealed that Chevrolet will no longer offer the Impala SS variant for 2010, nor will it offer the 2010 Cobalt SS sedan. Following in the footsteps of these two will be two more GM models facing the axe, for 2010 at least. These include the Cadillac STS-V, the high-performance variant of the STS, and the Pontiac G6 GXP. The Cobalt SS Coupe and HHR SS Panel are also expected to disappear, though these two will stick around until the end of calendar 2009 or early 2010 at least. The 470hp (350kW) STS-V has been a sales disappointment for Cadillac, and considering that it retails for a hefty $80,000 it’s not difficult to see why. The cancellation of this product means that Cadillac's flagship performance car will be the CTS-V, which has silenced a number of critics with its reasonable price and scintillating performance. Also facing the chopping block for 2010 will be Pontiac's G6 GXP. The G6 GXP was the most powerful model in the G6 lineup, featuring close to 250hp (186kW). We doubt too many people would be shedding a tear over it, however, especially considering Pontiac will be phased out by the end of 2010. But GM is not totally writing off performance. There remains the SS trim for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac still has the CTS-V, and there's always the Z06 and ZR1 versions of the Corvette supercar. Read More

General Motors' Pontiac brand has been the subject of some very close scrutiny as a result of the dire financial straits of the automotive industry, and its future is still uncertain. There's even speculation that the brand could be axed altogether, but until then, it's business as usual, and today the most interesting vehicle to wear the Pontiac badge gets a price.

The G8 GXP's sub-$40,000 starting price puts it at the pinnacle of the performance-per-dollar race, right alongside the standard Corvette and the Cadillac CTS-V. To get a car with similar accommodations and power from any other brand - if they even offer one - would require... General Motors' Pontiac brand has been the subject of some very close scrutiny as a result of the dire financial straits of the automotive industry, and its future is still uncertain. There's even speculation that the brand could be axed altogether, but until then, it's business as usual, and today the most interesting vehicle to wear the Pontiac badge gets a price. The G8 GXP's sub-$40,000 starting price puts it at the pinnacle of the performance-per-dollar race, right alongside the standard Corvette and the Cadillac CTS-V. To get a car with similar accommodations and power from any other brand - if they even offer one - would require several thousand more dollars at the least. But is bang-for-the-buck enough to prop up the ailing Pontiac brand and the slow-selling G8 in particular? We reviewed the G8 not long after its arrival in the U.S., and our main quibble with the car was its lack of power - but we were given the V6 version. The GXP is certainly liable to no such criticism, and at its $39,995 base price, plus $695 for the manual transmission, the range-topper is likely to be a very pleasing package on the whole. Unfortunately for GM and Pontiac, it was never intended to be a volume seller. Even if it were, and with fuel prices at five-year lows, the 13mpg city/20mpg highway rating would likely force some buyers to reconsider. But regardless of the G8 GXP's power to save its brand, or even the possibly endangered G8 family, it's a performance bargain that any petrolhead can enjoy, at a price many can afford. Via: Jalopnik2009 Pontiac G8 GXP Read More

Not much has been heard about Pontiac’s new Solstice Coupe since it was unveiled back in March at the New York Auto Show, but the car is set to make headlines again, this time at the upcoming SEMA Auto Show. A new concept version of the Coupe fitted with an assortment of accessories from GM Performance Parts will be on show at the Las Vegas event, and if it proves popular the same specifications of the concept could be offered as a factory-backed performance package.

Like the Solstice Roadster, the new GXP Coupe is powered by a 260hp (194kW) 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec engine. The Coupe Concept, however, has been fitted with GM... Not much has been heard about Pontiac’s new Solstice Coupe since it was unveiled back in March at the New York Auto Show, but the car is set to make headlines again, this time at the upcoming SEMA Auto Show. A new concept version of the Coupe fitted with an assortment of accessories from GM Performance Parts will be on show at the Las Vegas event, and if it proves popular the same specifications of the concept could be offered as a factory-backed performance package. Like the Solstice Roadster, the new GXP Coupe is powered by a 260hp (194kW) 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec engine. The Coupe Concept, however, has been fitted with GM Performance Parts’ Stage 2 upgrade, which comes with a new intake kit that boosts power to around 290hp (216kW). The concept also features a high-flow cat-back exhaust system and race-tune suspension riding on standard 18in alloy wheels. The exterior of the car has been finished in Olympic White trim with a Hydro Blue racing stripe. Inside, there’s more blue accents used on the leather stitching for the seats, as well as racing-style pedal covers, and an iPod interface for the stereo. Pontiac will also showcase its Pontiac G8 GXP saloon fitted with a new 7.4L LSX454 V8 crate engine, which you can read about by clicking here.2009 Solstice CoupePontiac Concepts at SEMA 2008 Read More

General Motors has released the first details about its SEMA offerings for this year’s show, with the Pontiac brand once again getting most of the limelight. One of the stars is based on the new G8 GXP, which for SEMA has been fitted with a new LSX454 crate engine from GM Performance Parts.

The LSX454 (part number 19166972) measures 7.4L in displacement and is rated at 638hp (476kW) and 600lb-ft (813Nm) of torque, which means the naturally aspirated mill almost matches the 638hp (476kW) and 819Nm (604lb-ft) of torque from the supercharged LS9 found in the Corvette ZR1 supercar.

The new engine is built on the same LS9 cylinder block... General Motors has released the first details about its SEMA offerings for this year’s show, with the Pontiac brand once again getting most of the limelight. One of the stars is based on the new G8 GXP, which for SEMA has been fitted with a new LSX454 crate engine from GM Performance Parts. The LSX454 (part number 19166972) measures 7.4L in displacement and is rated at 638hp (476kW) and 600lb-ft (813Nm) of torque, which means the naturally aspirated mill almost matches the 638hp (476kW) and 819Nm (604lb-ft) of torque from the supercharged LS9 found in the Corvette ZR1 supercar. The new engine is built on the same LS9 cylinder block but features new six-bolt LSX cylinder heads and a forged rotating assembly. Interestingly, GM is offering the ZR1 mill as a crate engine as well. The standard G8 GXP, meanwhile, features a 6.2L V8 engine rated at 415hp (309kW) and 415lb-ft (562Nm) of torque. In addition to the LSX454, the SEMA G8 GXP comes with a standard Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission, a lowered ride height, stiffer springs, and the same brake package from the Cadillac CTS-V. Other details include 20in aluminum wheels with a black chrome finish, a custom bodykit, and sports exhaust system.Pontiac Concepts at SEMA 2008 Read More