General Motor's Australian Units Confirmed to Export Pontiac G-8 to US
Added: (Tue Feb 13 2007)
Pontiac has finally unveiled its big, rear-drive flagship sedan called the G-8 that is scheduled to hit showrooms next January. It will be offered at a price lower than $30,000. The G-8 is said to be a unique product unlike anything else that General Motors has ever sold. But of course in keeping with the company�s commitment to quality the G-8 will be equipped with nothing but the best auto parts that the world�s numero uno can provide such as its famous GM oxygen sensor.
The G-8 was deliberately created such, so as not to duplicate other GM models. This is because similar models tend to steal sales from one another rather than from rivals. According to GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, �We want to focus Pontiac very tightly on sports sedans and crate a lineup likened to that of BMW�s 7 series, 5 series, 3 series and 1 series. It just so happened that we start with the 7,� gesturing at the G-8.
He also added that Pontiacs are supposed to be rear-wheel-drive but sadly that probably will not happen since front drive is much better at preserving passenger space in small cars.
The G-8 is built on a large, rear-drive chassis developed by none other than GM�s Australian subsidiary brand, Holden�famous for big, fast rear-drive cars. Holden was tasked to produce the chassis on the Pontiac GTO and is also the source of the underpinnings for the Chevrolet Camaro.
The Pontiac G-8 will be offered in two versions: the G-8 with 3.6-liter V6 rated 261 horsepower, 250 pounds-feet of torque and five-speed automatic transmission; G-8 GT with Corvette-derived 6 liter V8 rated 362 hp, 391 lbs-ft of torque and a six-speed automatic or a new design six-speed manual transmission.
The G-8 have a full-sized dimensions of about 196 inches long, 75 inches wide on a 115 inch wheelbase.
More News on GM's Holden Brand
In Melbourne: General Motors Corp.�s Australian unit has recently confirmed that it will export its VE Commodore SS model, rebadged as Pontiac G-8 to the US from starting 2008.
The production of the G-8 will start at Holden�s plant in Elizabeth, South Australia state in late 2007 according to GM Holden Chairman Denny Mooney in an interview with reporters in Melbourne. G-8 will also sport new features such as a new nose, grille, and hood.
The export order will help in continuing work in Holden�s Elizabeth plant located north of Adelaide which have already shed some 1400 jobs and reduce workers shifts to two caused by the falling demand for its vehicles due to increase in fuel prices and demand for smaller, more fuel efficient cars.
�We need this kind of volume to keep our plant running at capacity, and frankly if your plant is not running capacity, then financially you�re going to have difficulties,� explained Mooney. He refused to comment on the value of the export deal and the number of Pontiacs that would be exported to the US.
But he did say that exports have the potential to exceed more than 30,000 Commodores Holden ships to the Middle East every year, where they are rebadged and sold as Chevrolets.
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