V8 Pontiac G8 GT and '08 Dodge Challenger Revealed Early by Car & Driver

[DetroitWonk]

Looks like Car & Driver let the embargo slip a bit on the two new muscle cars to be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in two weeks:

Car & Driver Cover Clinic: Which Embargoed Shot of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Do You Want on their April Cover?

Ray

[minnfang]

Either way, looks like the CTS Coupe will get a nice headline.

[GMusa]

I cant wait to see videos and read reviews on these vehicles!!!

[Sporer65]

I like the cross-hair grill better on the Challenger.

[igotzzoom]

Seems like much ado about nothing to me. I've seen the non-crosshair nose on the Challenger for several weeks now. And the fact the G8 will have 362 hp isn't new either.

Fact of the matter is, press embargos are essentially irrelevant in this day and age. The PR hacks should just wake themselves up to the reality that as soon as ANYTHING is released, implicit embargo or not, it's going to be on the Web in a matter of about 10 minutes.

[ctaylorzl1]

I cant wait to see the specs on these two cars. Dodge is expecting the Challenger to have a low 5 second 0-60 and a low 13 sec qt/mi, with 425hp. I expect the G8 GT to do very close to that with 362hp. Good publicity for the G7, and bad for the Challenger. That or is Dodge trying to pull a "Pinks" style sandbag on us, with their performance speculations?????

[Lichtronamo]

Given that its their April 'o8 cover, we won't see the magazine until the end of February.

[usa1]

What was embargoed on the G8? Nothing new on either cover picture or specs wise.

Mark

[igotzzoom]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

I cant wait to see the specs on these two cars. Dodge is expecting the Challenger to have a low 5 second 0-60 and a low 13 sec qt/mi, with 425hp. I expect the G8 GT to do very close to that with 362hp. Good publicity for the G7, and bad for the Challenger. That or is Dodge trying to pull a "Pinks" style sandbag on us, with their performance speculations?????

I think it will be considerably faster than that. Considering C&D clocked a Charger SRT8 (which is presumably heavier) that did 0-60 in 4.8 and the quarter in 13.2.

[SCCA1995]

I like both covers. But, I'd prefer the one at the bottom of the article. Otherwise, the embargo controversy it moot. All of the HP ratings & tons of photos have already spread onto the web. It's simply an old formality.

[shalomaw]

I was very disappointed at the G8 GT during my visit to the NAIAS.
I was so excited to see this car in person (it was on my shopping list too).

I was very pleased with the exterior design and could not wait to get inside to check it out.

OMG - the interior was bland - even on the GT model, and the most disappointing thing is the whole center stack, stereo, shifter, etc... is ALL PLASTIC!

I talked to the GM Pontiac rep about this car at length. I explained to him how impressed people were with the exterior car design, but if they were to see the interior and feel all of the plastic (even the door handles) - they'll be disgusted on the bean counters attempt to cut corners. He just nodded his head in agreement.

[FBODYRULES]

Originally Posted by shalomaw

I was very disappointed at the G8 GT during my visit to the NAIAS.
I was so excited to see this car in person (it was on my shopping list too).

I was very pleased with the exterior design and could not wait to get inside to check it out.

OMG - the interior was bland - even on the GT model, and the most disappointing thing is the whole center stack, stereo, shifter, etc... is ALL PLASTIC!

I talked to the GM Pontiac rep about this car at length. I explained to him how impressed people were with the exterior car design, but if they were to see the interior and feel all of the plastic (even the door handles) - they'll be disgusted on the bean counters attempt to cut corners. He just nodded his head in agreement.

the whole thing is bland, everyone goes on how they love the things but haven't even seen them in person yet like we have down here, nice to drive and all that but thats it

[pic18]

Originally Posted by FBODYRULES

the whole thing is bland, everyone goes on how they love the things but haven't even seen them in person yet like we have down here, nice to drive and all that but thats it

In my opinion, the last model Bonneville GXP looked better. I would have loved to see that in a RWD form with the G8's motor.

[Lichtronamo]

My sense is that the G8 is one of those cars where design is going to be dated very quickly because 1) its already a two year old car, 2) they've been plastering pictures of the car everywhere for a year now so its old news already to most who would care and 3) its a conservative design to begin with.

[6 Shooter]