NYIAS 08: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP!

[joshls]

Really wanted the new taillights. That's the biggest G8 weakness in my opinion. Is 400 HP really going to make a huge performance increase with the weight of this vehicle? How much is it going to cost?

[E. Haskell]

Originally Posted by joshls

Really wanted the new taillights. That's the biggest G8 weakness in my opinion. Is 400 HP really going to make a huge performance increase with the weight of this vehicle? How much is it going to cost?

It's not just 40hp....

The six-speed has a generous 6.04:1 overall ratio that enables a "steep" first-gear. The result is strong launch acceleration....

A 3.27 final drive ratio comes with automatic-equipped GXPs, and a 3.70 gear is matched with the manual transmission.

Plus, the manual will have less parasitic loss, so more power gets to the ground.

[one night stan]

I've been a long time viewer of gminsidenews, but this is my first comment.
...I felt compelled to register membership just to share how disappointed I am with the GXP.

It lifts your heart to see an Australian product do well in the States. From what I gather on forums, the response to the g8 has been enthusiastic, even in the United Arab Emirates and UK.
So for a long time i kept thinking "Just wait till they get the up-spec HSV derived GXP!. It should blow them away."

the HSV GTS comes with

-Magnetic Ride Control Suspension (ala 599 GTB ferrari, corvette, audi TT)
-its own set of LED tail lights (to differentiate it from the commodore) situated lower which looks slightly sportier
-its own set of side vents (again to differentiate it from the commodore) behind the front guards to advertise its sports-spec credentials; albeit non-functioning.
-20” shadow wheels
-larger spoiler; I know this has ricer connotations in the US (it’s derived from Australian V8 touring car culture) so I can understand the product change for the market taste.

But I can't understand why the Pontiac deleted these other options.
It looks tame to me.
In Australia it was common and too easy for entry-commodore owners to put HSV body work on their rides and HSV developed the rep of being simply a rebadged commodore – that was until the product differentiation HSV decided to invest in with the VE series.
Also, HSV owners felt ripped off even after paying the extra premium.

I feel the same thing could happen stateside.
The GXP looks no different to a g8

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by sigma

Because I don't think the LS2 is going to be in production much longer. The upshot of this is... how hard would it be to flash a couple of chips and get that extra horsepower back?

BTW- That car in red looks so so so so so mean. I want one.

Probably has a more restrictive exhaust than the Corvette.

[Maxwell]

If this new Pontiac G8 GXP doesn't succeed then the brand should be closed down.

Awesome car! right in so many ways.

Just needs to be priced right for the brand to be a revelation to sports sedan enthusiasts..

35 would be great.

[Ambalanche]

Welcome One Night Stan! I know you've been here for a while, but welcome to commenting lol.

I agree with you about the G8 GXP style weise. They should have spent the extra $$ to differenciate it from lesser G8's. Even Chrysler did that with the SRT-8's to some extent.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by one night stan

I've been a long time viewer of gminsidenews, but this is my first comment.
...I felt compelled to register membership just to share how disappointed I am with the GXP.

It lifts your heart to see an Australian product do well in the States. From what I gather on forums, the response to the g8 has been enthusiastic, even in the United Arab Emirates and UK.
So for a long time i kept thinking "Just wait till they get the up-spec HSV derived GXP!. It should blow them away."


the HSV GTS comes with

-Magnetic Ride Control Suspension (ala 599 GTB ferrari, corvette, audi TT)

-its own set of LED tail lights (to differentiate it from the commodore) situated lower which looks slightly sportier

-its own set of side vents (again to differentiate it from the commodore) behind the front guards to advertise its sports-spec credentials; albeit non-functioning.

-20” shadow wheels

-larger spoiler; I know this has ricer connotations in the US (it’s derived from Australian V8 touring car culture) so I can understand the product change for the market taste.

But I can't understand why the Pontiac deleted these other options.
It looks tame to me.
In Australia it was common and too easy for entry-commodore owners to put HSV body work on their rides and HSV developed the rep of being simply a rebadged commodore – that was until the product differentiation HSV decided to invest in with the VE series.
Also, HSV owners felt ripped off even after paying the extra premium.

I feel the same thing could happen stateside.
The GXP looks no different to a g8

Real Simple: PRICE!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


No one is going to spend 55,000 USD for a Pontiac, no one purchasing a G8 that is. If it had a Cadillac badge,...maybe.

CobaltSS

This is a sweet machine, how many produced per year? I still like the Turbo Cobalt SS

[PWB02]

The GXP is styled differently than the G8GT: New front bumper and rear bumper. What did you want more plastic cladding like the old Pontiacs. This is a new Pontiac not your 80's and 90's. You all don't want to pay a high price for a car but you want all the expensive stuff. That is what the aftermarket is for. Pontiac has given us all a great base to do with what we like. Bob Lutz is doing a GREAT job for what he has to work with at this difficult time in automotive history. It could be worse, we could get the 70's Styling all over again.

[Orbit Orange]

GM really needs to think about getting the HP correct on the LS3 in the GXP. When you buy the big boy you want to big numbers and the "bragging rights" as well. When the 6.1 liter Hemi pumps out 425/420 the LS3 needs to be right there or just above. There is no reason why it shouldn't make within 5hp/5tq of the LS3 in the Corvette. I'm hoping they are sandbagging and when it is SAE tested we are pleasantly surprised. Hopefully they are getting rid of the ridiculously baffle ridden intake tract like on the G8 GT's L76. Of course maybe that is why it is rated so low at 402HP. With all those noise baffles and a bunch of crimps and pinches in the exhaust and restrictive muffler it might just cut out 30HP. Somehow I doubt that in the back of my mind though.

Now bring on the GXP for the ST.

[one night stan]

Originally Posted by PWB02

The GXP is styled differently than the G8GT: New front bumper and rear bumper. What did you want more plastic cladding like the old Pontiacs. This is a new Pontiac not your 80's and 90's. You all don't want to pay a high price for a car but you want all the expensive stuff. That is what the aftermarket is for. Pontiac has given us all a great base to do with what we like. Bob Lutz is doing a GREAT job for what he has to work with at this difficult time in automotive history. It could be worse, we could get the 70's Styling all over again.

hey guys, didnt realise how long my last post was. Looks like a freaking essay!

I hate distasteful overclad styling just as much as any other non-japanese-car fan.
But it's underdone for my liking. Maybe the not so subtle GTS has numbed me down a bit. I think the GTS is as far as you want to go with the styling before looking like dog vomit.
I still like how the GXP is understated. Like the BMW 5 series – M5, only the discerning eye of a car aficionado can pick it out.

and the HSV production output probably isn’t large enough to have a sustainable business case. $AU is a killer

maybe the GXP was detuned and pared back from its potential because it could have encroached upon corvette territory. There’s an order of hierarchy and the GXP was nearly a two-fingered 'up yours' to GM’s halo car (bar the zr-1). A four door sedan shouldn't cover 100km/hr (60mph) in 4.96secs. Ridiculous

Also, get rid of that 50cent guy endorsing the product.

[tkrelston]

Originally Posted by one night stan

I've been a long time viewer of gminsidenews, but this is my first comment.
...I felt compelled to register membership just to share how disappointed I am with the GXP.

It lifts your heart to see an Australian product do well in the States. From what I gather on forums, the response to the g8 has been enthusiastic, even in the United Arab Emirates and UK.
So for a long time i kept thinking "Just wait till they get the up-spec HSV derived GXP!. It should blow them away."


the HSV GTS comes with

-Magnetic Ride Control Suspension (ala 599 GTB ferrari, corvette, audi TT)

-its own set of LED tail lights (to differentiate it from the commodore) situated lower which looks slightly sportier

-its own set of side vents (again to differentiate it from the commodore) behind the front guards to advertise its sports-spec credentials; albeit non-functioning.

-20” shadow wheels

-larger spoiler; I know this has ricer connotations in the US (it’s derived from Australian V8 touring car culture) so I can understand the product change for the market taste.

But I can't understand why the Pontiac deleted these other options.
It looks tame to me.
In Australia it was common and too easy for entry-commodore owners to put HSV body work on their rides and HSV developed the rep of being simply a rebadged commodore – that was until the product differentiation HSV decided to invest in with the VE series.
Also, HSV owners felt ripped off even after paying the extra premium.

I feel the same thing could happen stateside.
The GXP looks no different to a g8

You aren’t the only one, but I can’t believe they ditched the GTP trim level for this vehicle. This would be good as a GTP with a GXP getting the LS7 and all of HSV’s goodies.

[Quickening]

Too conservative. We should of gotten the HSV rear and front fascia.

[jwrebholz]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

Anyway, at least it's fast even though the SRT8 Chryslers/Dodges are more powerful with 425hp and 420tq. The front bumper looks even more generic than the standard model, and the rear "diffuser" is pretty weak. All can be forgiven if it's only $2K or less over the cost of a G8 GT. $32K would be quite reasonable, even $35K would, but not much more than that. The wheels are sweet though, and hooray for the manual 6 speed!

The G8 GT now is nearly as fast as the SRT Charger. With 40 more horses it'll be FASTER.

[SAngelo]

Wow this is one terrific looking car. My thinking now is if you utilize your global resources (aka. Holden in Austrailia and Opel in Germany) you don't have to worry about finding the funds to keep all of your brands fresh. I have two questions about the 2009 G8. Will the GXP version have a Navigation screen and will the 3.6 liter G8 get DI ?

[BBDOS CV8]

Judging by results of Holden enthusiasts in Oz, on the 360hp SS the 3.7 is worth 0.5 sec in the quarter, makes the car a solid low 13's performer, and 40-50 extra HP drops it to high 12s. That's on street rubber, with 'almost' road exhaust with cats.

So having 'only' 400hp will make SRT8s grist for the mill. Extra gear manual or auto, plain better traction due to suspension and weght distribution.