NYIAS 08: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

[Robert Ryan]

I've given up trying to understand why people feel the need to hate on this. Let them hate away, means greater choices for me. I understand your frustration though on their incessant need to bash and needle away at it.

I have no such confusion. From talking to a lot of people in the US, a Pickup is a "Real Truck". The Ute is foreign, brings back memories of Trailer Parks and Mullets; SSR and most importantly does not look "macho" enough to be a Pickup.
The fact it is a Sports Sedan with utility, is completely lost on many people in the US. You get questions like "does it handle?" "What sort of engine does it have?" They probably would be much more appreciative of the older Camaro's and Firebirds, that have have poorer handling, roadholding , utility and performance than a Ute.

[1931Chevy]

I vote for Caballero

[ACross32]

Originally Posted by bigtime

For those tracking the names suggested here:

G8 GXT. Yeah, thats clever.

G8 ST. See G8 GXT above.

Sprint. Uh, the last sprint GM made was a P.O.S. econobox.

Storm. See sprint. Some guys thought it was a sports car. The girls who drove most storms knew otherwise.

G8 VE GXP or some combination of letters. Sorry, I already forgot.

G8 Ute. The ONLY name that makes sense. It has to be unique as the car and eventually talked about/part of popular culture like other famous/historical pontiac names like GTO, etc. A lot of companies are using some mix of numbers and letters, we can do better.

Too bad the word "Ute" means nothing to Americans...

[Whitesky]

Originally Posted by ACross32

Too bad the word "Ute" means nothing to Americans...

Sure it does, haven't you seen My Cousin Vinny?

[BBDOS CV8]

Here's the best way to react to this:

1. ignore the trolls who jump into every thread invoving new GM vehicles and especially Holdens swinging and kickin blindly
2. Pat the whimpering Firechicken fans on the back and pity them for not comprehending that the best chance for a new 'bird is for Pontiac to sell some competent cars without rebates and rebuild somewhat their reputation
3. Suspend for a minute your natural pessimism about new and unfamiliar vehicles and credit that maybe you might not like one - but there may be enough people amongst the 20 million new car buyers who will pick up 5,000 - or 0.005% of the market.

Now consider the following:

1. Holden builds an enormous variety of cars on it's line - the ute is just one and the proportions are entirely flexible - LWB, SWB, LHD, RHD, sedan, ute, wagon and maybe eventually coupe. The chassis and shell panels are married by machine, then humans push carts of drivelines, interiors, trim and so on to match. A Ute can follow a sedan, a HSV, a Caprice, a wagon. They can change schedules quickly to react to buying trends
2. The parts for the G8, Ute and other variants are mix and match - V6, auto, manual, V8, GXP, GT, LHD, trims, fittings.
3. Very little additional expense is required to alter the mix and produce variations between cars for Pontiac and no NHTSA accreditation

Say GM thinks they will sell 4-5 V6 G8s for every V8 GT, and maybe 10-20 sedans for every pickup.

If Holden sent a shipload of G8 utes over and they sat in dealers, they would just never make any more. But if sedans moved slowly, and Utes took off they just alter the mix to cater for demand.

Lets just pretend for an instant that the G8 ST became in in-demand product. Instead of 5,000 cars Holden could make 10,000 - or 15,000.

Just by changing the production schedules at the plant. No new designs, staff hired or sacked, paddocks full of unwanted cars.

And it is costing GM US peanuts for this flexibility.

It becomes not a question of should GM take a chance on this (it's very low risk and cost) but why wouldn't they?

Even if there's a small chance of success, there's little cost involved, too. If it did take off, GM may rethink not making more Zeta-based vehicles.

And you never know - it just may be a real dark horse and prove to be the backdoor into America for Zeta production other than Caddies.

It's funny, there's more support for the G8, Ute and GXP on other brand websites (even Japanese and German car fanboys) than there is here, on a GM-specific site!

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

That things SICK!

I've always wanted a car based truck. Not like the Ridgeline which is TRYING to be a tough 4x4 truck, but fails. I mean car based, by a Car, with a bed on it.

[chevyboy88]

Fast coupe with a truck bed this is like a dream come dream true, might make me rethink buying a new camaro, maybe

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Looks better than the Holden. I like this, after initially poo-pooing it when I saw the Holden. This fits with Pontiac's theme. Kinda cool.

[RedVee8]

Coupe Utility was the original term for this body type and in a typical Australian way we contracted it to Ute.

Just call it Ute.

either that or The Gr8t One.

[Orbit Orange]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Here's the best way to react to this:

1. ignore the trolls who jump into every thread invoving new GM vehicles and especially Holdens swinging and kickin blindly
2. Pat the whimpering Firechicken fans on the back and pity them for not comprehending that the best chance for a new 'bird is for Pontiac to sell some competent cars without rebates and rebuild somewhat their reputation
3. Suspend for a minute your natural pessimism about new and unfamiliar vehicles and credit that maybe you might not like one - but there may be enough people amongst the 20 million new car buyers who will pick up 5,000 - or 0.005% of the market.

Now consider the following:

1. Holden builds an enormous variety of cars on it's line - the ute is just one and the proportions are entirely flexible - LWB, SWB, LHD, RHD, sedan, ute, wagon and maybe eventually coupe. The chassis and shell panels are married by machine, then humans push carts of drivelines, interiors, trim and so on to match. A Ute can follow a sedan, a HSV, a Caprice, a wagon. They can change schedules quickly to react to buying trends
2. The parts for the G8, Ute and other variants are mix and match - V6, auto, manual, V8, GXP, GT, LHD, trims, fittings.
3. Very little additional expense is required to alter the mix and produce variations between cars for Pontiac and no NHTSA accreditation

Say GM thinks they will sell 4-5 V6 G8s for every V8 GT, and maybe 10-20 sedans for every pickup.

If Holden sent a shipload of G8 utes over and they sat in dealers, they would just never make any more. But if sedans moved slowly, and Utes took off they just alter the mix to cater for demand.

Lets just pretend for an instant that the G8 ST became in in-demand product. Instead of 5,000 cars Holden could make 10,000 - or 15,000.

Just by changing the production schedules at the plant. No new designs, staff hired or sacked, paddocks full of unwanted cars.

And it is costing GM US peanuts for this flexibility.

It becomes not a question of should GM take a chance on this (it's very low risk and cost) but why wouldn't they?

Even if there's a small chance of success, there's little cost involved, too. If it did take off, GM may rethink not making more Zeta-based vehicles.

And you never know - it just may be a real dark horse and prove to be the backdoor into America for Zeta production other than Caddies.

It's funny, there's more support for the G8, Ute and GXP on other brand websites (even Japanese and German car fanboys) than there is here, on a GM-specific site!

Excellent points and well thought out. But therein lies the problem for a person that "feels" logic, reason and thought have no bearing on their "emotions". I don't even want to waste any of my time arguing with those who just feel it will fail, or think it is ugly. Whatever, I'm happy it is coming and all the Davey Downers in the world can't change that fact. I love RWD V8 car based vehicles and Pontiac is getting back into it again. Works for me.

[CJ Thunder]

Originally Posted by BlueMontreal

I hope it will do well in NA. It can do what most of us need to do with a truck, it will handle better and get better fuel economy. But we like our trucks bigs and tall with traditional look.

I always find that funny, because when the first trucks came out they were just big cars of the 10s-30s with beds on them.






















ITS THE SAME THING!

[Bolex]

Originally Posted by Frankster177

Its a practical muscle car.
After the dross that GM and Pontiac has been making for years u need something with some balls.


Dont knock it till u drive it.

practical? the issue w/ this car in the first place, is that its impractical. how many people out there need a a 2 seat car? THATS impractical. no ones knocking it, were just trying to figure out names. and off course it has balls, but so does the G8, CTS-V, GTO, Camaro.....a practical muscle car is more the G8 or charger

[jlt0x]

So.........this adds to Pontiac's global image as a sports car brand how?

GM might get lucky and appeal to this small "pocket" of interested consumers who'll buy just enough to make the vehicle a "credible" market in the US. You never know, UK or European markets may want it.

Or this Ute (El Camino) return may spark a renewed interest in the small truck market. In a time where the Ford F-150 is humongous, in comparison to the model a little more than 5 years ago, GM's Colorado/Canyon model doesn't even seem to make a dent in the truck categories these days. And as the mortgage industry tanks, all those new homeowners may now realized that "big-ass" pickup isn't that useful considering how little home improvement is being done these days.

[LoneWolf]

With all due respect to our Australian friends who love the Ute, that has got to be the most ridiculous, most ungainly thing I've seen in years.

[jzEllis]

LOVE IT!! screw the el camino! as much as i love em, this thing RULES as a Pontiac! as long as they don't call it some dumb a$$ old Pontiac name I'm cool!