The Pontiac G8 Is Still Dead

The Pontiac G8 Is Still Dead

formatting link
Despite rumors that the critically acclaimed Pontiac G8 was going to survive as the Chevy Caprice, GM has decided to kill it after all

By David Welch

Well, so much for the Pontiac G8 coming back as the Chevrolet Caprice.

General Motors Vice-Chairman Robert A. "Bob" Lutz had a keen eye to bring the beloved Pontiac G8 back to the U.S. market as a Caprice. BusinessWeek first reported the story on July 10.

But the company has decided against it. Bringing the car from Australia, where it is sold as the Holden Commodore, is just too expensive. Plus, the car's big V6 and V8 engine options make meeting fuel-economy rules tougher, says GM spokesman Pat Morrissey.

It seems Lutz had been out when the idea of reprising the G8 as a Caprice was nixed by other members of management. The cost of shipping the car from Australia to the U.S. hurts the car's profitability, especially since it sells in low volumes. While the G8 was well-liked, and outsold sporty models in the same $28,000-$40,000 price range like the Infiniti G37 and Acura TL, its low sales volumes make for a tough business case.

GM may still bring the G8/Commodore to the U.S., but only as a police car. And analysts think it could be a success. Ford's (F) Crown Victoria goes away after 2010, says James N. Hall, principal of auto consulting firm 2953 Analytics. That leaves only the Dodge Charger as a rear-wheel-drive police cruiser.

But as a sports sedan for the general public, "you'd have to differentiate it more to make it a Chevy," Hall says. "In the environment GM has to work in, it doesn't make sense to spend the money on that car."

Reply to
Jim Higgins
Loading thread data ...

GM can quite easily use the basic RWD chassis to make the car here and car it where they chose, as GM does now with the new Camaro.

See 2010 Chevy Camaro Coupe V6 & V8 Engine Chevrolet

Reply to
Mike

If it gets to the road:

formatting link
formatting link
Just the kind of mess you expect from Government Motors.

Reply to
Canuck57

AGAIN you prove you don't know what the hell you are talking about in your ranting. Search US Bankruptcy laws, WBMA

formatting link

formatting link

Reply to
Mike

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.