2010 Pontiac sports truck

[Joey D]

Well at least it is safe-ish:

Upcoming Pontiac Ute gets five four stars in Australian crash test
For those of you interested in picking up one of the new Pontiac G8 ST utes when they come to the US next year there's good news. In a recent round of ute/pickup crash testing in Australia, the Holden Commodore Ute beat all comers to score five four stars. No competitor matched the lofty score. The Ford Ranger-based Mazda BT50 got three stars while the Indian Mahindra pickup only managed two. The Mahindra currently doesn't have airbags, which hurt its scores. Look for that to change before Mahindra launches its trucks and SUVs in the US a couple of years from now. For the time being, however, if you plan on driving into any barriers, you'll want to go for the El Camino wannabe.

The writer meant four but wrote five for some reason.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=50642&vf=26

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

And those tests don't include ESP systems, so it's less likely to be in an accident in the first place. This may well be the only Ute in America (well yeah) with ESP as standard.
ESP is Electronic Stability Program for those that don't know. It goes by a number of names from manufacturer to manufacturer.

 

[YSSMAN]

(as long if it will feature 6M/T)

Hard to say. They canned it on the G8 GT because it interferes with the DOD technology and for some reason makes the EPA unhappy. It would make a bit more sense in the truck in some respects, but I wouldn't expect much more than the 6L80E (which is already a good unit) to begin with.

...And they'll probably do a GXP version, and yes, that'll have a stick...

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

^ Bummer, and its stupid on GM's part. They should have thought about it from the start.

-> Oh well, that takes off my #12 spot to #130.

 

[TopHat]

Yes, but if you think about it: 98% of people who buy cars, buy Automatic Transmissions. It makes financial sense.

I'm also fine with slushboxes as long as they have some sort of manual control.

 

[YSSMAN]

The manual override is there, but given that it will likely come with the same programing as the sedan, it will likely perform better in "performance" mode anyhow.

I don't understand the rationale behind the deletion of the stick on the GT, but even then, it could be added for 2009. So, maybe, they can add the stick anyway. Who knows...

 

[frestkd]

should import the 4 door version ....

 

[TopHat]

should import the 4 door version ....

Which hasn't been made yet.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> ...

Yes, but if you think about it: 98% of people who buy cars, buy Automatic Transmissions. It makes financial sense.

I'm also fine with slushboxes as long as they have some sort of manual control.

The manual override is there, but given that it will likely come with the same programing as the sedan, it will likely perform better in "performance" mode anyhow.

I don't understand the rationale behind the deletion of the stick on the GT, but even then, it could be added for 2009. So, maybe, they can add the stick anyway. Who knows...

^ Unfortunately it is still not the same as a true driver's delight, the M/T. Boring as I would say.

-> I know they are promising a M/T for the sedan in the near future, might as well wait (for the sedan). My question is what about the ST?

-> I hope GM doen't butch this, they crushed my hopes already so many times (latetly the G8 Sportwagon and not having a M/T G8 GT on the 1st year).

 

[YSSMAN]

^ Unfortunately it is still not the same as a true driver's delight, the M/T. Boring as I would say.

No arguement from me here. I was very disappointed when they said we had to wait a while for the stick in the "standard" GT, that is, if it even happens at all. That being said, the addition of paddles to the automatic would be great (hell, the offer them in the Malibu for God's sake!), but I can do without.

...My question is what about the ST?

-> I hope GM doen't butch this, they crushed my hopes already so many times (latetly the G8 Sportwagon and not having a M/T G8 GT on the 1st year).

The management answer is going to be that they want to give the public what it wants, but the cost of the option has to be justified by the demands when it arrives in the end product. That counts in EPA testing, replacement costs, etc.

My guess is that by 2010 they'll both have the M10 manual, but I very well may be overly optimistic.

 

[buickgnx88]

Know why we don't get a stick? Cuz lazyness trumps fun.

 

[Sniffs]

it's not all lazieness over Autos. some of it is the perception that a stick belongs in an econobox, and some of it is the fact that it's been almost solid slushboxes since the eighties.

 

[JohnBM01]

I've been ripping Pontiac when the Asstek (Aztek) was released. I never liked recent Pontiacs much since the G6 Comp G (or whatever it was called). I only loved the GTO and Solstice since this new age of Pontiac. The most recent Pontiac I loathe is that G6 GXP with the vertically-elongated grill and even the GXP.R race car in Grand-Am. Someone needs to be fired after making a car with those kinds of looks. I've grown to slowly love the *first-ever* G8. ...which leads me to this sport truck.

My department in talking about cars is on style. Some Australians would say "we want our utes back." I think there's a certain balance in creating a ute-like machine. One time, I seen a machine not sold in the United States called the Chevrolet Tornado (also called the Chevy Montana. http://jalopnik.com/cars/el-camino/the-not+so+mighty-2006-chevrolet-tornado-168472.php?mail2=true ). You all are going to say "bland" as far as its styling goes. For me, this is a car built in a truck-like appearance. When I think performance truck, I think of a truck that not only "delivers the goods" (so to speak), but also look either like a very cool street truck or a more car-like machine. It's good Pontiac didn't go to the floundering Torrent for style inspiration. I usually favor curves and soft lines, but I think Pontiac could have went with something a little more boxy for that aggressive truck look. Take the Dodge Ram SRT-10. That is a wicked truck that looks and performs proper. Okay, so it's a real truck, but I would have liked to have seen Pontiac come up with a more proper truck-style car or even something that is a perfect marriage of car and pickup truck without compromising too much on either side. The Tornado/Montana is a bit along the lines of a car-like truck more than what Pontiac is envisioning.

As for a name, I don't know. But you know Pontiac will usually market it as the "first-ever" of some car. Just so long that this new machine doesn't look like a pickup version of its older brother, the Aztek.

 

[buickgnx88]

it's not all lazieness over Autos. some of it is the perception that a stick belongs in an econobox, and some of it is the fact that it's been almost solid slushboxes since the eighties.

True it's been like that since the 80's, but that really only happened here in the US. Everywhere else still seems to be a majority of manual transmissions. Here since they don't force you to take a manual transmission license test, most people don't want to learn stick because it either probably seems to difficult or they'd rather have a hand free to do other things while driving, or just for the convenience of not having to shift while driving.

It's too bad manufacturers can't make most vehicles with an available manual and just have it so most vehicles will be built with auto, but if someone wants a manual it could easily be installed on the assembly line with no major modifications. Oh well, if you want a manual go foreign or older!

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Oh well, if you want a manual go foreign or older!

^ Precisely! Thats why 90% of all American/Domestic branded cars fail on my book, just because of that specific reason.

~> If the G8 ST doesn't come M/T, its 83% fail. When it does comes with a M/T, then it becomes 11% fail.

 

[V1P3R]

Asstek.

 

[carnex]

Call it "We ripped of BMW mask to the bone"

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Call it "We ripped of BMW mask to the bone"

Err, don't you mean BMW ripped of Pontiac? Pontiac have had that grill sice what, the '60s or earlier?

 

[YSSMAN]

Give or take, yes. The current "kidney" design has been around most-prominently since the late '80s and early '90s, but you could easily trace it back to the Trans-Am and GTO models of yore. Before that, however, you could easily accuse Pontiac of blending Chevrolet and Buick style together...

 

[SlipZtrEm]

BMW ripping off Pontiac? Seriously?

 

[Rykon Zero]

Wow, that is a sexy car. Refferring to the BMW, not that Aussie ute.

 

[YSSMAN]

The oldest "kidney" Pontiac I can find (or at least think of at the moment) is the '64 Banshee concept:

Or, I suppose, you could count the '61 Tempest:

 

[Tornado]

Considering that the grill on the 507 is 100% unrelated to anything remotely close to the current kidney bean grill, Pontiac did manage to beat BMW to the general shape by a single year (the Tempest came out before the 1500). Which is, of course, ignoring the 503, because I personally don't think the kidney shape is really pronounced in that car (other may disagree).

Not that it matters, because there is no way that they copied each other to get to the current design.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Exactly, no copyright at all.

 

[Joey D]

The only thing Pontiac copied from BMW is the rear C-pillar on the G8, it looks just like the 5-series. I think they showed it in Automobile a couple issues back.

 

[YSSMAN]

It Has A Name!

PONTIAC NAMES ALL NEW SPORT TRUCK THE "G8 ST"

Segment-Defining Vehicle on Target for Late 2009 Launch

Detroit - After sifting through more than 18,000 possibilities, Pontiac has chosen to keep it simple, naming the recently revealed G8 sport truck the "G8 ST."

Thousands of fans submitted suggestions during a "Tame the Name" promotion, which delayed a final announcement until each possibility was considered and cleared for possible trademark use.

"Frankly, we were blown away by both the volume and quality of the names that were submitted," said Craig Bierley, BPG product marketing director for cars and crossovers. "'G8 ST' was one of the most popular suggestions, plus we noticed a far broader trend toward simple, easy-to-remember names."

"El Camino" was also a sentimental favorite, given the G8 ST's resemblance to the classic Chevy.

"We actually thought very long about El Camino," said Bierley. "In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honor the El Camino's unique place as part of Chevy's heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac."

Perhaps the ultimate reflection of the blurring line between cars and trucks, the G8 ST will create a unique niche segment in the marketplace: a sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities. Sharing the basic architecture and 361 hp V8 engine as the G8 GT performance sedan, it will offer a 73.9-inch cargo bed that has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry a payload of 1,000 pounds (453 kg) or tow a 3,500-pound (1,587 kg) trailer.

Thanks to its six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management system, the G8 ST should offer some of the best fuel economy numbers for V8-powered vehicles with similar cargo/towing ratings while still turning in zero-to-60 times of 5.4 seconds.

The G8 ST will be available in late 2009 as a 2010 model and will be backed by GM's industry best 100,000 mile, 5-year powertrain warranty. Pricing will be announced closer to availability.

I had my fingers crossed for something awesome, but in the end, this makes the most sense. If it has to...

 

[Omnis]

So much for the brUTE.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

So much for the brUTE.

I was hoping for your name, but if it must be G8 ST, then so be it. It will never be a legend like the El Camino with a name like that though.

 

[Jay]

G8 ST is just another name that will probably never be remembered, unlike El Camino. Sounds like a badge engineered filler model from Daewoo .

 

[Blackbird.]

Cool car...err truck err.. but yeah... bland name they chose. But I guess it's better to keep it simple. Honestly though do you think they could have picked a good enough name to be memorable like the El Camino? I can't...