Time to kill off Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not to return.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tornado
  • 60 comments
  • 2,973 views
They aren't all that well made and the interior feels like crap, it's a car built on a budget like most things coming out of GM these days. I've driven one and I've rode in on, neither experience was something that made me jump for joy. It's quick enough but honestly 0-60 times are the last thing I really care about on cars.
 
Joey D
They aren't all that well made and the interior feels like crap, it's a car built on a budget like most things coming out of GM these days. I've driven one and I've rode in on, neither experience was something that made me jump for joy. It's quick enough but honestly 0-60 times are the last thing I really care about on cars.
Click to expand...
I have to agree with Joey, though I have yet to drive one (I will when & if that Ute-like version arrives). I've ridden backseat though on 1 ride. But, the interior just doesn't impress me, nor does the build quality. Performance is nice, but the G8'd have to do a lot more than that steal me away from the Acura's. The backseat is also pretty spacious for me, and a little comfy, but I rarely ever ride in the backseat of anything, let alone my own cars so it doesn't do me a whole lot of good.

To be honest, and this is with a little bit of BMW-bias, I wouldn't trade my 5 in for one even if Motor Trend (or whomever) thought the 2 were comparable. It just doesn't have anything to excite me or make me think that I should opt for one of its features over what I already have. I've got performance & I've got luxury. What could the G8 possibly have that out does and out classes what I already own, that I haven't seen yet?
 
The Fall of the General looks like its getting nearer. If the performance division goes by the wayside.
 
Not really, they are just cutting models that don't sell.
 
harrytuttle
Cadillac BLS? RWD? :confused:
Click to expand...

The current BLS as you show is based on the Epsilon I chassis and is otherwise a re-bodied Saab 9-3, but its replacement will be a RWD model that is supposed to be a more direct competitor to the 3-series (the CTS is closer to the 5-series). For the most part, the project is purportedly on schedule, and I have yet to hear anything speaking of cancellation... But if they're already delaying development on the next Corvette, possibly delaying more of the Delta II cars because of budget issues, things could be worse than I thought.
 
Philly
Soooo..... All of them?
Click to expand...

There are a couple of GM that sell OK like the Cobalt and Malibu. I know GM's cutting their big SUV line or at least not making a replacement for it, so that's another step in the right direction. I think the next Vette is on hold as well.


=====

Oh interesting.

Autoblog
Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled

Pontiac hopes to clear things up with a post on Pontiac blog regarding the future of its current products, namely the G8 and Solstice. It was just the other day that rumors of the brand's two rear-wheel drive vehicles possible being canceled hit the interwebs, and we dutifully reported on the story as we always do. According to Pontiac, though, those rumors are nothing more than speculation and should not be taken as gospel unless you hear it from the horse's (or Mr. Lutz's) mouth, which we have not. Still, the rumor in question indicates that the G8 will live on at least another five years, assuming it continues to sell that long, but would not be replaced after that. This could still be the case. Likewise, the Solstice has not been canceled, but it's replacement in GM's lineup still seems unlikely given the low volume of sales the vehicle attracts. In short, nobody can predict the future, but sometimes the handwriting on the wall isn't that tough to read.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Joey D
There are a couple of GM that sell OK like the Cobalt and Malibu. I know GM's cutting their big SUV line or at least not making a replacement for it, so that's another step in the right direction. I think the next Vette is on hold as well.
Click to expand...

GM's big sellers?

Right now its mostly dominated (unsurprisingly) by the Chevrolets, particularly the Cobalt, HHR, Malibu and Impala. The Buick Enclave has done very well, as has the CTS, but across the board numbers are falling flat due to our economic woes.

As far as whats getting cut, for certain, its the SUVs that Joey mentioned. Its my understanding that they will be moved down to the Lambda (read Enclave, Outlook, Acadia, Traverse, etc) platform, but whether or not they replace what is already there, I'm uncertain. I've also heard rumors that they could throw Zeta into a taffy puller and make a truck/SUV platform out of it, but I have no idea if they actually intend to do so at this point.

As he mentioned, the development window on the C7 has been pushed back (from 2011 to 2013), as has the new Impala replacement, Malibu replacement, and possibly the STS/DTS replacement. Most of these are due to the relative uncertainty of whats going on with GM's future, and really nothing else.

Otherwise, as of today, I do not know of any specific GM products other than the Torrent that won't make it past next year.
 
Joey D
Oh interesting.
Click to expand...

What do they mean by "no cancelled"? Do they mean that they aren't axing them now and they will continue to sell for a few years or do they mean that a replacement has been cancelled?

YSSMAN
As far as whats getting cut, for certain, its the SUVs that Joey mentioned. Its my understanding that they will be moved down to the Lambda (read Enclave, Outlook, Acadia, Traverse, etc) platform, but whether or not they replace what is already there, I'm uncertain. I've also heard rumors that they could throw Zeta into a taffy puller and make a truck/SUV platform out of it, but I have no idea if they actually intend to do so at this point.
Click to expand...

Autoblog reported that GM was just cancelling the next Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade. Whether that means those models will disappear or if they will just appear on a different platform is the question I guess.
 
My usual source for GM information comes from GMI, and they're already saying that the Suburban and Escalade ESV are moving to Lambda, which makes me assume that the smaller kids will do the same. But, as I said up there, I don't think they're going to ditch "trucks" like the Traverse and Acadia in favor of the big Tahoe and Yukon if they don't have to. Which, I guess, is fine. Plus, they'll be willing to sell you a Silverado with a quad-cab and a short-box, which is otherwise the same damn thing.
 
That being said, I could see the Avalanche being cut: It and the big cab/short box Silverado kinda step on each other's toes.
 
Philly
Autoblog reported that GM was just cancelling the next Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade. Whether that means those models will disappear or if they will just appear on a different platform is the question I guess.
Click to expand...

They have to be moving to a new platform. The Tahoe & the Escalade are actually 2 vehicles GM manages to sell quite a few of.
 
I think I remember hearing somewhere that they might be going to Lambda. I was a little surprised because, as Reventon said, the GMT-900 SUVs seem to be selling well, even despite the gas situation it seems.

So do we think we'll be seeing these trucks continuing on the Lambda, disappearing altogether or just the XL variants continuing on on Lambda? I certainly have a hard time believing GM would just straight cancel the Yukon and Suburban and Escalade with the number of them I see, and the kind of appeal they seem to have.
 
Is the Lambda better? Is it more fuel efficient? I was under the impression it wasn't
 
The Tahoe with the 5.3L V8 gets 14 city and 20 highway. The Acadia is rated at 16/24, but that's also with a V6 and front wheel drive. Shove a big V8 under there and make it RWD and I don't think you'd see much of a difference.

The move could probably be being made for development costs. Sales from a replacement of the models as they are probably wouldn't justify redeveloping the vehicle. Putting them on an existing platform will save those development costs, and when redevelopment comes around again, it'll be cheaper that having to re-do two platforms. My guess at least.

Maybe we'll see more platform sharing and general rebadging like we saw from GM not too long ago?

I would also guess that a full truck platform will be better for the trucks, but nobody really needs one so the Lambda should do just fine in that regard.
 
Joey D
Is the Lambda better? Is it more fuel efficient? I was under the impression it wasn't
Click to expand...

It depends on the application and what you're looking for. A BoF truck like the GMT900s are going to haul a helluva lot more, and at least for GM, there is more profitability in them. But, in the long run, people are dumping their BoF trucks in favor of unibody ones like the Lambdas, despite the minimal differences.

I'd say that under most circumstances, I'd prefer a Lambda to a GMT900, but as technology gets better on both fronts, you're going to be ending up with essentially the same vehicle. The curse for the Lambda will be the decreased towing capacity at the cost of a car-like structure and V6 power, and the big problem for the GMT900s most certainly comes with fuel efficiency.

Its my understanding that they [GM] are developing a larger DIG V6 for the Lambdas to replace the necessary V8s (I hear 4.2L, as much as 415 BHP), but there are always the next-gen small-blocks due to come round soon as well. That, at least in my mind, will determine what GM will do between them.
 
-> Here's some good news for G8 fans like me:

LLN
10/28/2008, 11:53 AM

Pontiac: G8 not a one-and-done

The Pontiac G8 is one of General Motors’ freshest faces – at least here in America – but recent rumors have suggested that the superb sports sedan won’t be around in another five years. Pontiac has apparently heard enough from the rumor mill, and has decided to step in to clear things up.

According to the Pontiac Under Ground blog, GM’s performance brand has no intentions of killing off the G8. Moreover, plans for two more G8-variants – the G8 GXP and G8 ST – are still on, with the high-performance GXP model expected to hit the market by year’s end.

Despite the claim that the G8 is here to stay, the Australian-born sedan could still be on life support. The previous rumor had the G8 running its current life cycle, with no replacement planned beyond 2013. With stricter emissions regulations set to kick in right about that time, the G8 could still be a one and done, even if new models are planned over the next year and a half.

The G8’s future seems hazy, at best, right now, so it’s pretty difficult to know for sure what GM has planned for its performance sedan. However, GM has developed a Buick model based on the G8 with a 2.0L turbo four for the Chinese market, so it’s quite possible new powerplants could keep the G8 alive in the U.S.
Click to expand...

Autoblog
Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled
Pontiac hopes to clear things up with a post on Pontiac blog regarding the future of its current products, namely the G8 and Solstice. It was just the other day that rumors of the brand's two rear-wheel drive vehicles possible being canceled hit the interwebs, and we dutifully reported on the story as we always do. According to Pontiac, though, those rumors are nothing more than speculation and should not be taken as gospel unless you hear it from the horse's (or Mr. Lutz's) mouth, which we have not. Still, the rumor in question indicates that the G8 will live on at least another five years, assuming it continues to sell that long, but would not be replaced after that. This could still be the case. Likewise, the Solstice has not been canceled, but it's replacement in GM's lineup still seems unlikely given the low volume of sales the vehicle attracts. In short, nobody can predict the future, but sometimes the handwriting on the wall isn't that tough to read.
Click to expand...
^ I do hope that GM won't kill the G8 too soon. :(
 
Last edited:
I'm surprised I haven't heard more talk about the Turbo I4 model for both the G8 and the Camaro recently, as I still think they are two stellar ideas that deserve attention. Cheaper to sell, just as powerful (moreso with the G8), and certainly more fuel-efficient. Hell, where is the diesel option that they're already discussing down in Australia?
 
Well as we've discussed before, would people buy into a turbo I4? I mean I would in a heartbeat, I think the 2.0T is an awesome engine, even more so now that I've properly driven a Cobalt SS Turbo. Putting it in a heavier car wouldn't make it super quick like the SS but it would be quick enough to have fun with, not to mention better in the corners due to weight savings.
 
I'm not sure, but my guess is that it has something to do with it feeling "gutless" and of course the lack of the V8 soundtrack. I'm all for it, my Dad and my brother are completely against it. Its a difference of opinion, one of which will likely never have a proper ending.
 
I'll never understand the hate for four cylinders, it's been proven time and time again I4's can be just as fast as V8's in stock form. Like I said the SS Turbo is pretty spunky, as is my buddy's Ion Redline.
 
I agree with YSSMAN and think that most don't want a 4-cylinder because it wouldn't sound the part compared to a V8 or to a lesser extent the V6.
 
Even with the V6 model, they've been working hard to get the exhaust tune just right. It proves that they want to make it the true and otherwise "sensible" option to the Mustang GT, and with it now starting as low as $22K, you can bet that a 300 BHP V6 in a Camaro will get the job done for most people. I priced mine out on Edmunds last night, about $26K for an LT1 (cloth seats!) with the RS package and a stick, don't need anything else fancy.
 
Joey D
I'll never understand the hate for four cylinders, it's been proven time and time again I4's can be just as fast as V8's in stock form. Like I said the SS Turbo is pretty spunky, as is my buddy's Ion Redline.
Click to expand...

problem is that that's a much heavier car the Turbo 4's lugging around this time. A 2.0 Turbo (in street tune) is under a bit of stress at 300HP, which would only parallel the V6 in the Camaro, and a V6 would probably offer better low-end punch. Besides, there's not much more power you can safely get out of a 2.0 at that level.
 
I thought the 2.0T was 260hp? That would be enough for the base model, especially for those who were more concerned about the looks of the car over the power output. Although a 300hp V6 is nothing to sneeze at. The old 3.8L V6 was what 200hp? Hell my buddy's Firebird Formula has an LS1 putting out 320hp.
 
2.0Ts are slow? Even the VAG one has plenty of power. And it doesn't have to be wound out at all, with peak torque hitting at 1800 rpm. Doesn't sound good? Go listen to a GTI or an STI and such. Those generally sound much better than a lot of V8s out there.

I can see people thinking the concept of a 2.0T in a Camaro is bad though. Big American sports cars have traditionally had big, uneconomical V8s under the hood, and sticking a little economical engine under the hood probably acts as a bit of a turnoff to some.
 
The problem with the 2.0 Turbo is that it is a bit laggy, which is fine in the Cobalt but would probably be unacceptable in the Camaro.
 

Latest Posts

Back