When you think of a performance car, what comes to mind? High torque, huge horsepower, a suspension and chassis built for comfort and control during aggressive driving and smooth handling at high RPMs (that's a mouthful). Basically, the same things we think about. Unfortunately, most performance cars aren't cheap. If you want power, you have to pay for it. For example, the 2008 HPA Audi TT will cost you about $60,000. A 2008 Genaddi G-SPT Corvette will run $102,000. And if Ferraris are more your style, then you must have $200,000 sitting around somewhere. That's how much you'll need to buy one.
That's one of the many reasons why we love the Pontiac G8: the low sticker price. You basically get a performance vehicle for the price of a family sedan. There's no "horsepower premium" that you'll have to pay. There's no "performance tax." You can order a G8 GT with the huge 6.0-liter V8 monster of an engine and enjoy much of the same performance as a car that cost twice as much.
Think of it this way: the Pontiac G8 GT has an engine that throws 362 horsepower into action. It costs less than $30,000. You're literally paying $83 per horsepower. That's it. The 2008 HPA Audi TT costs $106 per horse. The 2008 Genaddi G-SPT Corvette will run you $165 per horse. And the Ferrari? That'll cost you over $300 per pony. Again, the Pontiac G8 GT runs $83 per horse.
That's why we love the G8. That's why we bought one. And that's why we can't wait for the supercharged GXP that comes out later this year. That machine's going to have 402 horsepower with the engine of a Corvette LS3. Next time someone asks you why you're such a fan of the G8 series, tell them you know what your money's worth. And dollar-for-dollar, the G8 offers the highest horsepower car on the planet. And that's ...
In terms of horsepower, the Pontiac G8 offers plenty of bang for your buck. Both the V6 and V8 models offer power under the hood without the exorbitant cost that usually accompanies it. You'll have your choice between two engines. The V6 comes with a 261-horsepower 3.6-liter engine while the V8 offers a stunning 362-horsepower 6.0-liter monster. So, let's take a moment to explore both.
The Pontiac G8 V6 Engine
The G8's LY7 V6 engine is a 3.6-liter workhorse. When it hits 261-horsepower, the engine reaches approximately 6,300 rpm. It can hit 250 ft. lbs. while maintaining an easy 3,200 rpm. One of the notable improvements of this engine is that it includes a variable intake system (something that was missing in the LYZ). The entire system is managed and regulated by the G8's ECM. The valve enclosed within the intake manifold adjusts based upon the load and speed demanded from the engine. It's designed to provide more torque than a standard 3.6-liter engine while simultaneously hitting higher horsepower.
The block and heads of the LY7 are aluminum cast and include cast-in iron liners that are systematically cooled by squirters that shoot oil at the piston's underside. This is smart engineering to deliver a high-performance engine in a V6 shell.
The Pontiac G8 V8 Engine
The G8's L76 V8 engine has been getting a lot of attention. It hits 362-horsepower at 5,700 rpm and includes a 6.0-liter unit. It will hit 391 ft. lbs. while easing into 4,400 rpm. In case you missed the numbers, that's a healthy 12 more horsepower than the acclaimed Hemi (excluding the SRT Hemi) that you'll find in the Charger. The G8's torque is actually comparable to the torque offered by the Charger's Hemi. That's impressive.
When you buy a standard G8, it comes with a six-speed automatic transmission (we'll talk about the transmission in more detail in a moment). From a dead stop, the G8 GT model should hit 60 mph in under 6 second ...
March 2008 New York, NY: Superstar Hip-Hop Artist 50 Cent joined Pontiac to introduce new vehicles at the NY International Auto Show. 50-Cent is a passionate car enthusiast. He has previously worked with Pontiac to customize a G8 to his specifications.
Pontiac revealed its High-Performance Flagship -- the superstar of the GXP performance series -- the 2009 G8 GXP. The G8 GXP takes the G8's good looks to a new level. It also delivers an enjoyable driving experience, thanks to a 6.2L V-8 that produces in excess of 400 horsepower.
Pending final testing, the G8 GXP is expected to deliver 0-to-60 mph performance of about 4.7 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at 108 mph. More than just raw power, the GXP delivers the sophisticated yet exciting driving experience that enthusiasts expect in a car costing far more than the GXP. It will join the Solstice, G6 and Torrent GXP models in Pontiac dealerships in late 2008.
Bader TV asked actress Anna Karin to check it out....
If (or maybe that should be when) a 530-horsepower Vauxhall VXR8 isn't enough for you, then you'll want to be talking to Wortec, the British experts in high-performance General Motors-built V8 engines. And that's where the 600-hp Vauxhall VXR8 Carbon Edition by Wortec comes in.
While Honda and Toyota have been focusing on hybrids, Vauxhall went to Australia and pilfered a version of the hot Holden Commodore SS, the same car that's become the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT. Well, Wortec has built up a special version of the Vauxhall VXR8 in the same way that it once prepared its own version of the Holden Monaro VXR500.
If you're in the United Kingdom, the 2008 Vauxhall VXR8 Carbon Edition by Wortec is the hottest VXR8 you can buy, and maybe it gives us a clue about what might be done with the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP.
Another Blown Version? What's the Difference? Put simply, the 2008 Vauxhall VXR8 Carbon Edition by Wortec offers more power and more refinement. Sure, Vauxhall already currently sells a supercharged version of the VXR8 (produced through Walkinshaw Racing), but Wortec feels the four-door muscle car hasn't been given the justice it deserves.
If Walkinshaw Racing is Vauxhall's own version of AMG, then Wortec is like Brabus, taking things up a notch with a slick feel to back up the sledgehammer performance.
While the Walkinshaw version uses a positive-displacement, Roots-type Eaton 112 supercharger with a 1.2-liter capacity, Wortec's Carbo ...
Auto shows are usually filled with fun, frolic and hoopla. Usually the press conferences are stuffed with optimism, even from brands that have no real right to be optimistic. But at the recent New York International Auto Show, there was no shortage of dreariness filling the halls of the Jacob Javits Center. And it’s not hard to reason why. The background economic news was certainly disheartening: the home mortgage business largely a mess, home equity plunging in virtually every major urban market, home-building slow and a major financial house teetering on the brink of the abyss. It is no wonder that there was no move to pull out the paper party hats and noisemakers and have a celebration.
But when others saw the glass half empty, we chose to see it as at least half full. And despite what executives euphemistically call “headwinds,” there remains a lot of vibrancy in the new light-vehicle market, which should make 2008 a very interesting year. Of course, you can understand why so many car company executives and industry observers are pessimistic. Certainly there were negative signs at the New York show. The number of interesting concept vehicles introduced at the show was down drastically from previous years. Big players like Ford Motor Company didn’t have a press conference (though one broke out “spontaneously” on their show stand), and Toyota cancelled its previously scheduled press conference. Additionally, some of the “news” smacked of rehash -- either vehicles that had previously been seen at the Geneva motor show just weeks before or derivatives of vehicles we have seen before elsewhere. Given the tenor of the times, this was not unexpected. As a top design executive for a major global automake ...
General Motors has recently divested their Pontiac division of minivans and crossovers and decided to remake its image as a performance-oriented brand.
Not only have some of the stodgier vehicles in the previous lineup been jettisoned, but exciting new vehicles like the Solstice and the G8 sport sedan have been added.
With a focus on rear-wheel drive and sportier driving dynamics, Pontiac has been looking to take the next step to show the auto world that it is serious about its new philosophy.
That step was recently revealed at the 2008 New York auto show.
Pontiac took the wraps off of the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP.
Based on the already quick G8 sedan, the GXP follows in the footsteps of previous Pontiac performance models like the GTP, offering an upgraded motor and suspension over the standard model.
In this case, the G8 GXP borrows the 6.2 liter V8 from the Chevrolet Camaro and tunes it to make 402 horsepower and 400 lb-feet of torque. In a move that has most muscle car junkies salivating, in addition to the standard 6 speed automatic buyers can opt for a 6 speed Tremec manual transmission.
This makes the GXP only the second performance sedan in the entire General Motors lineup with a manual transmission option, with the other being the Cadillac CTS-V. This option also elevates the Pontiac into the more rarified air of the luxury/sport market with BMW and Cadillac. T The G8 GXP rides on 19 inch wheels and has an upgraded suspension over the standard G8 model, designed to better handle the extra power from the rear wheels. The exterior of the car is similar to the G8 but the front end has been revised to have a more aggressive appearance and to accent the more aerodynamic look of the spor ...
The racy full-size new Pontiac G8 sedan seems like a combination of a traditional American muscle car and a fast European sports sedan such as the BMW 5-Series.
The rear-wheel-drive G8 resembles a much costlier BMW rear-drive 5-Series sedan from some angles with slick styling, a long wheelbase and short front/rear body overhangs. But the G8 has Pontiac's signature split grille and twin (nonfunctional) hood scoops.
Prices: $26,910-$29,310
Likes: Racy looking. Very fast with V-8. Excellent handling. Roomy. Reasonably priced BMW substitute.
Dislikes: Small audio controls. Console window switches. Oddly put battery/oil pressure readouts. Hard to reach seatback recliner.
Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopkins said the automaker expects to sell about 30,000 G8s annually, mostly to 35- to 50-year-old males with a median income of $75,000-$80,000. The G8, which promises to enhance Pontiac's performance image, comes with a V-6 or more potent V-8. It's expected that most initial G8 buyers will opt for the V-8, with sales eventually shaking out to about a 50-50 split between the two engines.
Drive it easy and the G8 could be mistaken for a big, comfortable, American rear-wheel-drive sedan -- but not for long. The V-8 version is just too fast and even the V-6 model handles much too well to be anything but a ...
Pontiac recently announced a new G8 two-door, rear-wheel-drive car-based sport pickup truck, which is slated for production next year as a 2010 model.
The pickup will be based on an Australian-built Holden model, and it does not have an official name yet. GM has invited the public to visit Pontiac's website -- www.pontiac.com -- until April 15 and offer suggestions in naming the new sport truck. So far, El Camino has been a favorite.
Pontiac is likely to be the only GM division to get the new model. It's also possible that a four-door version might be offered later.
The 2010 Pontiac G8 sport truck debuted last month at the New York International Auto Show.
When you think of a performance car, what comes to mind? High torque, huge horsepower, a suspension and chassis built for comfort and control during aggressive driving and smooth handling at high RPMs (that's a mouthful). Basically, the same things we think about. Unfortunately, most performance cars aren't cheap. If you want power, you have to pay for it. For example, the 2008 HPA Audi TT will cost you about $60,000. A 2008 Genaddi G-SPT Corvette will run $102,000. And if Ferraris are more your style, then you must have $200,000 sitting around somewhere. That's how much you'll need to buy one. 
If (or maybe that should be when) a 530-horsepower Vauxhall VXR8 isn't enough for you, then you'll want to be talking to Wortec, the British experts in high-performance General Motors-built V8 engines. And that's where the 600-hp Vauxhall VXR8 Carbon Edition by Wortec comes in.
The racy full-size new Pontiac G8 sedan seems like a combination of a traditional American muscle car and a fast European sports sedan such as the BMW 5-Series.
