The demise of the Pontiac brand has placed many attractive models on the chopping block, including the superb Pontiac Solstice roaster and the Pontiac Vibe, which has built in partnership with Toyota. But according to GM executives, one model in the Pontiac lineup that we will continue to see is the G8 sedan.
Based on the GM’s Australian-based Holden subsidiary, the Pontiac G8 is one of the few sporty, rear-wheel drive sedans within the GM lineup. There’s even a high performance GXP model, but that vehicle may become discontinued. With the sedan unable to remain a Pontiac, it appears it will soon found a home within the Chevy lineup as the next Caprice.
Product chief Bob Lutz, who surprised everyone with his decisions to rescind his retirement plans, promised that the operations with Holden remain intact, and the car will find its way into the “New GM.” That appeases plenty of customs, like those among Oshkosh Chevrolet dealers, as they want GM to maintain a performance edge despite the need for more economical models throughout the lineup. Even at Springfield Chevrolet, the Pontiac G8 is still a popular model, which may bode well as it transitions to Chevrolet badging.
The G8 sedan was cited as being ideal for the Chevrolet lineup due to the brand’s sporty heritage. Already, the G8 is sold abroad wearing Chevrolet badges, so the decision to do the same in the States is by no means remarkable says Peoria Chevrolet. Other performance-oriented models that will likely continue with the new GM is the Cadillac CTS-V and possibly the Z28 Chevrolet Camaro.
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