DETROIT -
Pontiac today confirmed pricing for its new rear-wheel
drive
G8 performance sedan will start at $27,595 when it hits
the streets in early 2008. The V-8 powered G8 GT will be
available for $29,995.
“The
G8 represents the next phase in Pontiac’s commitment to
bring seductively designed, high-performance vehicles to the
showroom floor,” said Craig Bierley, Pontiac marketing
director. “Our dealers and customers have been anxiously
waiting for this vehicle since we first showed it at the
Chicago Auto Show in February, so we’re really excited to
get this car on the street early next year.”
The G8 is powered by a 3.6-liter VVT V-6 engine and
five-speed automatic transmission and comes equipped with a
number of standard convenience and safety features,
including StabiliTrak electronic stability control, six
airbags and
OnStar. The G8 GT ups the ante with a 6.0-liter V-8
mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and additional
standard equipment.
ALL-NEW G8 ACCELERATES NEW ERA OF
REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE PERFORMANCE AT PONTIAC
CHICAGO – Confirming its commitment to style and
performance, Pontiac introduced a show car version of an
all-new, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan at the Chicago
Auto Show. The 2008 Pontiac G8 will be available in
dealerships early next year.
“With the balance of rear-wheel drive and the
availability of V-8 power, the G8 represents another step in
Pontiac ’s commitment to its performance DNA,” said John
Larson, Pontiac general manager. “Added to the Solstice and
the recently announced additions of the G6 and Torrent to
the GXP series, the G8 demonstrates that Pontiac has never
been more serious about the business of performance – and we
expect this vehicle to be very competitive in the segment,
even against cars that cost far more.”
The G8 is the first North American application of GM’s
new global rear-wheel-drive architecture developed by
Holden, GM’s Australian subsidiary.
G8 GT show car details
The G8 show car unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show is
representative of the production GT model, including use of
the 362-horsepower (270 kW) 6.0L V-8 engine and optional
six-speed manual transmission. The show car also features
some unique items not found on the production model,
including:
Twenty-inch “shadow chrome” wheels and performance
tires
Ride height lowered approximately half-inch
High-performance brake rotors with painted brake
calipers
Custom interior trim color, including a
leather-wrapped dash
Exclusive exterior paint color: Phantom Grey
Concept of “modernized” Pontiac badge, to gauge
public opinion.
Production model details
The 2008 Pontiac G8 lineup will offer two models: G8 and
G8 GT. Each will come with a host of standard performance,
convenience and safety features, including:
Four-wheel independent suspension
Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control
Electronic stability control
18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch wheels available
with sport package)
Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal
air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger
sensing system
Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows
OnStar
XM Satellite Radio
Power-adjustable front seats
Fog lamps
Chrome exhaust tips
Rear lip spoiler
A sport package will be available for both models and
adds features such as specific wheels – including 19-inch
aluminum wheels and performance tires on GT – a rear wing
spoiler, leather shift knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel
and alloy pedals.
Design
The G8 has a progressive styling package highlighted by
strong Pontiac design cues, such as a dual-port grille, fog
lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners
stance. The design accents the car’s performance lineage,
with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging
the wide tires and enhancing the sporting stance.
Distinctive elements include hood scoops and front fender
vents, as well as projector-beam headlamps housed in
crystal-clear lenses. At the rear, jewel-like taillamps also
are mounted in housings and feature bright detail work
surrounding the red lighting elements. G8 models have red
taillamp lenses and twin chrome exhaust outlets, while G8 GT
models feature clear taillamp lenses and quad chrome exhaust
tips. All models have an antenna mounted at the rear of the
roof.
Powertrain
The base G8 model receives a 3.6L DOHC V-6 with variable
valve timing, rated at 261 horsepower (194 kW). It is paired
with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift
mode.
The G8 GT is powered by a uniquely configured 6.0L
small-block V-8, rated at 362 horsepower (270 kW) and 391
lb.-ft. of torque (530 Nm). A six-speed automatic
transmission with manual shift mode is standard and features
the fuel-saving Active Fuel Management system, which
enhances fuel economy by alternating between eight- and
four-cylinder power. An optional six-speed manual
transmission will be available soon after launch.
A limited-slip rear differential is standard with GT
models.
Suspension system
A 114.8-inch (2915 mm) wheelbase, wide front ( 62.7
inches / 1592 mm) and rear ( 63.3 inches / 1608 mm) tracks,
and a fully adjustable, four-wheel independent suspension
system combine to give the G8 a confident, sharp driving
experience.
The four-wheel independent suspension system employs a
MacPherson strut design in the front and a four-link
coil-over-shock design in the rear. Tuning is specific
between the base and GT models, but both models use a
direct-acting front stabilizer bar, decoupled rear
stabilizer bar and lateral ball joints on the rear
suspension. This system delivers increased lateral stiffness
for enhanced handling.
The front suspension features fully adjustable caster,
camber and toe; the rear suspension has fully adjustable
camber and toe, which enables more precise, tailored
suspension tuning.
Brake system
A four-wheel disc brake system includes standard
anti-lock and traction control features and is partnered
with a standard electronic stability control system. Both
the base and GT models feature vented front and rear disc
rotors, with twin-piston alloy calipers in front; the rear
brakes feature alloy calipers with single-piston actuation.
The brakes are approximately one-inch larger on the
higher-performance GT model.
Interior
Designed to meld form and function with world-class fit
and finish, the G8’s interior delivers both comfort and
convenience, packaged in a level of sophistication not often
found in its price range. A driver-oriented instrument
cluster positions the gauges for easy, direct line of sight;
an electronic driver information center is located between
the large, round tachometer and speedometer.
Attention to detail includes jewel-like instruments,
selective use of satin and chrome trim and rich-feeling,
grained textures throughout. The instrument cluster glows
with crisp, white light on the primary instruments and
Pontiac ’s signature red lighting illuminates the rest of
the instrument panel cluster.
The seats offer firm support to hold occupants in place
during aggressive cornering; all seats were designed to
deliver excellent comfort during long drives. Cloth seating
surfaces are standard, with heated leather seating
available. G8 GT models will also offer an optional two-tone
cloth or leather combination that pairs black with either
red or blue inserts and color-matched instrument faces on
certain exterior color combinations.
,.
NEW GLOBAL REAR-DRIVE
ARCHITECTURE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ALL-NEW
PONTIAC G8
CHICAGO – The 2008 Pontiac G8 performance
sedan is built on GM’s new, global rear-wheel-drive
architecture. With the input of Pontiac and GM North
America, the G8 was developed in Australia, under
the direction of Holden’s engineering department.
Taking advantage of GM’s global centers of
engineering expertise, a series of vehicle
architectures are being developed that can be easily
adapted to the unique vehicle requirements of
various regions. For example, global truck
architectures are being developed in North America
while midsize vehicle architectures are created in
Europe .
“The rear-wheel drive engineering team has put
together a simply spectacular car that captures the
essence of Pontiac,” said John Larson, Pontiac
general manager. “We believe that the Pontiac G8
will rival competitors costing far more.”
The Holden-engineered global rear-wheel drive
architecture was designed to deliver world-class
levels of strength and refinement, along with crisp
driving dynamics, while serving as the foundation
for vehicles sold in a wide variety of climates and
road conditions around the world – from the
desert-like desolation of Australia ’s Outback to
the frost-heaved highways of North America ’s cold
regions.
“We set out to lift the bar on what could be
achieved with quality and refinement,” said Tony
Hyde, Holden executive director of engineering. “We
have gone over this car time and time again to
reduce gaps and margins, ensuring that every fit is
crisp and tight.”
For North American customers, the result is a
tautly-designed rear-wheel-drive performance sedan
that is ideally suited for Pontiac customers.
“We spent many hours refining the chassis to
create that unique blend of steering precision,
vehicle balance and handling that we believe driving
enthusiasts will love,” said Doug Houlihan, G8 chief
engineer.
Global, balanced architecture
The new global rear-wheel-drive architecture used
for the G8 was designed to accommodate production
for both left-hand drive and right-hand drive
markets around the world. To ensure durability for
the vast array of driving conditions and climates,
the new architecture was designed with a robust,
protected electrical system, superior climate
control system and noise/vibration-isolating
suspension systems.
Among the new architecture’s design attributes is
a layout that promotes a nearly 50/50 front-to-rear
weight balance ratio, thanks to design features that
include a steering rack mounted ahead of the front
axle, engines mounted low and rearward in the front
chassis cradle and a rear-mounted battery.
Stiff structure
GM’s new rear-drive architecture has an
exceptionally strong unitized chassis/body
structure, including advanced-strength steel used in
more than 80 percent of its construction. This
strong foundation enables several factors than
benefit the G8’s driving experience, including
smoother, more solid ride characteristics and more
precise suspension tuning, as the stiffer structure
allows engineers to tune the suspension without
having to account for chassis flex.
The stiff structure also enhances safety, as it
helps absorb crash energy through a multiple load
path strategy that includes optimized front-end and
rear-end deformation zones. (See safety section
below.)
Chassis and suspension
A unique, four-wheel independent suspension
system is integrated with the G8’s structure, and is
the result of eight years of development. It uses
the strength of the body structure to enhance the
driving experience through optimized steering,
handling and driving control.
The G8 rides on a long, 114.8-inch (2,915 mm)
wheelbase, with the wheels set wide on 62.7-inch
(1,592 mm) front and 63.3-inch (1,608 mm) rear
tracks. The front suspension features a multi-link,
strut-type design that incorporates a direct-acting
stabilizer bar, while the rear suspension uses a
four-link independent design, with coil springs over
shocks and a decoupled stabilizer bar.
The front suspension uses a hydraulically damped
bushing on the forward end of the tension link for
improved ride isolation. The lateral link feature a
rubber spherical joint that enhances lateral
stiffness. Camber, caster and toe are fully
adjustable.
With the rear suspension, a high degree of
lateral stiffness is achieved with the use of two
lateral ball joints per side. A rubber-damped
suspension frame further isolates the body structure
from noise, vibration and road harshness.
Steering and braking
The steering rack is mounted forward of the front
axle centerline – with dual lower links and
individual ball joints at the outer ends – which
enhances the balanced feel of the car while also
contributing to a more direct steering feel.
Steering rates are tuned specifically for the
V-6-powered base and V-8-powered GT models.
Matching the vehicle’s handling and steering
agility is a carefully tailored brake system that
uses four-wheel discs sized to match each model’s
performance. The higher-performance capability of
the V-8-powered GT, for example, has larger brakes
than the V-6 base model. The brakes are integrated
with a standard electronic stability control system.
The basic brake design for all models includes
twin-piston front alloy calipers and vented disc
rotors, and single-piston, alloy rear calipers with
vented disc rotors. ABS is standard.
Safety
Safety was one of the foremost goals in the
design of the G8’s architecture. It combines a
sturdy, crash-absorbing body structure and
state-of-the-art passenger protection technology.
Examples of these elements include:
Efficient, energy-absorbing front structure
and a strong occupant safety cage
Six standard air bags, including dual-stage
frontal air bags, thorax air bags for front-seat
passengers and roof rail-mounted head curtain
air bags for both seating rows
Multiple air bag sensors: two electronic
front sensors and two side-impact sensors, all
connected to a sensing diagnostic module
Front safety belts with load limiters and
dual pretensioners
Ride-down steering column and breakaway
pedal system
Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.
An electronic stability control system is
standard on all models, as is full-function traction
control. These features bolster driver control
during certain driving conditions, which can help
avoid a crash.
Safety development included tests that
represented occupants ranging in size from a
six-month-old baby to a 95 th percentile adult male.
Sixty-one physical vehicle safety tests were
performed with the variety of test dummies, which
helped optimize the structure’s front and rear crush
zones.
Validation
GM’s global rear-wheel-drive architecture
underwent some of the longest and most stringent
testing and validation procedures undertaken by
General Motors, which helped ensure its strength,
safety and reliability in markets around the world.
These procedures included:
More than 2.1 million miles (3.4 million km)
of equivalent road evaluation
Approximately 5,000 hours of virtual safety
tests
Seventy-nine physical safety tests
Approximately 41,000 hours of electrical
system tests
Approximately 11,000 subsystem validation
tests and activities
Additional details
The G8’s new rear-drive architecture also
incorporates a host of design and technology details
that bolster comfort, convenience and quality. They
include:
A new electrical system that supports OnStar
and XM Satellite Radio
A rear-mounted battery that offers increased
protection from the elements and improves
vehicle weight distribution
A contemporary “down and forward” instrument
panel design that enhances outward visibility
and provides a roomier, airy cabin environment
An all-new climate control system with
multiple heating/cooling ducts, up to 20 fan
speeds in the base configuration, and infinite
speed settings in the optional dual zone climate
system
A new family of premium radio systems with
available color screen display
A unique four-bar deck lid hinge design
reduces trunk space intrusion for increased
cargo capacity.
2008 PONTIAC G8 PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
Overview
Models:
Pontiac G8 and G8 GT
Body style / driveline:
5-passenger,
front-engine, rear-drive sedan
Construction:
unitized body frame, 1-
and 2-sided galvanized steel
