Jalopnik
It would seem that although GM product czar "Maximum" Bob Lutz may be the #2 man at GM and the #1 man in our hearts, it appears he may have lost the battle for making a new GM ute a GMC. While we're disappointed we won't be able to continue hearing his excited desire for a "Caballero," we're excited about news this morning from Automotive News that is quite possibly the most important piece of news we'll see on these pages this year. Here's the scoop — as we've already reported — we won't be getting a new Chevy El Camino. However, we will be getting a ute stateside based on the Holden and it'll be branded with the badge all about driving excitement. That's right kids, it'll be a Pontiac — but not just any Pontiac. It'll be a Pontiac G8. But wait, there's more.
We're also told we'll be getting a RWD wagon based on the Commodore — and it'll also be a Pontiac G8. So basically the G8's going to become a mini-RWD lineup under the Pontiac badge with the sedan, ute and wagon all bearing the alpha-numeric name — and all based on the Holden versions. So yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he's Australian. Who knew?
Comments
I´ve laughed out loud everytime I see a comment about a euro car like "Why don´t we have that car stateside" This car will not make it Swedeside...Must be kharma
sweet
Hot diggity.
wagon wagon wagon wagon!
Hell yes!
Can someone with a bit of time and a copy of photoshop please graft the G8 nose onto the bodies of the Commodore Ute/Wagon so we can see what these babies will really look like?
For as much flag waving as I'm seeing for the G8, no one seems to mention the 3,995 lb curb weight (GT). It's gonna be one heavy beast.
@parramore46: As Colin Chapman always says, "Add displacement", right?
Wha? He didn't? Oh...
Never mind...
this is going to make it really hard to remain loyal to Ford....
...must have pickup truck / muscle car...
can't put a dirtbike in the back of a mustang
With Dodge killing off the Magnum, I wonder what GM is aiming to do with these G8 wagons. Is a touch of vegemite enough to make these a sales success?
Wow. Glad to see them coming, as "something different" is always welcome - as long as we don't see a Buick, Saturn and Cadillac variant.
But "G8"? I have ALWAYS hated that name. I always expect to see protesters storming the dealership once they hear the G8 is in town...
and G8 Safari just doesn't have the right ring to it.
Yes Santa Clause, there is a Virginia!
Looks like I will have a wagon to replace my GranMa!
So crazy it just might work.
I wonder how many people would decide to convert these back into Holdens.
I hope the wagon can come in a manual in the V6 version... that would work better for me. I think the no manual unless V8 is stupid.
A Pontiac Elcamino would put a few traditional pickup drivers in a car chassis, all the while potentially improving GM's CAFE standards. If I were to ever buy an American branded car, a Pontimino would be it.
@Tyler: I read about the risk of the Ute and Wagon coming stateside in a car mag (not sure which one). Since the G8 has already undergone all the crash tests in the U.S., and since the Wagon and Ute with be sharing the exact same front clip as the G8, they only have to do a little bit of testing for the new models. This saves a ton of cash and therefore they don't have to move that many of the Wagons and Utes to come out ahead.
I didn't care what they would call the Ute as long as we would get it, but this is a good strategy for GM.
By calling it the G8 GM won't have to worry about people claiming that this is no El Camino or No Caballero or no whatever bias plyed, 4-speed, gross HP rated, rose colored glasses viewed car that no modern car can live up to (i.e. the GTO debacle).
Hello G8amino.
Oh VERY nice! Yeah, a manual V6 option would be affordable and damn utilitarian. Great for convincing the significant other.
"Honey, I swear that I checked the V6 box on the order form!"
I gotta get started on my wood trim kit for the wagon. Hope it comes with a roof rack.
Oh boy, a G6 Wagon! If the price and performance is right, I might be going back to the GM stables :)
@Triborough: I would, certainly. I much prefer the Holden nose to the Pontiac version. I think this settles it, though - the new Pontiac G8 ute, in either GT or (please, Santa) Maloo R8 trim has shot to the top of my 'potential new car' list.
The fact that Pontiac has no reason to exist notwithstanding, I'll take it; it's better than what GM has now: 80,000 brands, no wagons, and no utes.
I will take mine in AWD please.. I also second the holden front clip conversion. Someone might as well pop down under now and start hitting the salvage yards for the clips.. Crate them back here and sell for big bucks.
Then again why wait.. get a used subaru baja, either use a STI or legacy H6 engine\drivetrain and have one hell of a hoonamino.
@WarShrike: Exactly, when was the last time anyone here actually considered buying a CAR from GM. And now if the wagon and ute come to fruition, there's a pair of cars I can't wait for.
The triumphant return of the 'mino! At last!
Maybe Ford will take the clue and give us a Super Pursuit.
Either way, very cool, Im IN.
@Harvey Mushman: People consider GM cars all the time (they still sell the most CARS in the world)
Last car from GM I had was my Firebird, it's just I've seemed to deviate to the Wagon path now lol!
This is without question the greatest single piece of news ever posted on this site. I feel that the return of the camino is a direct result of the demand generated by Jalopnik.
In accordance, I believe GM owes us exclusive first drive and review rights. I nominate myself for testing duties on the Camino (and Lieberman for wagon duties).
We need shirts, parties, town criers, drive-ins, drag races... okay... hyperventilating.
There was some discussion in our dealer meeting this morning that there could be a chance that if the US dollar continues to slide, it could make the value of the Austrialian dollar too high and kill the deal on the wagon and the ute, Apparently this was also in Automotive news this morning. Not to be a downer, believe me I want on of each in my garage
Thank you Jebus! By the time I'm able to afford a Magnum, which will end up being used since they'll be off the market, I can afford a G8. I never thought I'd say this but HOORAY GM!
"Football, meat-pies, kangaroos and Holden cars, football, meat-pies, kangaroos and Holden cars....."
I almost hate to say it, but as much as 'we' are excited about the new 'ute, i cant see them selling a whole lot.
But who knows, maybe the market will prove me wrong, as I hope it does. Roads and car lots full of 360hp Utes is a dream come true.
I'll believe it when I see it, but this plan sounds dumb enough for GM to go forward with it.
Why dumb? Because GM intends Pontiac to be their performance brand, but often don't act accordingly. Adding a wagon and especially a camino to the Torrent, G6, and Vibe further distances Pontiac from the image they want to achieve.
Also, since when did we get all pretentious and start using "ute"? It's a 'camino. Let's not pretend that we haven't all envisioned creating a custom "El Camino" replacement tailgate badge from the moment we read the headline.
Next we'll be using "garage" instead of "car hole".
@danio3834: Problem is that if Ford tries it it will be built on a front drive Taurus/500/MKS/S80/Sable/Montego and now /ranchero chassis.... and it will suck.
Well thats great news as I will now add the G8 wagon to my "next car" list that presently consists of the new Challenger and the new Camaro. I will buy one of these cars.
If anything can coax me into a car payment, it's a Pontiac wagon. Sigh!! And I've been so good, paying cash for every car I've bought since I was 18. I guess it was likely to end some day.
Well, my photoshopping skills suck. I used Paint and Corel Photohouse (circa 98') to create this. I really didn't have time to do a good job but whateva. And yes, I know it's a bit crooked and it's just a grill job (I tried using the G8 bumper but it looked awful) but it's the best I can do with limited tools. [img518.imageshack.us]
"Hey, now that we got us a great RWD design, how can we take it to the next level? I know! Let's remove as much mass as possible from over the drive wheels."
RWD utes might make sense in the land of sunshine and sharks, but I can't imagine the folks in Chicago and Buffalo finding this very "utilitarian."
Rather than G8, they should call it the "Drifter."
OhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygod
Ok, clam down, I'll beleive it when I see them on lots.
But still...
OhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygod
@Bumblebee: It's a ute because it's Aussie, and that's what Holden calls it.
You guys getting excited is getting ME excited!
Thanks! Let's see some Ute-hoonage.
There's a youtube clip of a Holden Ute in one of the ever-so-popular in Australia burnout contests making THE BIGGEST cloud of smoke from a car I have ever seen! (at work so youtube is blocked, otherwise I would provide the link)
Badass!
@Tyler: No but a touch of 400hp small-block might.
OMG Yes. I'm with Ben. This is seriously the best automotive news since Jeep started shipping the Rubicon and Unlimited Wranglers. (diesel up next?)
Please GM, please please please make the wagon available with a proper stickshift + V8 combo.
@BenWojdyla: Here, here!
@Bumblebee: LOL.
I'd put one in my car hole.