2010 Pontiac G8 ST (ute) reportedly cancelled

[goofafidamedes]

http://www.thetorquereport.com/2009/01/gm_reportedly_kills_the_2010_p.html

GM Reportedly Kills the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST!

Pickuptruck.com is reporting that GM has quietly decided to kill plans for the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST.

Link to the original news: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/01/2010-pontiac-g8.html


Be interesting to see if this affects the VE/VF Ute in any way.

[Pickles]

Sad to see that, as it would obviously have been good for Holden, which would have had another vehicle in their export range.
But I honestly thought the Ute would have been a good seller in the U.S., where I don't think there's anything similar on sale.
Cheers, Pickles.

[highlander_69r]

probably culling models in order to remain viable in the current economic situation. Im sure theres bigger pieces of crap they could stop making instead.

[bsbozzy]

Should've just released it as the Chevy El Camino.....

[VW Golf R32]

Detroit News article (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090106/AUTO01/901060432)

Not good news but not unexpected.

[Ned_Flanders666]

So, if this ute was 100% American designed, would it still be for sale on the American market?

[goofafidamedes]

So, if this ute was 100% American designed, would it still be for sale on the American market?

Who knows? Probably not if anything. The market for a light sports truck (read: smaller than F100-F150's, Toyota Tacoma/Tundra's etc) isn't especially huge. Most sports trucks over there are nothing like what the Pontiac Ute would have been.

IMSNRNEO (in my simpleton non-researched, non-expert opinion) I would have thought GM would have been better off with the Ute resurrecting the El Camino badge over there.

[OzJavelin]

“With Pontiac being more focused on sporty, fun-to-drive cars, we took a long look at the ST and it didn’t fit with what our future vision of Pontiac would be,” Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson told Automotive News. “At that point, we decided to not proceed with this vehicle”

Yes .. exciting cars like most of Pontiacs FWD sedan range. Pontiac is back to it's pre-1955, old Grand Dad image. Where is the excitiment of the Sixties Pontiac created with the GTO, TransAm, 421SD engines, etc, etc? They are now just too busy chasing Toyota Corolla buyers ...

[theVman]

Not suprising given current climate and the element of risk involved with creating a new untried ute segment by the sounds of it.

I personally would have thought the Americans would have jumped onto the sport ute concept that handles and drives more like a performance car or coupe.

I think the Pontiac relationship is not the best for Holden in the states as they do seem to be fairly reserved compared with other GM marques such as Chevrolet and so on.

Maybe Holden will look to Europe under an Opel partnership as I can see a certain market over there or is that already occuring with the ute?

[VW Golf R32]

Local media report confirming G8 ST programme termination (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=60018)

[Tyre biter]

I wonder if any had been produced yet? And if so, what happens with the LHD utes?

[Road Warrior]

So, if this ute was 100% American designed, would it still be for sale on the American market?

Probably not, it was a niche product that wasnt exactly going to single-handedly save GM's bacon.

[murph_fan51]

Im not surprised. Unfortanate really, as Holdens export scheme looked successful at first, but due to todays economic state, vehicles like these aren't being sold!

Plus those Americans prefer the BIG LWB pick up trucks, such as the Chevy's and Ford F150s!! Ones they can put their tracktors on and that!!!:)

[gmh308]

VERY sad! All the americans I know love the ute.

Stunning how GM/Pontiac US does not see it as sporty. That must be 80% of its following.

Probably would be ok if it was US made.