Pontiac G8 Revived In Australia

[Excellent]

Exclusive! Pontiac G8 Revived In Australia

Joshua Dowling
19 August 2009
www.carpoint.com.au

Holden to build limited edition run to clear Pontiac parts.

North America's loss is about to become Australia's gain. As Pontiac prepares to shut its doors in the USA, and with it the Commodore export program, it has emerged that the Commodore-based Pontiac G8 will be sold in Australia from late this year.

A top secret Holden dealer bulletin obtained by the Carsales Network has revealed that the Pontiac G8 will be sold locally in November and December, with production due to start on November 2.

The move has been designed to clear parts stock that was destined for the now axed Pontiac export program.

There will be sedan, ute and wagon versions in three colours -- black, red and 'voodoo' blue. This means the local Pontiac G8 will be sold in two guises not available in the US (where it was a sedan only), making the ute and wagon particularly rare.

Even though all cars will be based on the Holden Commodore SS V and wear SS V badging they are expected to become collector's items as they will mark an important milestone (and memory) in Holden history: when it last exported cars to the world's biggest car market.

Significantly, the limited edition models will not wear Pontiac badges, but they will get all the other Pontiac parts. The parts include the Pontiac G8 bonnet, front bumper and grille. On sedan models, the lower 'lip' boot spoiler will replace the SS V's high-mount spoiler.

It is unclear how many of each will be made, but dealer contacts have suggested it will be close to 1500 in total, or about 500 of each body style.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f67/pontiac-g8-sold-australia-sedan-sportwagon-ute-versions-planned-83198/

[Pepps]

I was literally just about to post that link

Very interesting, these will be unique,.

[6_litre_man]

very interesting, i cant imagine hsv would be happy bout them using the g8 bonnet. Whos going to be buying one?

[VX2VESS]

to move parts not required they should sell for less, but i doubt that will happen.

[XLR8 V8]

Carsales only discovered it today, but it was announced 2 weeks ago on this forum.
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=123310&highlight=special

[the big fist]

isnt this just the special edition ssv as mentioned in another thread ?

[Pickles]

What engine will these cars be fitted with?
Cheers, Pickles.

[aedeau]

What engine will these cars be fitted with?
Cheers, Pickles.

the same as the outgoing for v8 models is my guess? perhaps the v6 models will get the new direct injection engines?

[Evman]

I still think it's fugly

[[BANNED]]

Wonder if they'll have those decent Brembo stoppers?

At a guess - I'd say no. :bawl:

[Pepps]

;1569314']Wonder if they'll have those decent Brembo stoppers?

At a guess - I'd say no. :bawl:

I doubt it aswell - but hang on, you already have an SSV so why do you care? :lol:

[redvxr8clubby]

isnt this just the special edition ssv as mentioned in another thread ?

Yep, one and the same - XLR8 V8 commented in post 5.

[the big fist]

Yep, one and the same - XLR8 V8 commented in post 5.

Pays to not post while on the phone !!!
:jester:

[redvxr8clubby]

Just noticed your posts were only 2 minutes apart, these things happen.

[patto]

no Pontiac badges....:confused:

if I was going to buy one I would want to let everyone know it's a Pontiac


I can see a black market emerging for Pontiac badges

[02vyss]

But its not a Pontiac, it's a Holden with a few different panels :confused:!


no Pontiac badges....:confused:

if I was going to buy one I would want to let everyone know it's a Pontiac


I can see a black market emerging for Pontiac badges

[patto]

But its not a Pontiac, it's a Holden with a few different panels :confused:!

why is this numbskull Dowling calling it a Pontiac then?

besides I can still see lots of guys will want to enhance their ride with Pontiac badges anyway

[ova400]

you can already buy Chev and Pontiac stuff from the dealers

[02vyss]

The cars that Holden exported to USA are SSV's with a different spoiler, bonnet, grille, bumper and some different wheels and thats pretty much it! The G8 is as much a Pontiac as the VXR8 is a Vauxhall. Still a Holden with a couple of cosmetic changes! Pontiacs aren't any good these days anyway, putting a Pontiac badge on your car is not going to be an upgrade on a Holden badge, but I guess thats just my opinion.

Tom


why is this numbskull Dowling calling it a Pontiac then?

besides I can still see lots of guys will want to enhance their ride with Pontiac badges anyway

[vxcalais]

two words


but ugly !!!!!!

[macca_779]

This will hardly be a real G8. The US models offered things like remote start, tyre pressure monitors, brembo brakes. We won't get that Kind of gear. It's going to be just the panels and to me that hardly makes it a collectors item.

[Evman]

This will hardly be a real G8. The US models offered things like remote start, tyre pressure monitors, brembo brakes. We won't get that Kind of gear. It's going to be just the panels and to me that hardly makes it a collectors item.

Makes you wonder why the fk they don't offer that sort of stuff here in the first place :soap:

[Deco28]

Commodore needs this trim.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=28745&vf=2&GalleryType=2&ImageID=5&ReferringArticleID=65028

[aedeau]

This will hardly be a real G8. The US models offered things like remote start, tyre pressure monitors, brembo brakes. We won't get that Kind of gear. It's going to be just the panels and to me that hardly makes it a collectors item.

bigger brakes are on hsv. Maybe the marketing is to get you to trade up if you want better than stock ss/ssv equipment?

[SS V8]

Collectable....Not so sure...:confused:

I have no doubt it will sell if only because the VE look has been around for 3 years untouched. With the VF in 2010 it's as good as a series 2 to fill the gap which like the BA debarcle running for 6 years is overdue to those who change cars every two or three years and don't want the same vehicle in a different color.:goodjob:
As far as collectable time will tell although I very much doubt it if it's only left over G8 panels and bonnets. It'll be more like a bitza as with, vacationer, lumina, international, 50th anniversary, and so on when they try to boost sale and run-out using limited series models as they clean out the parts bin.

When all is said and done it's still good for Holden to have different looking vehicle on the roads for little or no extra cost given the parts were redundant to needs.:goodjob:

[AndrewR8]

I wouldn't call it collectible or special, wouldn't you just feel like your buying a car with parts no body else wants???? Essentially that's all it is and unless its cheaper than a SSV, why bother IMHO.

I saw a couple of the G8's on my last trip to the usa, all were red??? They look ok, but much prefer the commodore front bar and bonnet, its just alot cleaner and works. The G8 bonnet looks very after market!

my 2c anyways

[planetdavo]

The moderators are being very kind today.
Pretty much the same input as the other thread, yet it hasn't been merged for some reason...:confused:

[steves87]

The cars that Holden exported to USA are SSV's with a different spoiler, bonnet, grille, bumper and some different wheels and thats pretty much it! The G8 is as much a Pontiac as the VXR8 is a Vauxhall. Still a Holden with a couple of cosmetic changes! Pontiacs aren't any good these days anyway, putting a Pontiac badge on your car is not going to be an upgrade on a Holden badge, but I guess thats just my opinion.

Tom

I agree.... and you can swap 'pontiac badge' with 'chevrolet badge' in that last sentence too.... :)
at least a pontiac badges are more relevant and a little harder to come by (over a chev badge)

[Excellent]

My ricer background is probably to blame, but I actually like the look of the G8 far more than the VE SSV. :hide:

[vxtreem]

Seen a voodoo (blue) on road today. Unless it was custom front end.

[falcom]

Commodore needs this trim.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=28745&vf=2&GalleryType=2&ImageID=5&ReferringArticleID=65028

The Commodore interior really has not aged well.

They really need a freshen up ASAP.