General Motors has revealed the 2008 Pontiac G8 sports sedan. Based on the Commodore from GM’s Holden subsidiary in Australia, the G8 will serve as a replacement to the aging Grand Prix.
The base model features a 261 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 250 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful G8 GT delivers 362 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque thanks to a 6.0-liter V8.
The basic G8 features a five-speed automatic with manual mode, while the GT version is offered with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox.
Curb weight for the V6 model is 3,885 lbs, while the GT weighs just five pounds shy of 4,000. 18-inch wheels come standard, while 19-inch alloys can be ordered with the GT model.
The sedan rides on GM’s new Zeta rear-wheel-drive platform, which underpins the 2009 Camaro and the next-generation Impala, in addition to several other planned vehicles.
G8 deliveries are expected to begin in August — a relatively short lead time made possible by some very effective badge engineering.
