Add Cadillac ’s STS-V to the list of high performance General Motors cars that won’t make be making an appearance for the 2010 model year. In addition to the discontinuation of the STS-V and a host of SS-badged Chevrolets, the Pontiac lineup loses its highest-power G6 for 2010, the last year in existence for the lame-duck brand.
The STS-V’s deletion from dealer order books marks the only notable change to Cadillac’s largest rear-wheel-drive sedan for 2010. Despite an impressive 469 horsepower from its supercharged 4.4-liter V8, the $80,000 STS-V was never a sales success. Cadillac’s CTS-V will carry on the torch as the automaker’s high-performance model for 2010 since the XLR has been dropped entirely.
For the last model year of the brand, the mainstream Pontiac G6 loses its top-tier GXP model, which was powered by GM’s 252-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6. Despite GM’s commitment to spreading thrifty and performance-oriented six-speed automatic transmissions across its lineup, the discontinuation of the G6 GXP means that the only six-cog automatic G6 will come with the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder. The still-optional 3.5-liter (sedans with the GT package) and 3.9-liter (convertibles) V6s are mated to four-speed automatics.
Most notable for its outlandish bodykit (pictured), the G6 GXP’s death should surprise few and disappoint fewer.
