By Mark Elias
Friday, Apr 11th, 2008 @ 4:48 pm

If Pontiac’s Holden import, the G8, isn’t already at a dealership near you, it soon will be. But is this Zeta platform-derived sedan the savior that many of GM’s faithful are hoping it to be?

During a ride and drive through the far reaches of suburbs and countryside near Atlanta, Georgia, we had a chance to reacquaint ourselves with the “thunda from down unda” on a route ranging from mildly twisting mountain roads to long interstate straightaways. It is an impressive vehicle. But one that we take issues with on several levels.

The G8 GT is a good-looking car. Damn good-looking. Aggressive styling brings back the muscular poses of Pontiacs from years gone by. We can do without the boy racer hood scoops that are all show but no go. Let’s call them a styling exercise. They will carry their own weight in the upcoming G8 GXP, but for now, they are poseurs.

The 6-liter V8 with its 385 lb-ft of torque is a strong performer, and the class of the field in its competitive set, which includes the Dodge Charger R/T, Nissan Maxima 3.5 SL, and Infiniti ’s G35 Sport. At 361-horsepower, it is 26 ponies stronger than the 335-horsepower Charger. Add GM’s Active Fuel Management, which shuts down four cylinders when the engine reaches cruising speed, and you get the benefits of power and fuel economy — to a point.

The six-speed automatic transmission is a smooth operator, even when tossed into the sport mode, which remaps shift points for quicker response under heavy acceleration. We would have welcomed the addition of paddle shift controls on the steering wheel to keep things under control on the wheel while standing on the loud pedal.

For the first time in recent memory, and perhaps the first time ever, Blaupunkt is the audio system of choice for the G8 line. The sound quality is excellent, especially when you check the option box for the 230-watt, 11-speaker kit, which comes equipped with the requisite iPod/MP3 hookup. The odd thing about the system is that it is also equipped with a six-inch video monitor…. which does nothing other than show you what station you are listening to. The monitor seems to take up a lot of valuable real estate in a dashboard area that is also in need of provisions for a GPS navigation system and satellite radio receiver.

We asked G8 product manager Brian Shipman about the oversight of a lack of satellite radio and navigation provisions in this new flagship of the Pontiac line. He responded that Pontiac has a program where G8 buyers will be able to purchase a stand-alone XM Radio portable receiver device. As for navigation, they can use the OnStar turn-by-turn feature. But the reality is that there is a bunch of architecture under the dash that is a result of Holden design, and prevents the installation of the creature comforts that have become a part of the American fabric. The problem was to be looked at and addressed after production and sales had commenced.

The seat is another place where the G8 takes it in the shorts, so to speak. We think a six-way power driver’s seat is a halfway measure. In an attempt to reduce mass, the decision was made to install an awkward twist-knob affair that adjusts the rake of the seat back. The reality is that other vehicles in this niche offer the power adjustment, and truth be told, this car, at least in street form, is not going to end up on a race track.

Herein lies the problem: The last time Pontiac drew assistance from their Aussie cousins at Holden was with the Pontiac GTO in 2004. In the rush to bring it to the US market, certain compromises had to be made. Buyers complained then of the lack of power during the first two years of production. Other prospective buyers chose to stay away, but by the time a more powerful version of the LS2 V8 engine appeared, it seemed that the buyers had disappeared.

The G8 is a good car. It can be a great one. To avoid a repeat of the past, Pontiac should have held production, much in the same manner that Boeing Aircraft is doing with its upcoming 787 Dreamliner. Get the bugs and modifications worked out in the first place, and then throw the G8 to the wolves. At that point, it will be able and ready to stand up on its own, excuses be damned.

Words and photos by Mark Elias

April 11th, 2007

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