The current economic downturn has forced General Motors to delay some important future launches – such as the Chevy Cruze and next Malibu – but the melt down on Wall Street will not delay the company’s plans to launch the Pontiac G8 ST sports truck by fall 2009.
The G8 ST is slated to come packing rear-wheel drive and a 6.0L V8, two of the most taboo features in the industry right now, but that hasn’t slowed GM’s plan to have the sport truck in Pontiac dealerships by the end of next year.
“There are no efforts to delay the truck,” Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson told PickupTrucks.com. “Construction is scheduled to start in July 2009, and the first G8 STs are expected to go on sale here in the fall of 2009.”
Hopson also revealed that a base V6 engine is still being considered, but no officially decision has been made. The base Pontiac G8 sedan comes equipped with a 261 horsepower 3.6L V6.
Despite lacking a backseat, Hopson says the G8 ST will retail for about the same price as a G8 GT sedan. The G8 GT starts at just over $32,000, and tops out at about $35,000, so expect similar pricing from the G8 ST.
10/29, 1:03 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
The G8’s survival had everything to do with timing.
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Should The U.S. Auto Industry Be Rescued? Today on NPR!
10/29, 1:05 PM
posted by:
A4
im glad they are going balls to the walls on this, its a sweet niche product
10/29, 1:27 PM
posted by:
tob
I like the G8. The new El Camino not so much.
10/29, 1:33 PM
posted by:
edgeguy
I still don’t understand how they think there is a market for this beyond novelty.
10/29, 1:37 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
They’d better offer this with 6 or they might just as well park the majority over at the tampon factory.
10/29, 1:47 PM
posted by:
rob2299usa
OMG this getting rediculous… the Cruze was NOT delayed! It has always been 2010 as a 2011 model year.
From July:
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/07/chevy_cruze_is.html
10/29, 2:15 PM
posted by:
hanno
Here’s an idea, pop in the new 4.5 duramax and you’ll have one pretty awsome utility vehicle.
10/29, 2:16 PM
posted by:
pzimet
This is really stupid.
GM should not be investing in this crap, it will be a money LOSER, and it’s beat.
10/30, 4:19 AM
posted by:
falcodore
Its a sports utility vehicle that looks good and can carry a load (Ford Falcon can carry a metric tonne) can tow pretty much anything you want and gets much better fuel economy than a full size pick up, these things are everywhere in australia, very popular because they are so versatile.
No wonder americans get the crap cars they do, they want a big, powerful V8 that do 0-60 in 4 seconds but its gotta get 50MPG. You cant have it both ways, you also dont understand the concept of certain vehicles. Thats why you get V8 hybrids that drive like a fridge, whats the point?!
At laest aussies and europeans know what they want, thats why they get the good cars.
10/30, 9:14 AM
posted by:
jonmiles
I would seriously consider buying one of these…
10/30, 9:52 AM
posted by:
tins
$32K V6 Faux Truck = GM is on crack.
This is why they are on the verge of bankruptcy. You’d have to go straight to the Bush administration to actually find dumber management than at GM.
The only way I’d pay that much for this thing is if Jessica Alba popped out from under the steering column and blew me while I was driving. Even then I’d probably wait for the year end clearance sale.