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Pontiac G8 Lifespan Likely Cut Short

In days past when the name Pontiac was spoken, people instinctively knew that the conversation was shifting to a discussion about a fine line of sporty automobiles. At one time the brand had some of the hottest cars on the market including the GTO, Tempest, and the Firebird, exciting vehicles which imbued the Pontiac name.

Over time Pontiac began to change receiving fewer sporty models but seeing more economical cars along with a van, the ugly Aztek SUV, and a number of rebadged vehicles sold by GM’s other US divisions. General Motors, in a bid to consolidate operations, has united most Buick, GMC and Pontiac dealers under one roof, a move which has allowed the automaker to cut back on the number of models offered by each of the three brands.

Today, GM has transitioned the brand to one offering a line of small, sporty cars with only one model hearkening to a bygone era, the Pontiac G8. Based on the Holden Commodore — a GM model built in Australia — the G8 is a well proportioned mid-sized sedan, with a fully independent performance tuned suspension. Critics have been comparing the car to BMW, recognizing that it offers something that most American cars do not – a wonderful combination of raw power, handling, and manageable size.

Standard engine for the G8 is a V6 – the same 3.6L engine that powers the Cadillac CTS. However, for optimum power, a 6.0L V8 paired with a six speed automatic transmission ups the performance level a full notch, giving the car the distinction as being the most powerful sedan available on the market that retails for under $30,000. As a point of reference, the Cadillac CTS-V is the fastest sedan costing at least $30,000.

Though introduced earlier this year, the future of the Pontiac G8 is in doubt as is the sport truck version of the same model. General Motors has been hammered financially for the past several years and this year learned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has backed a government initiative to require that Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) be increased fleet-wide for all vehicles sold in America. To get to the higher numbers some of the larger cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles manufactured by GM will be discontinued or modified enough to make them lighter and more fuel efficient.

The Pontiac G8 isn’t one of those cars slated to be downsized though it is believed that the next generation Holden Commodore (the Pontiac’s sister model) will soldier on, but be available only in the land down under where such CAFE restrictions don’t come into play.

The good news is that the G8 should be available for another five years before the car fades into the sunset. Likely, the burly rear wheel drive sedan will be replaced by a front wheel drive car with smaller engines, a capable car roughly the size of today’s Pontiac Gran Prix. Less won’t necessarily be more, but when fed regs are factored in less may be all that you’ll have.

About the Author

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt provides magazine, web content, and article writing services to clients all over the world serving the automotive, human interest, and business communities. The Auto Writer is his flagship car weblog.

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