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More Liveblog: Does the G8 Peg the Styling Meter?

More Liveblog: Does the G8 Peg the Styling Meter?

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett February 29th, 2008

Article ImageEnlarge Photo


I'm trying to do this secretly, but it's not working. In the five or six miles it takes to get from downtown San Diego to Hillcrest, I've almost caused two accidents, caused the owner of a mid-Nineties Bonneville to slide back and forth at a stoplight to get a stem-to-stern-to-stem-again look at the new G8, and finally, caused two black-golf-shirt types in a Mustang convertible to stop, pull over, gawk and circle.

People know the Pontiac G8 is new, but why? Does it connect the dots of a musclecar outline, or is it just a great-looking sedan?

This morning, co-driver Joe Tralongo and I wondered if the G8's sleek shape would make the enthusiast tach rise to redline. It's a relatively unadorned body, after all. And when a Charger R/T in sunburst orange blew by us on the Interstate, the G8's refined stance (which ends up looking like Honda's new Accord in profile) seems a little less musclebound. There are musclecar cues--the fender louvers, quad tailpipe tips, a sharp mini-spoiler on the trunk and red faces on the gauges--but a few upscale glints too, like the thin chrome-like trim that outlines the door handles.

A year ago, we asked stylists around the industry what a musclecar should look like. What gives them their unique appeal--other than the obvious V-8 muscle? GM designer Brian Smith told us it's in the long-hood, short-deck stance and the contouring of the body -- neither of which the G8 has in spades. And yet there's something recognizable in its look, probably the Pontiac grille, flared nostrils and all, that signals muscle to the other drivers I'm trying to nudge away from the G8's brand-new, unscathed flanks.

The G8 hits a big target--conservative enough to dress in black, flared and scooped enough to wear lascivious red paint without irony. If you really want raw muscle, though, the Charger is probably the better choice.

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the G8's rear seat and how it spreads out compared to the Charger and Accord--and later this weekend, we'll talk more about the V-8 and automatic drivetrain, and how you can tell the G8's cockpit was built to be built around the world. In the meantime, enjoy some more G8 photography over in our photo galleries, and tell us what you think of the G8's styling in a comment below. Enlarge Photo I'm trying to do this secretly, but it's not working. In the five or six miles it takes to get from downtown San Diego to Hillcrest, I've almost caused two accidents, caused the owner of a mid-Nineties Bonneville to slide back and forth at a stoplight to get a stem-to-stern-to-stem-again look at the new G8, and finally, caused two black-golf-shirt types in a Mustang convertible to stop, pull over, gawk and circle. People know the Pontiac G8 is new, but why? Does it connect the dots of a musclecar outline, or is it just a great-looking sedan? This morning, co-driver Joe Tralongo and I wondered if the G8's sleek shape would make the enthusiast tach rise to redline. It's a relatively unadorned body, after all. And when a Charger R/T in sunburst orange blew by us on the Interstate, the G8's refined stance (which ends up looking like Honda's new Accord in profile) seems a little less musclebound. There are musclecar cues--the fender louvers, quad tailpipe tips, a sharp mini-spoiler on the trunk and red faces on the gauges--but a few upscale glints too, like the thin chrome-like trim that outlines the door handles. A year ago, we asked stylists around the industry what a musclecar should look like. What gives them their unique appeal--other than the obvious V-8 muscle? GM designer Brian Smith told us it's in the long-hood, short-deck stance and the contouring of the body -- neither of which the G8 has in spades. And yet there's something recognizable in its look, probably the Pontiac grille, flared nostrils and all, that signals muscle to the other drivers I'm trying to nudge away from the G8's brand-new, unscathed flanks. The G8 hits a big target--conservative enough to dress in black, flared and scooped enough to wear lascivious red paint without irony. If you really want raw muscle, though, the Charger is probably the better choice. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the G8's rear seat and how it spreads out compared to the Charger and Accord--and later this weekend, we'll talk more about the V-8 and automatic drivetrain, and how you can tell the G8's cockpit was built to be built around the world. In the meantime, enjoy some more G8 photography over in our photo galleries, and tell us what you think of the G8's styling in a comment below.

Tags: Shoppers

Posted in: 2005, 2008, Pontiac, Sedans, Bonneville



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Responses (24 total)

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  1. By brian #1, Posted: 2/29/2008

    "GM designed Brian Smith told us it’s in the short-hood, long-deck stance..."

    Um, you meant to type "long-hood/short-deck" - Didntya?

    Short-hood/Long-deck = Chrysler "Cab Forward" LH Sedan

  2. By Mark #2, Posted: 2/29/2008

    "Does it connect the dots of a musclecar outline, or is it just a great-looking sedan?"

    Both. This is a great looking car.

  3. By  Michael Karesh #3, Posted: 2/29/2008

    I'm personally having trouble seeing the G8 as a muscle car. In the end, I think the styling will prove too derivative of the E46 M3, too international, and too bland.

    I think you've got an error (and a typo) in the entry: GM designeR Brian Smith likely specified a long hood with a short deck, not the other way around as you have it.

  4. By JEM #4, Posted: 2/29/2008

    Musclecar?

    Wait, weren't musclecars cheap junky nose-heavy two-door versions of cheap junky sedans?

    And didn't GM, and Pontiac, just about destroy the breed with the Trans Am and all the plastic junk they stuck on them, right down to the goiters that passed for hood scoops on the last WS6?

    How 'bout something a little more tasteful. Like a Holden Commodore sedan. Or is that too much to expect from GM's designated Tacky Division?

    Wait, you mean the G8 *is* a Holden Commodore sedan? Oh...

  5. By  Marty Padgett #5, Posted: 2/29/2008

    Righto on the typo - my mind must be wandering, even with a quad-shot Starbucks.

    Junky? There's really nothing junky about this car, unless you really hate Blaupunkt audio systems and really want an in-dash nav system.

  6. By Forest #6, Posted: 2/29/2008

    Todays "muscle" style was first (in my mind) coined with the 92 325i (and to a lesser degree the 89 5-series). This Pontiac, the new CTS, the IS250/350, even the new Audi (is it the latest A4?) have the same raked look. Sure the Dodge looks good - even muscle bound - but the G8 and the others I mentioned look fast, capable, classy, yet have a air of subtleness - and that look is what I love about the 67 Mustang Fastback, 69 GTX and Roadrunner, 67 Chevelle SS 396 and many others that defined "muscle car" for me.

  7. By Peter #7, Posted: 2/29/2008

    I haven't seen the real car, just the photo above, but in the photo, it just looks like another mid-size Pontiac ready to fall apart about when the 3 year loan is paid off. Who really wants hood scoops, gills, and lots of plastic under the bumper which is going to break as soon as you hit a racoon or pull into a parking place and touch a curb. How about clean styling - not focus-group gimmicks? Oh, and maybe a Knudson nose.

  8. By  Dave Parent #8, Posted: 2/29/2008

    Let's get real. Musclecar is as musclecar does. A real musclecar accelerates with the subtlety of a sledgehammer,and the build quality of a Wal Mart knock-off. A real musclecar sees every straight road as a dragstrip, and every corner as an inconvenient way of connecting straight roads. Real musclecars remind 60 year olds of how they felt at sixteen. And like dinosaurs, real musclecars flourished when there was an ecological niche for them.
    I love musclecars, but modern automobiles are orders-of-magnitude better, functionally, and socially. God bless the people who keep the real musclecars going, but the term "modern musclecar" should make your spell checker explode.
    And real musclecars never have four doors.

  9. By  Sorbs #9, Posted: 3/1/2008

    Looks like another Pontiac headed for the rental car bin. Seriously, when is that one designer at Pontiac going to retire?

  10. By  Charlie #10, Posted: 3/1/2008

    SAD, SAD, AND SAD!!!! Can't we give the domestics a chance? We keep this up and before you know it we will be saluting to a Japanese flag! I feel that U.S. carmakers are trying and can produce good vehicles but we need to support our industries. Be proud of being American.

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