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Pontiac G8 Die-Off Rumored

Pontiac G8 Die-Off Rumored

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett October 23rd, 2008

2009 Pontiac G8

2009 Pontiac G8

Enlarge Photo

Carscoop, via Edmund's InsideLine, report an unnamed source's claims that the rear-drive, Holden-based Pontiac G8 will not be kept in production after it lives out approximately five more years of production. Along with rumors, they claim, of the demise of Lutz's baby, the Pontiac Solstice roadster, this would leave Pontiac with zero rear-drive performance vehicles in its stable.

Pontiac has long struggled to maintain the powerful performance image it has always claimed. From brand promises like "We Build Excitement," watered down with mediocre realities like wood-paneled Safari Wagons and the miserable cavalier-based J2000 and Sunbird, Pontiac has been a repeated victim of GM's badge-engineering. This, from the brand that helped ignite the musclecar wars in the late '60s by stuffing sick V-8 power into the Tempest and whipping up the legendary GTO. Pontiac's brand promise now reads: "PONTIAC IS CAR," but it seems they still don't know exactly what kind of car they mean.

Lacking consistent leadership to keep the weak-kneed four-cylinders, plasticized MPVs, excess bodyside cladding, and screaming chicken hoods at bay, Pontiac's history has been a bipolar romp through both the brilliant and the abysmal. If the G8 and Solstice go the way of the dodo, will the perfectly adequate (but arguably unnecessary) Pontiac G6 and Pontiac G5, the lame-duck Pontiac Grand Prix, and the ungainly Pontiac G3 (aargh--an Aveo clone) make any sort of believable point about the future of GM performance? Looks like Chevy (2009 Corvette ZR-1) and Cadillac (2009 Cadillac CTS-V) are doing a far more convincing job of performance than Pontiac.

If GM does merge with Chrysler, and some of the General's many divisions end up being axed, do you think Pontiac could end up on the chopping block?--Colin Mathews

Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wiki_cars_210.jpg

Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wiki_cars_210.jpg

Enlarge Photo

2009 Pontiac G8 Enlarge PhotoCarscoop, via Edmund's InsideLine, report an unnamed source's claims that the rear-drive, Holden-based Pontiac G8 will not be kept in production after it lives out approximately five more years of production. Along with rumors, they claim, of the demise of Lutz's baby, the Pontiac Solstice roadster, this would leave Pontiac with zero rear-drive performance vehicles in its stable. Pontiac has long struggled to maintain the powerful performance image it has always claimed. From brand promises like "We Build Excitement," watered down with mediocre realities like wood-paneled Safari Wagons and the miserable cavalier-based J2000 and Sunbird, Pontiac has been a repeated victim of GM's badge-engineering. This, from the brand that helped ignite the musclecar wars in the late '60s by stuffing sick V-8 power into the Tempest and whipping up the legendary GTO. Pontiac's brand promise now reads: "PONTIAC IS CAR," but it seems they still don't know exactly what kind of car they mean. Lacking consistent leadership to keep the weak-kneed four-cylinders, plasticized MPVs, excess bodyside cladding, and screaming chicken hoods at bay, Pontiac's history has been a bipolar romp through both the brilliant and the abysmal. If the G8 and Solstice go the way of the dodo, will the perfectly adequate (but arguably unnecessary) Pontiac G6 and Pontiac G5, the lame-duck Pontiac Grand Prix, and the ungainly Pontiac G3 (aargh--an Aveo clone) make any sort of believable point about the future of GM performance? Looks like Chevy (2009 Corvette ZR-1) and Cadillac (2009 Cadillac CTS-V) are doing a far more convincing job of performance than Pontiac. If GM does merge with Chrysler, and some of the General's many divisions end up being axed, do you think Pontiac could end up on the chopping block?--Colin Mathews Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wiki_cars_210.jpgEnlarge Photo

Tags: North America, Industry, Enthusiasts, Rumor Mill, General Motors, Car Publications

Posted in: 2008, 2009, Pontiac, Sedans, G8



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Responses (8 total)

  1. By Reece #1, Posted: 10/23/2008

    More proof of how Detroit don't get it. Kill off the two best cars in the range and keep the crap and mediocre. GM should rename itself Chevrolet and be done with it. the only company they put money and investment is Chevy and a little for Caddy and the rest nothing. Not sure why they even bother pretending with these other brands. Lump Buick, Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer together and sell them off to someone who can do something with them. Maybe the rich moguls in the UAE could buy it and put some real money into these brands and show Chevy sorry GM what they have missed out on.

  2. By  Marty Padgett #2, Posted: 10/23/2008

    Bob Lutz said last month Pontiac would depend on small cars. Wonder how that'll align with the rest of GM after this nuclear winter?

  3. By Tom L #3, Posted: 10/23/2008

    "We Build Excitement"
    From the 90's "Quality is Job 1"
    Is it me or is a company's slogan the opposit of reality.

  4. By Reginald Neal #4, Posted: 10/23/2008

    I don,t think General Motors should buy Chrysler its a repeat of more job losses the elimination of more brands
    and nameplates of passenger cars we lost Eagle,Plymouth and Oldsmoblie so far whats next"Pontiac"its going to hurt both car companies in a long term......

  5. By  Wayne #5, Posted: 10/24/2008

    I'm not a big fan of this whole GM/Chrysler buyout idea. I think that GM is looking at it just to save their own ass, cause Chrysler has $11 Billion set aside. Well GM's burning thru appx. $1 Billion a month on thier losses. Crazy! Now to Tom L, yeah We Build Excitment was a load of crap at that point and time for Pontiac. Now as far as "Quality is Job 1" for Ford, read one of the other topics posted here on TheCarConnection. It says that Ford's quality is on par with the Japanese(Toyota/Honda). Hmmm no so opposite now!
    Pontiac has one bright spot in their line up, that car is the G8. Not just because it's RWD and has an available V8, it's just a nice, well built, well designed, great driving car. Thank you Holden! If GM could afford anything at this time, they need to make Pontiac the American version of Holden. Plenty of V8 RWD, but also some great economical cars. The G6 had some good reviews early on, but compared to the Malibu, it's a POS. The G5 is a warmed over Cobalt coupe, what happens to it when the Cruze comes out? They're getting the G3, an Aveo with Pontiac grill? Seriously? WTF. Pontiac is lost, and has been for a while.........Maybe killing the brand is the best thing!

  6. By elroy #6, Posted: 10/24/2008

    No matter how great the car is, people have to buy it! This is a business people!!!!
    If you like the car and want to see it continue, go buy one!

  7. By Dave #7, Posted: 10/24/2008

    Just when you think GM gets it, they are come out with great cars like the CTS, Camaro, and the great looking G8. And I think the Solstice is one of the best 2 seat cars out there. Then you hear this? I have always been a Pontiac fan since my dad had Pontiacs whe I was a kid. Lets face it Pontiacs excitemant problems started when they killed the Firebird (do you hear this Bob lutz and GM!). They can bring it back . Keep the Solstice and G8, bring more Holdens here so you can bring back the Firebird and or the GTO again. The GTO maybe did not look "retro" but it was a damn fast and good driving car. Why not bring as many Holdens over here and badge them as Pontiacs? Dont rebadge small cars that is what Chevy is for! They realy need to bring excitemant back and show that they mean it. If you keep killing off more brands that is a sign of failure. Why not a new Firebird and a mid side RWD replacement of the G6 but bring back the name Grand Am. Why do we get it and not these high paid execs!

  8. By jay #8, Posted: 10/24/2008

    GM should buy Chrysler. By consolidating and survivng the minivan business, keeping Jeep and killing off Pontiac and Hummer, You would have a great Truck maker, with a solid luxury brand, mainstream brand and minivan capacity, along with an exciting performance brand like Dodge and the more useful and relevant off-road brand.
    That would create a company that is broad and with plant closures and combined head offices, would be leaner as well. Taking the US auto business as a whole, that would drastically change the landscape and decrease the inventory of American brands to a more realistic level. That way, along with quality upgrades, Ford could sell it's trucks for real dollars vs the discounted and cheaped out sub $20k pricing we so often see at the end of the year. When was the last time you saw Toyota offer a $30k Truck for less than $20k?
    US Cars are getting better everyday, but Chrysler is on a steep decline and should take the opportunity now to save the jobs and whatever capacity they can by merging - keeping it in Amercan hands just makes it a better proposition in my eyes...

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