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VE Commodore SS becomes the Pontiac G8 GT

Holden has finally confirmed that the VE Commodore SS is set to go overseas to the United States in 2008 - we reported this back in July last year. The VE Commodore SS will become the Pontiac G8 GT, whilst the Pontiac G8 seems to be powered by the Holden Commodore SV6 engine. Holden says that GM had a strong business model to bring the performance range of VE Commodore to the states given it's design, engineering and performance of the VE Commodore SS had guaranteed its success.


Full production of the Left Hand Drive Pontiac G8 will commence at the Holden plant in Elizabeth, South Australia, towards the end 2007 as exports begin before the years end.

Holden Chief Mr Mooney said that the export program reinforced the global appeal of the VE Commodore, as well as Holden’s position in the GM organisation.

" This export program confirms VE Commodore is a vehicle designed and engineered to appeal to both local and overseas markets. It also highlights GM Holden’s rear-wheel drive expertise globally. A car developed in Australia can be introduced in the United States, the Middle East and South Africa with equal impact.

"The local market is changing and exports will continue to be integral to Holden’s success, as they have been for more than 50 years. This is an opportunity for Holden to optimise capacity and further improve efficiency as we work to meet the challenges of a changing market. Today’s announcement demonstrates the Australian automotive industry’s ability to deliver significant returns to the national economy.” Mr Mooney said.

This new export program is set to further expand the model range at Holden’s Elizabeth plant to 18 domestic and 15 export variants. Holden is quick to point out that it has exported over 750,000 vehicles in the last 50 years to every continent ( except of course Antarctica).

The 2008 Pontiac G8 lineup will offer two models: Pontiac G8 which is actually a V6 from the specs! And Pontiac G8 GT which is the VE SS Commodore.

Each will come with a host of standard features, including:

  • Four-wheel independent suspension
  • Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control
  • Electronic stability control
  • 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch wheels available with sport package)
  • Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger sensing system
  • Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows
  • OnStar
  • XM Satellite Radio
  • Power-adjustable front seats
  • Fog lamps
  • Chrome exhaust tips
  • Rear lip spoiler

A sport package will be available for both models and adds features such as specific wheels – including 19-inch aluminum wheels and performance tires on GT – a rear wing spoiler, leather shift knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy pedals.

Models

Models:Pontiac G8 and G8 GT
Body style / driveline:5-passenger, front-engine, rear-drive sedan
Construction:unitized body frame, 1- and 2-sided galvanized steel
EPA vehicle class:midsize sedan
Manufacturing location:Adelaide , Australia
Key competitors:Nissan Maxima, Dodge Charger

Engines

3.6L V-6 (LY7) 6.0L V-8 (L76)
Application:G8G8 GT
Type:3.6L V-66.0L V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc):217 / 3564364 / 5967
Bore & stroke (in / mm):3.70 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.63.99 x 3.62 / 101.3 x 92
Block material:cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore linerscast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners
Cylinder head material:aluminumaluminum
Valvetrain:dual overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timingvalve-in-head; 2 valves per cylinder; roller lifters
Ignition system:electronic individual coil-on-plug; individual cylinder knock control and extended-life platinum-tipped spark plugshigh-energy distributorless ignition; solid state direct-fire ignition w/ coil near plug and integrated ignition
Fuel delivery:returnless, multi-port fuel injectionreturnless, multi-port fuel injection
Compression ratio:10.2:110.4:1
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):261 / 194 @ 6300 rpm*362 / 270 @ 5700*
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):250 / 340 @ 3200 rpm*391 / 530 @ 4400*
Recommended fuel:regular unleadedregular unleaded
Maximum engine speed (rpm):69006000
Emissions controls:evaporative system, single close-coupled catalytic converter, equal-length exhaust, single underfloor catalytic converter, positive crankcase ventilation, intake and exhaust cam phasers, electronic throttle controlevaporative system, close-coupled catalytic converters, positive crankcase ventilation, electronic throttle control
Estimated fuel economy:TBDTBD

Transmission

Type:Hydra-Matic 5L40 5-spd automaticHydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed automaticTR6060- six-speed manual
Gear ratios (:1):
First:3.424.033.01
Second:2.212.362.07
Third:1.601.531.43
Fourth:1.001.151.00
Fifth:0.750.850.84
Sixth:--0.670.57
Reverse:3.02TBDTBD
Final drive ratio:2.922.923.27

Chassis/Suspension

Front:multi-link MacPherson strut; direct-acting stabilizer bar; progressive-rate coil springs; fully adjustable camber, caster and toe
Rear:four-link independent; progressive-rate coil springs over shocks; stabilizer bar; fully adjustable camber and toe
Steering type:variable-ratio rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio:46-53 mm per revolution
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:2.8
Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m):37.4 / 11.4

Brakes

Type:four-wheel disc w/ ABS; ventilated front and rear rotors; twin-piston front calipers; single piston alloy rear calipers
Rotor diameter (in / mm):G8 front: 11.73 / 298
G8 rear: 11.89 / 302
G8 GT front: 12.64 / 321
G8 GT rear: 12.76 / 324

Wheels/Tires

G8 G8 GT
Wheel size and type:18 x 8-inch painted aluminum18 x 8-inch painted aluminum (std); 19 x 8-inch painted aluminum (opt)
Tires:P245/45R18P245/45R18 (std); P245/40R19 (opt)

Dimensions

Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm):114.8 / 2915
Overall length (in / mm):196.1 / 4982
Overall width (in / mm):74.8 / 1899
Overall height (in / mm):57.7 / 1465
Track (in / mm):front: 62.7 / 1592 rear: 63.3 / 1608
Curb weight (lb / kg):Base: 3885 / 1762 GT: 3995 / 1812

Interior

Seating capacity (front / rear):2 / 3
Headroom (in / mm):front: 38.7 / 989 rear: 38 / 965
Legroom (in / mm):front: 42.2 / 1071 rear: 39.4 / 1001
Shoulder room (in / mm):front: 59.1 / 1501 rear: 59.1 / 1500
Hip room (in / mm):front: 56.7 / 1439 rear: 58 / 1472

Capacities

EPA interior volume (cu ft / L):124.5 / 3528
Cargo volume (cu ft / L):17.5 / 496
Trailer towing maximum (lb / kg):1000 / 454
Fuel tank (gal / L):19.2 / 72.6
Engine oil (qt / L):3.6L: 7.6 / 7.2 6.0L: 8.9 / 8.5
Cooling system (qt / L):3.6L: 10.8 / 10.2 6.0L: 11.4 / 10.8
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