Pontiac G8 GXP laps ‘ring in 8:30

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By George Skentzos | November 26th, 2008

In recent times the Nürburgring has become the performance benchmark for sports cars around the world, and it seems Holden is no exception.

A Victorian-plated Pontiac G8 GXP has been put through its paces on the Nürburgring by GM development engineers – not a professional racing driver – and set a blistering unofficial time.

Despite its sub-$40,000 price tag in the US, the Australian-equivalent of the HSV Clubsport R8 managed a lap time of eight minutes and 30 seconds around the famous circuit.

In the realm of seven-minute supercars this may not seem at all impressive; however a current generation E60 BMW M5 has managed a best time of 8:13 around the circuit in the hands of a professional driver – and comes at more than twice the price.

Source: Jalopnik

WVB

Oh please. not another one.
It is such a shame that such haloed ground has become the proving(?)ground of choice for every tom dick & harry car maker these days let alone the $15 lappers all day everyday. Still, if they let transits on the track then why not a G8.
Mitch

if you follow the source link, it says thats its 2 seconds faster than a Boxster S aswell
ChopstaR87

well ford should get the F6 to go around the Ring too then!!
Devil666

I thought the GXP was a mere SS (with a few more ponies and luxury features), and the GXP GT was the HSV equivalent? Because I swear I’ve read about the GXP GT setting a 8:02….
Howie-VL

Yeah would be good to see the F6 go around there! I have a ball racing the Typhoon on GT4 around there on the ps2 ha ha.

I dont see it such a bad thing as it being the prooving ground. That must be one of the fastest times recorded for a new car of that price around there.
FRUGAL_ONE

8.30 is a good time.

They should trial the BigBlock HSV

Cheers

F-0
http://www.caradvice.com.au George

Devil666, the G8 GT uses the 6.0-litre engine (similar to the one used in the SS) while the G8 GXP uses the 6.2-litre LS3 engine as used in the HSV range. No such car as the GXP GT, although people have referred to the GXP by that name.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Will Ford load up a plane with 3 or 4 F6s and a team of engineers to see what lap they can do?

Do you get Sabine to do the lap or ship across a V8 Supercar driver for maximum marketing potential (even though the lap will be slower). After you have finished there, go via England and leave the keys for an F6 on the desk of Clarkson or The Stig…

Hang on, does The Stig even have a desk? Or would he have a rice boy spoiler bolted to the floor?
azza21

Go the mighty HOLDEN!
HSV

Magnificent!!!!!
ABC

We always see how affordable the car is for that level of performance, but what I really want to know is how reliable the car is. It is not affordable at all if something goes wrong every three months. I have heard many horror stories, but I’d really like to see some real-world numbers.
The Stig

Hi its the stig here. I have no interest in driving your poxy F6 Australia. I only drive cars which are sold internationally. In my opinion, if they cant find an export deal for it, it cant be any good!
Mick

I think the Nurburgring makes for a good proving ground for all car manufacturers as the euros have been using it for years so why not the rest of the world.
Good to see an aussie built car over there, and do a fairly competitive time.
Why not get an F6 over there, or a W427? Lets start a new trend of shipping aussie cars to test them.
Frenchie

In that time given there were two people in the vehicle and the driver was an engineer, not a test or racing driver!
http://Mini Ben Larden

A stock Mazda 3 MPS did in in 8 mins 34 seconds. It’s rumoured that the new 2009 MPS will slash a few seconds off this time.

Either the MPS is a gun, or the 6 Litre Holden/Pontiac is nothing spesh. Like most, i’d love to see an F6 in the right hands around there.
The REAL Stig

To the FAKE Stig, buddy whoever you are stop using my name.

I’ll test the FABULOUS F6, or even the grassroots XR6T anyday!!
Car_Enthusiast

I agree with Frenchie, an engineer may be a good driver, but not as good as a test/race driver, and with the second person in the front it adds weight, and slows the car down. I would like to see the Guy that drove the GT-R or ZR1 take the G8 GXP around the Ring.

And I would also like to see what lap time the HSV W427 would manage around Nürburgring, with MRC on and a Race Driver in control.

It Might Just make it into the 7 Minute Club.
http://integra Greeny

Stig (fake)…….just because they export the VE to the USA definatley doesnt mean its any good ……compared to the cars that GM USA make anything would be good !!! If its so good then why has HOLDEN decided to shut their production line down for another 25 days ?? Yep…..commodores are really rushin out the door !!!! NOT !! FG is so much a better car than the VE …….especially the Turbo 6 !! Sweet sweet engine the I6 ……..imagine how the Yanks would love that !!
sexythang

i actually expected a better time.
hsv w427 is not a production car. so the time is irrelevant
http://integra Greeny

I am sure the opinion of the VE in America will change once the cars have done over 10,000k and the inherant poor build quality problems and mechanical un-reliability that HOLDENS are renowned for kicks in !!!!! lol Anyway …..GM will be gone soon so they wont have anyone to seel them anyway !!!! GM = joke lol
http://integra Greeny

Meant to be sell them anyway not seel……typo !!!!!
Richo

Ben Larden – yeah but the MPS is a heap of shit **awaits flaming***
harmful81

The second person in the pic is an intregal part of the test – it balances the car more. Quite frankly the second shot shown doesnt scream out stability, or were they testing the offroad version??
Richo

The car is coming over a rise mate, it’s pretty normal to see a car looking like that when coming over a rise at speed
The Stig

The reason Holden are shutting the doors is because people cannot afford to buy the cars they are making…

And the grassroots xr6t??? Come on “real stig”, anything with a turbo can hardly be called grassroots. Sigh.

And if the MPS is that quick maybe they could make it look a little quicker. Boring as bat-shi* if you ask me…
BJ

The MPS was 8.39 not 8.34
Melbourne Jester

hahahah, 40K in USA but here they are much, much more. How the bloody hell does that work. And then GM asks themselves why they are losing customers by their thousands every year. Bloody hell GMH, seel the car for the same price here as you do in the USA, or even less since the transport from Adelaide is much shorter to anywhere in OZ comparing to the USA and then you may be taken seriously by US, US the buying public.
http://www.littlepixiegifts.com.au Gift-Ed

This sort of news seems to initiate bitching. I’m glad to see the Holden over there doing a respectable time. I’d like to see a Ford there too. More testing is more likely to lead to more improvements.It would be interesting to see what the GM guys thought of it compared to their Caddy.
Andrew M

weird that it is road registerd for OZ, yet is a LHD.

its like they have left the plates on to show something

Me thinks this is more of a marketing exercise than true testing.
what do they hope to achieve out of this??
and if ford sent one over, i would say the same.
sure the motorsport fans like myself will find it interesting, but i cant really see them taking stats back to the drawing board.

what can they find here that they cant in their own testing facility
Wheelnut

You’re right Devil The G8 GXP is an SS not a Clubsport – look at the headlights.. they’re off a Commodore; not the premium high intensity projector lights on the SS-V or Clubsport

I don’t like what the Septics have done to the Front end of the VE though.

BTW: the HSV W-427 is a Production Car and I’d expect would set either a sub 8 minute lap or just over particularly with a race car driver like Siobhan Schmidt [the woman who raced the Transit round the ring on Top Gear] at the wheel
Wheelnut

Andrew M – a possible reason for Holden being at the ring is that they could be thinking of selling the car in Europe as a new Opel given that they already export it to the UK.

BTW: I think that the UK or Europe would be a far better location for the V8 Supercars than Bahrain – your thoughts.
Wheelnut

I remember a couple of years ago when the VT was released Motor took a HSV GTS to the ring and put it up against a BMW M5 sedan and a Merc-Benz AMG Sedan.

They got a couple of European and British Touring Car Champions to have a go at driving each car all of whom were very impressed with the performance and hanlding of the HSV.
Andrew M

yeah it would be good to see our cars racing in the UK,
but its a matter of economics that will see it not happen.

i really cant see the government over there footing the bill to ship the cars there, like the bahrain government does.
the teams wont be able to afford the cost.
the only reason they have fly away rounds is because the host pays for it.

i dont see why the UK would see the need to
Wheelnut

Greeny – I Had a 1987 VL Commodore Berlina Sedan which I owned from new for 15 years..when I traded it in it had done over 200;000 trouble free Km’s.. no oil leaks no problems with the engine; diff; brakes; steering; or suspension; at all no loose bodywork etc and it started every single time – a very reliable car

And when you look at the VL compared to the new [Australian Designed] VE Commodore you can see there are a number of improvements particularly in terms of build quality etc.

So I’m not exactly sure what makes you say “the opinion of the VE in America will change once the cars have done over 10,000kms and the inherant poor build quality problems and mechanical un-reliability that HOLDENS are renowned for kicks in”

Mind you I doubt those who buy the Pontiac brand new will keep it long enough to reach 10; 000kms….Not only because cars in the USA are so cheap but the US built cars are made to last no more than 5 years [avg]

Sure the build quality mightn’t be equal to the Euros but its definetely better than the Yanks

It all depends on how well you look after your car and whether or not you floor it every time to beat everyone away from the lights etc.
Andrew M

the VL is one of the better commodores on the time line though.

what configuration was the motor in that again??
and who made it??

gotta love the inlines!! ha ha ha ha ha

im also sure you will find the quality of the VE 6cyl isnt as good as the VL 6cyl so does that mean it hasnt improved??
just having a dig at ya buddy ha ha ha ha

i also see TK still hasnt decided whether or not he will join Team Kelly……..
personally i hope to see him stay with Larry.
good to see him to take a win for LPR on the weekend aswell.
if there is one holden team i have a soft spot for, its LPR. LPR = no nonsense, just racing. A true race team
Dlr1

The build quality of the VE isnt that bad. Most problems ive heard of seem to be electrical gremlins, not bits falling off. And compared to most US built and designed cars i have driven (here and in the US) the quality is a step up.
Wheelnut

I Expect Toddler to stay with LPR particularly as PRick is apparently having trouble finding major sponsors
Wheelnut

Rick Kelly: Champion one year.. Also Ran the next.
Wheelnut

If Rick does leave HSVDT to start up his own team [don't know why given the "success" Bright has had].. maybe Leanne Tander could take his place – one girl being replaced by another except that Leanne is a better driver with far more talent!
SPC

What is this Wheels magazine, or Channel 9′s the Car Show??
Holden biased journalism rears its head again
You cannot compare the M5 to a dunnydore no matter the price…
Engine of the year for one
Andrew M

wheelnut,
Rick has done crap since Tander left. Coincidence??? NO

Tanders great input kept the whole team competitive.

its not rick that is leaving, its him having to keep in his daddy pocket like always.

if todd doesnt go to team Kelly, then expect Dumbrell/Duma*se to keep his seat.
it was reported that Dumbrell would run a third HRT car with the use of PWR’s licence, but later it was reported by marcus marshall himself that he had already paid a deposit on PWRs licence. Marshall had no idea as to why Dumbrell was saying he was buying it.

I feel for brighty.
a great bloke, and also proven to have great skill as a driver. I admire what he tried. no other team can run the way he tried. he tried to do every little thing himself. no other team does that.
Its gonna be very interesting to see how he goes next year now that he has moved to QLD and formed an SBR alliance.
I say Brighty will bring great experience and benefit to SBR, and brighty will also benefit from having the resources/dollars which was his greatest limiter.

Still no word on Davison????
Gee i hope he stays with DJR. it was good to see a turn in form with Stevie J over the last couple of rounds.
He puts it down to further committment, but i reckon him just switching to the new spec engine heads may have a little bit to do with it aswell.

cant wait to see DJRs FG.
it will be their first new race car in a long long time. and this time they would have built it with a much better budget

Oh and how good was lowndes at Tazzy???
he is certainly a team player. his effort to help out Jamie was awesome to watch at the end of the 2nd race.
When he needs to pull his finger out he is like a mad man. if only he drove like that 100% of the time.
Andrew M

oh,
and its not a matter of IF Rick leaves HSVDT, but more a WHEN since there wont be a HSVDT next year.

i cant remember exactlly how it is, but the Kellys already hold the licences, but Tom owns the team.
the kellys will still use the same Licences meaning HSVDT wont be around anymore.
all that will change is that team Kelly will now use LPR gear, and not Walkinshaw stuff
Tom

Bit disapointed in this time actually, i expect they could get better.

The W427 would be lucky to run low 8′s, definitely not in the 7′s. The CTS-V ran a 7:59, and it has significantly more firepower.
Cupid Stunt aka No Name

Sorry Folks but I can’t see anyone here wanting a 6Cyl Holden Commie. i’ve not read anythig in the press about importing a RWD platform. The omega was pulled from Vauxhalls fleet back in 2003 due to poor sales and the worst depreciation of any UK sold car. Cannot imagine GM wanting to go there again. Besides the Insignia is about the same size has 4wd and a range of engines from pertol 1.8. to 2.8V6 turbos and of course about 2 or 3 power outputs from diesels. There is not large capacity GM deisel thats good enough to slot under the bonnet and give better performance than a 1.9CDTI 119Kw diesel.
As for the racing bit its only the touring cars that get a look in, as the Vectra currently rules the roost theres no room for a V6 in the field and there not enough race tracks to warrant a V8 field really. Cheers Folks
James

not bad not bad at all…

but mentioning the M5 in the same sentence is a bit too much…

and people don’t understand it seems…

the price in USD is much cheaper in the states because as explained before, supply and demand and the market size.

But this car is assembled in Australia so a 60~70K AUD price tag IS overpriced….
Eddy The Expert

Wheelnut Says:
November 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
You’re right Devil The G8 GXP is an SS not a Clubsport – look at the headlights.. they’re off a Commodore; not the premium high intensity projector lights on the SS-V or Clubsport

Ahhhh no, you’re incorrect. The G8 GXP IS their version of the Clubsport.
Headlights do not make the car. Different countries have different specifications (kinda like the V8′s exported to UAE that still have 4 speed auto’s). But engine wise the GXP is similar to the Clubby.
MB

Having been to Lang Lang and seen development/engineer drivers at work they can steer very well.

On the Grand Prix Rally a few years back if they were watching the action then decided to go out in a bog standard Commodore. The time was faster then all comers including all sorts of M3′s, Porsches etc..on the road handling circuit on the inside of the bowl
Wheelnut

Eddie: The G8 GXP is their equivalent of the Clubsport in terms of specifications performance etc but the G8 isn;t based on the Clubsport the rear taillights are the same as a Commodore SS not the LED units from a Clubsport [ a distinguishing feature between the two ].. if it was a CLubsport it would have the HSV bodykit wouldn’t it?

Yes; its similar to a Clubbie but its not a Clubbie…. it’s an factory enhanced SS? and the cars are shipped to the USA from Holden in Elizabeth not HSV in Clayton

Andrew M – I heard on the radio last week that Davison will be replacing Skaife at HRT [BM can verify this]
And the steering pump lasted how long?

Question:

- How many spares did HSV take to the ‘Ring?
- How fast did they swap the steering pumps once it no doubt failed, as per traditional HSV experience?

Or, heaven forbid, was this a purpose-prepped HSV car?
JML

“and set a blistering unofficial time.”

Unofficial…i.e. on semi-slicks, tuned, with race-prepped suspension. Marketing wool pulled over your eyes, folks.

Yet still 15 seconds behind an M5.

Next!
anonymous

The car is not stock, you can even see the roll cage and stripped interior on the first picture.

Id like to see this car do the nurburgring a few more times, then we can see if this car is reliable… Its just another commodore after all.
http://porsche Goodbye GM

JML and Anon are right, these are publicity shots only.

Doesn’t matter the time once Gm’s assetts in Oz are bought by the Chinese..

I rike to buy a Horrden Chinadorrre prease, the best frrom China for Austrraria!

Hilarious.
Andrew M

Wheelnut,
does that mean this is neither an SS nor HSV since it also wears a different body kit to the SS??
http://porsche Goodbye GM

Typical GM deceit and lies. Race prepped car including roll cage and other mods, then claiming a quick time for the car. The sooner GM slides into receivership the better. Heaping rubbish sub standard cars onto the Australian car buying public it is a fate they deserve. Spending a billion dollars on the Commodore and it’s only a 4 star waste of money that is easily outclassed by the competition. Rubbish engines and transmissions. Regularly buying favourable media coverage and motoring awards through advertising spending rather than simply doing a better job. Any sensible person that has a Holden in their driveway should feel angry, cheated and ripped off. Those people that call themselves Holden fans should be embarressed by their stupidity and how gullible they are. You have been completely taken hook line and sinker by the American Corporations spin and marketing that they are as Australian as AFL football and kangaroos. The executives in Detroit are laughing their asses off at you. You idiots.
Buddy

Relax, its just because the pushrod engine is so awesome it disrupts the earths rotation as it accelerates so a roll cage is needed in case shit gets hectic.. Its science.

Holden made and still make cars suited for Australia. However I believe this commodore and falcon buyers are a dying group. I do love big aussie sedans but I can see the tradition coming to an end.

Anyway, nice car. Quick times for a family sedan
You know what…

Well said the above commentators.

And has anyone else noticed? Seems to me likt that driver is now retired Mark Skaife… running away from bankruptcy? And showing off to the Chinese passenger as part of their buy-out of Holden? Or is he a Korean from Daewoo?

As fake and orchestrated this “unofficial” lap time is, nothing beats Holden’t best trick of all – winning Wheels’ Car of the Year with lemons (from Camira to VT) and managing to convince Aussies that the Daewoo Kalos is a true blue Holden Barina. Beep beep to that!
Goodbye Toyota

Wow..

This site is still full of tossers…

I can’t believe it, after walking away some 6months ago, the same lifless freaks are still here spewing the same sh1t. Don’t buy a Holden, buy a Camry instead.
I’d rather eat my own ass.

Grab a Kleenex, get a girlfriend and have a night in.
CJ

I agree with GOODBYE TOYOTA, I also stopped posting on this site about 12 months ago due to any post to do with OZ made cars turning into a bitch fest.

I would question why Holden would bother testing this car at the Nürburgring. If it is a sales pitch it will be lost on the average American, most of them wouldn’t have ever heard of the Nurburg let alone Germany. They will probably think it is a suburb of Detriot.