GM CEO confirms G8 will die with Pontiac
June 6, 2009 by George Skentzos
With its adoptive parent stricken from the General Motors portfolio, it seems the Pontiac G8 is likely to suffer the same fate with General Motors President and CEO Fritz Henderson announcing that the Australian sedan would not be migrated to a new brand.
During a web chat earlier this week on GM’s FastLane blog, Mr. Henderson made it quite clear that the company had no plans to keep the G8 following the company’s restructuring.
Initial speculation – or perhaps more accurately, wishful thinking – had the Pontiac G8 pegged to join the Chevrolet family or perhaps even Cadillac as an entry-level model.
This rumour has been bluntly denied by Mr. Henderson who responded simply with “no.” when asked whether the G8 would live on by a GM employee during the web chat.
Continuing support for the Holden-based G8 was also met with disappointment during a more structured question and answer session with the General Motors President and CEO.
While participating in the session, Robert Hammen posed this scenario to Mr. Henderson:
“I know you have also stated that the G8 won’t be rebadged as another manufacturer’s car (i.e. a Chevrolet). Might I ask you to reconsider. Find a way to take Holden’s next-generation VE platform vehicle, call it the new Chevy Impala, build it at Oshawa alongside the Camaro, and keep the people like me happy.
No economical RWD sedans = no more new GM purchases for me (sorry, a starting-at-$37K CTS isn’t in my price range new). I recognize the problems the new CAFE regulations will present, but there is still a several year window of time to sell a ton of these vehicles (including police/taxi fleets who will have fewer choices when Ford discontinues the elderly Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car platform). I know fleet ain’t great, but I think you’d sell a ton of these to regular folks, too (what’s the fleet penetration of the current long-in-the-tooth Impala?). Build these on the Flex line at Oshawa, with a mix of models like Holden does (V6, V8, lux, sport, et. al.) and you’ll have a winner on your hands. The platform is simply too good to ignore, going forward. To do so would be incredibly foolish.”
General Motors President and CEO Fritz Henderson responded with the following:
“Robert, I appreciate your comment. Certainly, the G8 is going to be one of the Pontiacs we’ll miss. But, we haven’t closed the door on RWD now or in the future. You point out both the Camaro, which is definitely in the mainstream price range of today’s cars, and the CTS, which is an amazing value in the luxury sport segment. As we map out our future vehicle needs, if we can find the right opportunity and price point to do a world-class RWD car, you can bet we’ll consider it.”
There is a bitter-sweet silver lining with GM still committed to the Australian-developed Chevrolet Camaro, however this does little to improve Holden’s export situation as it is built at GM’s Oshawa plant in Canada.
Print it: 
And pre-empting anyone bleating about how wonderful the F6 is in comparison to the SS or Clubsport, let’s not forget that the ‘King of the Hill’ is the W427 (pushrod V8)…or, judging by Top Gear a couple weeks ago, W427 appears to have been knocked off by the HSV supercharged Clubsport(pushrod V8).
Spare everyone the sermon about pushrod V8 being ‘old tech’, it doesn’t wash.
I’m off to work, feel free to flame me while i’m gone…common sense sucks hey
LOL
oh dont forget all the off shoring thats happening here. Unemployment will be hitting the high 10 percent mark in australia soon and you will be getting your calls from a philipino call centre saying only 5 dollar for you grass hopper. Dont forget to wax on and wax off to the mr rudd the unaustralian. No pushrods for Australia needed.
“Roddy” you need to head back to the early days of ELVIS where you and your beloved push-rod o.h.v belong.
Actually it now must be “Roddy&G.M.” that is RIGHT &
The rest of the “Automotive World” that is WRONG.!
Gee a 4 litre 6cyl F6 is just as quick as a Tough 7 litreV8
Wow that must help you sleep at night,knowing that “Roddy”
IP is one field, but you get introduced to a whole heap of areas of law at u-dub BM!
Just quoting from Wikipedia, pushrod engines are smaller in size (i said size, not weight) and much simpler but they don’t give as much technical design options as OHC.
“Most manufacturers accept the additional complexity of the OHC system in favor of GREATER ENGINE PERFORMANCE and DESIGN FLEXIBILITY.”
Take a 4L OHV and a 4L DOHC. Obviously the DOCH engine will have greater engine performance while also having the same fuel efficiency and same carbon emission as OHV.
Actually, “Schah7″, the tough 7 litre V8 is notably faster than your beloved (and over-rated by Ford fanboys) 4 litre 6cyl F6…not just in a straight line, but around a racetrack as well.
“Roddy” quite pathetic though Holden needs G.M finest V8
from the Corvette which is also nearly twice the size7.0Lv4.0L to compete with the F6.
You could buy about three F6’s for the price of a W427, too.!
Schah7 Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
“You could buy about three F6’s for the price of a W427, too.!”
And they sell at more than 3 to 1.
125 w427’s pathetic waste of money. The development costs were never even close to being recovered.
It’s pathetic that the W427 is so fast, yes…but only from a Ford fanboy’s point of view. The W427 doesn’t in any way compete with the F6, as it’s above the league of the F6 entirely.
If you want to compare by price, I suggest you may find the supercharged R8 to be more in line with the F6, but that’s even faster than the W427 isn’t it? OOPS damn that pesky GM ‘pushrod’ V8
I’ll leave the last word to you “Schah7″, no more posts necessary from me on this topic.
…. and you know all about “wax on wax off” don’t you BK?
Roddy,
Im interested in this supercharged R8 you speak of.
I tried to find it on the Holden website, but couldnt find the box to tick nor place my money for one.
I dont really want to be forced to aftermarket fitment, so if you could give me the link on the Holden site where the S/C R8 is readily available, it would be much appreciated
Sure thing mate…happy to entertain.
Although if you knew anything about how Holden/HSV/Walkinshaw Performance works you wouldn’t be asking…but I guess you need it pointed out to you that you don’t go to Holden for a HSV haha
Try the Walkinshaw performance website where the S/C R8 is readily available. Seeing (as you stated above) you will be placing your money for one, would you like to give us an update when your new vehicle arrives?
Watch the Top Gear video here, sorry you missed it LOL you really should try to educate yourself more before purchasing:
http://www.walkinshawperforman.....asp?ID=347
I LOVE FORD FANBOYS LOL
Roddy,
Its good you saw through my sarcasm,
But I thought you waould have also been clever enough to see my point.
I know what the Holden/HSV/WP relation ship is, so you cant B/S me.
WP is an aftermarket style arrangement.
Holden doesnt even techniclly do a factory fitted LPG system do they??? Even thats aftermarket fitted, yet they claim its factory fitted.
Once again, you cant B/S me because Im not one eyed and actually appreciate both sides of the fence
I dont consider myself a “Ford Fanboy”, in fact i actually tried the generals range of cars on the very same day I ended up signing for my FG.
You are so hell bent on Holden you think it is the be all and end all. Thats the Pathetic side of it.
I actually try both sides and then chose, you dont.
Your Mum and Dad bought you a holden quilt cover when you were 10 didnt they???? thats whay you dont look past holden at any point….
I know how you feel, I once had a Kenworth quilt cover, and I thought Kenworth trucks were the ducks nuts…..
You been waxing on and waxing off latelty Wheelnut.
I don’t get involved in the personal sniping that you just indulged in, so i’ll ignore your childish outburst, but it was entertaining watching you humiliate yourself.
HSV, as is FPV, are also ‘aftermarket’.
I’ve owned Fords myself, therefore i’m not hellbent on Holden, and I wholeheartedly acknowledge that the F6 is indeed a good thing for the money (if somewhat over-rated), as is the SS, XR8, Clubsport etc
I am, however, a realist, and acknowledge that W427 is, regardless of price, in a class of it’s own.
Got any more personal abuse?
Have I got any more personal abuse you ask???
Well if you want to set me off by aiming offensive tags at me, then yes, Ive got plenty more to dish in return.
I dont view HSV and FPV as aftermarket because they cover the FULL vehicle with a warranty.
Also at WP you can have pretty much what ever done to whatever.
They dont have any set vehicle line up. They dont even have any dealers as such.
WP isnt really any more different to any other aftermarket fitment peformance shops around the place.
WP is Pretty much the same as the “Brock shop”
I do agree though that the supercharger kit for the SS is good value. I dont understand why they offer it factory fitted O/S, but not here where it is home grown.
The only real problem I have with the W427, is the price.
Surely you cant think the 150K price tag is justified……..
I dont think the F6 is over-rated, but I do think the XR6T is better value, and if aftermarket tuning is what you are into, their is a massive world of possibilities out there for it
On a lighter note Kevin Rudd should buy a 427,Than he would be Kevin427.HaHa just joking.
Roddy – WPS aren’t a recognised Car manufacturer like HSV and FPV are who do make and sell cars through selected dealerships.. Therefore WPS are considered to be an aftermarket perfromance workshop.
which is why [and I don't know if you know this but] if you took your HSV Maloo or Clubbie R8 to WPS to have the supercharger etc fitted; you automatically Void your warranty.
Because even though HSV HRT and WPS are owned by the one company [TWR Australia] the work is done off-site that is the car leaves the HSV factory.. so to HSV it’s the same as if CAPA or CSV did the work
Funny thing is in the UK Vauxhall have released a Clubbie with all the WPS goodies and the warranty is intact
Thanks Wheelnut,
You just re-capped exactlly what I have said even the bit where I said that O/S the supercharger kit is covered by the factory, and here it isnt.
You must be carefull that you dont earn the tag of “Ford Fan boy” for your self for also knowing your stuff ha ha ha ha ha
Perhaps you also need “Educating” as Roddy suggests ha ha ha ha
No Problem AndrewM; However; I would have thought that a true Holden fan let alone an Australian Car enthusiast would/should have known that about HSV WPS HRT anyway?
Yet Roddy basically said it hismelf when he said that if you go on the WPS website the Supercharged Clubbie is there ready for you – The fact its not featured as on the HSV site proves your point.
The WPS site merely shows you what they are capable of and what they can do for you for a price – just like CAPA etc
And also Wheelnut,
you cant buy an R8 from WP.
You can only buy the bolt on bits from WP so techniclly there isnt a supercharged clubbie waiting for sale at WP either.
Its like Ford claiming credit to the 1000kw Capa XR6T
Wheelnut, I certainly did realise that, however…
WP is owned by the owner of HSV.
CAPA is not owned by the owner of Ford or FPV, therefore no comparison is valid.
I assumed you would know this, as a car enthusiast.
Roddy,
Wheelnut already stated that WP and HSV were owned by the same bloke.
Either way it makes no difference to determining whether or not its deemed after market fitment
whatever you say…