Pontiac » Australian Car Advice

GM cancels Pontiac G8 ST export

January 7th, 2009 36 Comments

General Motors has announced it has cancelled plans to introduce the Holden-derived GT Sport Truck into the US under the Pontiac nameplate in the wake of the national economic meltdown.

The decision is in part due to GM’s new approach to turn Pontiac into a “niche brand” as outlined in a plan it submitted to Congress last year.

GM Holden confirms small car production

December 22nd, 2008 127 Comments

GM-Holden has confirmed the most rumoured decision in the Australian automotive industry, that it will follow the lead of rival Ford and build a small car in Australia.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss, made the announcement at a press conference today and said the new vehicle would begin production in the third quarter of 2010, with both Federal and South Australian Government financial assistance.

The vehicle, which will be built on the GM global platform know as Delta will be built in the Elizabeth, South Australia, manufacturing plant, alongside the current Commodore.

The plant currently builds the Commodore, including export versions which are sold as Chevrolets in the Middle East predominantly, and in the United States where they are marked as Pontiacs. It previously also built an earlier version of the Vectra.

It would appear that the project will not add jobs to the South Australian workforce as Mr Reuss said the program would require 500 to 600 existing employees at Elizabeth and is estimated to provide 500 to 600 local supplier positions.

The vehicle, based on General Motors’ global Delta small car platform and feature new technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse emissions.

The new front-wheel-drive vehicle will be built as a sedan and hatch and design and engineering work will take place at the company’s headquarters in Port Melbourne, Victoria.

Mr Reuss said start-stop hybrid technology and capacity to run on alternative fuels such as E85, diesel, LPG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are all being considered for the vehicle’s development.

It will be GM Holden’s first locally produced car beyond its current range of larger vehicles since the Asian economic crisis ended Vectra production in 1998.

The vehicle will be built in the south bodyshop of the Elizabeth facility, which was previously used for the Vectra assembly in the late 1990s.

Mr Reuss said the announcement provided an opportunity to take a leading role in developing alternative fuel and fuel saving technologies in Australia for Australians.

Mr Reuss said the program would be a major contributor to the economy, generating an estimated $70 million to $80 million in wages and $30 million in research and development.

“Together with Government, we are extending the scope and consumer appeal of our local manufacturing efforts,” Mr Reuss said.

“We have been building Holden cars to suit the needs of Australian motorists for 60 years and these plans build on that tradition.

“We recognise the needs and desires of motorists are evolving with growing concern around environmental factors and shifting consumer sentiment.

“Such evolution calls for an innovative approach to complement our current offering.

“Just as our leading Commodore range will continue to undergo technological development, this new vehicle will cater for growing demand for smaller cars focused on economy.

“We are planning for the future to produce a wider range of cars in Australia to cater for a variety of driving needs.”

He added that flexible manufacturing infrastructure would be introduced to the Elizabeth plant to make it capable of producing a series of GM global vehicles in years to come.

It also provides opportunity to develop an export program for the vehicle, particularly to other right hand drive markets around the world.

Mr Reuss paid tribute to the Federal and South Australian Governments for their ongoing commitment to the Australian automotive industry.

“The Rudd Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund has provided opportunity to turn our plans into reality,” Mr Reuss said.

“This announcement complements the vision we share with the Government of reducing Australia’s dependence on foreign oil and making motoring better for the environment.

“It demonstrates commitment to an Australian automotive industry which extends beyond manufacturing at GM Holden to thousands of suppliers and dealers across the country.

“That demonstration was clearly seen by our parent company in its decision to support this program.

“The support of the Federal and South Australian Governments in securing this program recognises the fundamental role which automotive manufacturing makes to national and state economies.”

GM Group Vice President and Asia Pacific President, Nick Reilly, today added his support to the program as proof of GM’s capacity to innovate across the region.

“This announcement recognises the ability of GM, GM Holden and the Australian automotive industry to see the future and move in the right direction,” Mr Reilly said.

Holden isn’t giving a lot away about the exact detail of the new vehicle, unlike Ford, which is well advanced with planning to build the next generation Ford Focus in Melbourne from 2011.

The new small, front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder vehicle to be built by GM Holden at Elizabeth will be based on General Motors’ global Delta small car architecture.

Other examples of the architecture will include the next generation Chevrolet Cruze and Opel, Vauxhall and Saturn Astra.

The architecture was primarily developed by GM Europe in Russelsheim, Germany for GM markets around the world.

Local design and engineering work on the Australian vehicle will take place at GM Holden’s Port Melbourne headquarters in Victoria.

Direct injected petrol and diesel variants of the vehicle will be produced with GM Holden considering a range of alternative fuel or fuel saving technologies including E85, LPG, CNG and start-stop hybrid capability.

Further details about the vehicle including its nameplate, design specifications and pricing will be determined closer to the time of production.

Hide It

Pontiac G8 GXP sedan priced from US$39,995

December 17th, 2008 30 Comments

Despite reports predicting its early demise, Pontiac is carrying on with its adopted Australian range having today announced official U.S. pricing for the flagship G8 GXP sedan.

The HSV Clubsport R8-equivalent offers performance to rival the BMW M5 for less than half the cost, with prices starting from just US$39,995.

Bleak future for Pontiac G8 in the U.S.

December 3rd, 2008 71 Comments

While previous reports predicting the demise of the Commodore-based G8 sedan were denied by Pontiac, almost, new reports have emerged which paint a rather bleak future for the Australian export.

Since the Pontiac G8 sedan was launch in the U.S., just 13,000 have found a home, while 11,000 more unsold G8’s remain in Pontiac’s inventory - representing a 283 day supply.

Pontiac G8 GXP laps ‘ring in 8:30

November 26th, 2008 57 Comments

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.

Pontiac G8 GXP Street concept for SEMA

November 2nd, 2008 13 Comments

Holden will make an unexpected appearance at SEMA this year with General Motors having prepared a truly amazing show car with the Pontiac G8 GXP Street concept.

By combining GM’s two latest performance offerings, the Pontiac G8 GXP and the LSX454 crate engine from GM Performance Parts, the G8 GXP Street concept blitzes the W427 and outpaces the Corvette ZR1 for power.

Pontiac responds to G8 rumours, sort of

October 29th, 2008 29 Comments

Pontiac has responded to recent rumours surrounding the future of its G8 range, we’re just not sure if they understood what the rumour was about.

Pontiac has gone on record saying it would not be cancelling either its G8 or Solstice range - although did not address the key issue being the viability of their next-generation replacements.

Pontiac to drop VE-based G8 range?

October 24th, 2008 53 Comments

Holden’s largest export market could potentially dry up with inside sources reporting that Pontiac will not carry over to the next-generation rear-drive platform of the Australian-developed Commodore.

Pontiac could discontinue its entire VE-based G8 range when the next Commodore arrives in about five years time, citing limited corporate resources and fear of rising fuel-economy standards as the main motives.

Spied: Pontiac G8 and W427

August 29th, 2008 16 Comments

We couldn’t believe it when Anthony was returning a press car last week and pulled up behind a convoy of at least six clearly badged Pontiac G8 cars travelling west near Lane Cove.