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: | G8 | G8 GT |
Type: | 3.6L V-6 | 6.0L V-8 |
Displacement (cu in / cc): | 217 / 3564 | 364 / 5967 |
Bore & stroke (in / mm): | 3.70 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6 | 3.99 x 3.62 / 101.3 x 92 |
Block material: | cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners | cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners |
Cylinder head material: | aluminum | aluminum |
Valvetrain: | dual overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing | valve-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 plugs | high-energy distributorless ignition; solid state direct-fire ignition w/ coil near plug and integrated ignition |
Fuel delivery: | returnless, multi-port fuel injection | returnless, multi-port fuel injection |
Compression ratio: | 10.2:1 | 10.4:1 |
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 unleaded | regular unleaded |
Maximum engine speed (rpm): | 6900 | 6000 |
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 control | evaporative system, close-coupled catalytic converters, positive crankcase ventilation, electronic throttle control |
Estimated fuel economy: | TBD | TBD |
Transmission
Type: | Hydra-Matic 5L40 5-spd automatic | Hydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed automatic | TR6060- six-speed manual |
Gear ratios (:1): | |||
First: | 3.42 | 4.03 | 3.01 |
Second: | 2.21 | 2.36 | 2.07 |
Third: | 1.60 | 1.53 | 1.43 |
Fourth: | 1.00 | 1.15 | 1.00 |
Fifth: | 0.75 | 0.85 | 0.84 |
Sixth: | -- | 0.67 | 0.57 |
Reverse: | 3.02 | TBD | TBD |
Final drive ratio: | 2.92 | 2.92 | 3.27 |
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 aluminum | 18 x 8-inch painted aluminum (std); 19 x 8-inch painted aluminum (opt) |
Tires: | P245/45R18 | P245/45R18 (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 |
Click to read a review of the Holden VE Commodore SS