Exclusive! Pontiac G8 revived in Australia

[Reaper]

Exclusive! Pontiac G8 revived in Australia


North America's loss is about to become Australia's gain. As Pontiac prepares to shut its doors in the USA, and with it the Commodore export program, it has emerged that the Commodore-based Pontiac G8 will be sold in Australia from late this year.
Holden exported approximately 41,000 Commodores as Pontiac G8 sedans between November 2007 and February 2009. A ute version of the Pontiac G8 was due to follow later this year but it was axed along with the rest of the Pontiac brand.
A top secret Holden dealer bulletin obtained by the Carsales Network has revealed that the Pontiac G8 will be sold locally in November and December, with production due to start on November 2.
The move has been designed to clear parts stock that was destined for the now axed Pontiac export program.
There will be sedan, ute and wagon versions in three colours -- black, red and 'voodoo' blue. This means the local Pontiac G8 will be sold in two guises not available in the US (where it was a sedan only), making the ute and wagon particularly rare.
Even though all cars will be based on the Holden Commodore SS V and wear SS V badging they are expected to become collector's items as they will mark an important milestone (and memory) in Holden history: when it last exported cars to the world's biggest car market.
Significantly, the limited edition models will not wear Pontiac badges, but they will get all the other Pontiac parts. The parts include the Pontiac G8 bonnet, front bumper and grille. On sedan models, the lower 'lip' boot spoiler will replace the SS V's high-mount spoiler.
It is unclear how many of each will be made, but dealer contacts have suggested it will be close to 1500 in total, or about 500 of each body style.
Prices of each limited edition model will be $1000 more than a regular SS V. The Holden bulletin outlined to dealers the following:
Pontiac G8 SS-V ute manual $47,490
Pontiac G8 SS-V sedan manual $55,290
Pontiac G8 SS-V wagon manual $57,290
Automatics are likely to be available although they were not mentioned on the price list.
Holden has not confirmed the special model, but spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale said: "We are working with Holden dealers on an exciting new SSV special edition and we will be announcing details shortly."
Exclusive! Pontiac G8 revived in Australia ? Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia

[Reaper]

Dunno if Americas loss is our gain but they will be somewhat different. I'll give them that.

Reaper

[TVR-190]

i like the pontiac front so win in my eyes

[Jezza]

i think thats great news because eventually when i get the money i want to get a ssv and put a G8 front and the rear boot lip on because i thought it looked really nice and now that some are coming here im hoping alot of people buy them in adelaide because they look cool

[STEALTHY™]

If they aren't going to be badges as pontiac, where the hell are they sticking the grill badges?


G8 wagon in Black with red leather thanks

[MasterOfReality]

How much were these selling for in the USA?

Stupid to pay more for a domestic car that is sold cheaper in other countries.

[STEALTHY™]

It says $26,000 - $35,000

I assume the 35,000 is the GTP G8.



35,000 US Dollar = 42,408.3 Australian Dollar (although thats converted at todays rate.)

[soop]

looks like crap.
Give me an normal SSV any day.

[MikesCalais]

they shouldnt be badged as SS-V's!!!

come on, thats just lazy!

like the new Cruze... haaaaddd to go and give it the exact same name as the little 4fwd (thats what i like to call those immitation 4wds) that obviously couldnt..

its lazy, and it takes away from the 'specialness'

[Ozzie]

Theyll probebly steer away from the concept and slap a torana badge on it.

[Cav]

Paint them all white with some red stripes and call the "Snake"
It worked for Ford.

[Calaber]

It will be interesting to see how they sell with the facelifted VE only a few months off, especially as no sneak photos of the facelift have surfaced yet, so we don't know how good or different they will look.

It's certainly an interesting way to flog off excess panels and bits though, and make a bit of extra cash on each sale. Will also be interesting to see if they have any exclusivity in years to come and hold their value better than standard equivalent VE's of the same age.

[STEALTHY™]

It's certainly an interesting way to flog off excess panels and bits though, and make a bit of extra cash on each sale. Will also be interesting to see if they have any exclusivity in years to come and hold their value better than standard equivalent VE's of the same age.

If they were actually released as a pontiac i'd see them holding their value better. Of course you'd get the morons who'll try and flog them off for doubly what an equivalent SSV would be worth, in years to come, but thats no different to now.

[Calaber]

How they are marketed will be very interesting. They will only be marketed as sports models, but will they sell them as Holdens or Pontiacs? The Pontiac name really doesn't have much cachet in Australia, as it's about forty years since the last Pontiacs were sold here. Buyers of sports models are generally more savvy about cars, and will know exactly what they really are.

They could sell them as Pontys, for the "rarity" value, but they will want to clear them quickly so that they don't lag into the VE Series 2 or VF introduction.

[STEALTHY™]

I know they wont release them as pontiacs, was just a personal thing really. Owning a limited edition myself, the rarer it is the better

[Astranomical]

I'd say it'll probably end up being called the Holden G8, or the Holden Commodore G8.

Either way, its still ugly as sin, and I wouldn't buy one.

[Sphinx]

Make it look like the GXP concept and I'll buy one.

[Focussed]

Howdy gents, very new to this site.
Well I just paid a deposit today for a Phantom Sedan. My missus' brother works at the Elizabeth Plant & gave me a heads up on this new model last week.
Dealer got word about it early this month. Apparently production is set for the 1st couple of days of November, so delivery on mine will be in late November or early december...
We get a 35% discount on all new commodores due to the employee family discount scheme so we paid $41K driveaway!

[Jezza]

Howdy gents, very new to this site.
Well I just paid a deposit today for a Phantom Sedan. My missus' brother works at the Elizabeth Plant & gave me a heads up on this new model last week.
Dealer got word about it early this month. Apparently production is set for the 1st couple of days of November, so delivery on mine will be in late November or early december...
We get a 35% discount on all new commodores due to the employee family discount scheme so we paid $41K driveaway!

sweet you will have to post some pics when you get it

[Focussed]

Yeah will do, 3 months seems like a long way away at the moment!

[Summer-Sickness]

hasnt got my vote.

i think the pontiac version of the VZ isnt toooooo bad, still not that great tho,
but this new one is pretty average, having said that i didnt like the VE when i first seen it, now its starting to grow on me... id certainly be going for the VE II over this...

but i cant afford either so im stickin with the zed :P

[HoldenCanMan21]

I wish I had your problems. Only 2500 Pontiac ''VE'' sold in Canada ... talk about rarity factor.
I am happy that I will be able to debadge it completely and replace the front arrow with the so wonderfull Holden Lion !!!

At last my Aussie Muscle Car will shine to it`s FORMAL GLORY, being a HOLDEN !

and yes, I`d rather push a Holden then drive a Ford !!!

Keep me posted when the ''special edition VE'' comes out, post plenty of pics to make us drool !
Cheers !

[Calaber]

I wish I had your problems. Only 2500 Pontiac ''VE'' sold in Canada ... talk about rarity factor.
I am happy that I will be able to debadge it completely and replace the front arrow with the so wonderfull Holden Lion !!!

At last my Aussie Muscle Car will shine to it`s FORMAL GLORY, being a HOLDEN !

and yes, I`d rather push a Holden then drive a Ford !!!

Keep me posted when the ''special edition VE'' comes out, post plenty of pics to make us drool !
Cheers !

As mentioned earlier in this thread, where will you fit the front badge? It's way too big for the Ponty's centre grille divider.

[S2_VR_]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, where will you fit the front badge? It's way too big for the Ponty's centre grille divider.

bonnet?

anyway i reckon they look much better than the VE's the VE's look so old and outdated kinda like the VT/X did before the transition to VY/Z

i reckon with VE II we will see sharper more defined edge's i.e boot and front bar being overhauled to look "up to date"

IMO i'd take this bodykit over the VE's anyday... just cause the VE's look 10+ years old already, they are too smooth need some sharpness about them

[HoldenCanMan21]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, where will you fit the front badge? It's way too big for the Ponty's centre grille divider.

This is only a guess but when the VE Special Edition comes out with the "Pontiac" front fascia logic dictates that the Pontiac arrow will be replaced with a "Special Edition Holden Badge"

Only the future will tell !!!