Another One Bites The Dust: Pontiac Kills G8 ST
Now that General Motors is being forced to do some major downsizing across its range of manufacturers, this news doesn't come as a big shock to us. According to the boys at Jalopnik, Pontiac executives have told their dealer network that the automaker plans to kill the upcoming G8 ST, an American re-badge of the popular Australian Holden Ute.
Pontiac has long tried to badge themselves as GM's performance-oriented brand, and with the introduction of models like the G8 and G8 GXP, we were starting to take them seriously again. The G8 ST (Sport Truck) would have been in a segment of one if sold in America, making us remember the days of the old El Camino and other ute-like vehicles such as the Subaru Brat and Dodge Rampage.
+ Jalopnik: Pontiac G8 ST Officially Dead: GM Kills El Camino... Again
Comments
TheStig
Good. It was a dumb idea anyway.
Ducati Minor
This is GM trend: disappointing, but expected. (Probably even correct.) I was keen on the idea of a G8 pickup, but I don't the long-term value of having such a niche product at a time when consumer focus is green. I could have see the ST (and the cancelled coupe) working if brand became a mere subdivision of a unified Buick-Pontiac-GMC branch; then it could focus on an entirely sporty target demo.
Who knows what's going on with headquearters? GM is launching the G3, a complete rebadged joke that echoes the Roger Smith era (i.e. the "Dark Ages"). GM's PR man on Fastlane tried to promote it as hip and sporty, but we all know that's bull. I feel the General is justified with its decision; I do retain concern over where Pontiac is going.
mo
who didn't see that commin'. the ST has no real purpose. I don't quite understand why would someone buy it unless he is gonna consider it as a sports car (like the SSR). even if it make it here, it should be only in limited number for those who think owning one is cool.
Anonymous
The G8 ST would have been a failure like the SSR, but at least Pontiac could go out holding it head up. With the G3, G5 and G6 it will go out in shame.
TheStig
How exactly would the G8 ST failing help Pontiac go out with its head up?
BillS
Because it is so cool and it doesn't make "sense". Going out with your tail between your legs is trying to be Toyota when you're not and no one wants you to be.
TheStig
Yeah. With that logic maybe YOU should be working at GM.
GiMe
GM would probably be better off then with the Dick they have.
mo
lol, I just made the 5th reply in this chain...... LOL.
RickW
I don't see the humor.
lld767
Is anybody really going to notice. It was a bad idea to begin with.
Russ Bellinis
Good Idea. With the economy in the "toilet," people with jobs are going to hold off buying new cars and save if they have any sense in case they lose their job. People without jobs are not going to buy any new vehicles. Additionally, I think the market for this thing was probably saturated by the SSR. I don't know how "green" the market is going to stay. When gas prices go over $3.00 per gallon, suddenly everybody is "green." When it drops below $2.00 per gallon, only the dedicated tree huggers are green.
alleykt123
I really had to wonder if the American car-buying public would be willing to buy another re-badged Holden product...
2005 Pontiac GTO Phantom Black Red A4 1 of 286
Russ Belliniis
With the obvious exceptions of the Corvette, the new Camaro, and Cadillac any v8 powered car on a rear wheel drive platform from G.M. will be a re-badged Holden product. GM has decided not to do development of rear drive v8 cars in No America, they use Holden for all of that development.
alleykt123
The upcoming Camaro is on the zeta platform engineered by Holden of Australia, but that doesn't make it a re-badged Holden product.
Ducati Minor
The whole logic of let's blow millions of dollars after borrowing from taxpayers for an expected flop is unbelievably stupid. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that anyone with that degree of idiocy should be forbidden from breeding.
See? There is a purpose for a socialist police state.
mechanicbill
I am driving a 1983 el camino, Light Briar Brown, 229 V-6, 22MPG and very comfortable to ride in. It is my daily ride. I was really looking forward to the Holden UTE. I love the fact that it holds two or three people, without all the wasted space of an SUV, and still has truck capacity albeit limited. For people like me who are generally alone in their vechicle, this machine makes perfect sense!! Bill