Aw, Snap! Pontiac G8 revealed by Chicago Auto Show webcams
by John Neff on Feb 5th 2007 at 3:55PM 
Sorry Pontiac, but who could've guessed that your big unveiling at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show would've been foiled by a simple webcam? We had our money on Car and Driver spilling the beans, but an eagle-eyed member of the G8board.com forum managed to grab these screen shots of the jumbotron erected in Pontiac's display at the Chicago Auto Show. The huge screen was running through its video of the Aussie-sourced, rear-wheel drive G8 sedan right in front of a webcam that is set up to capture images of the South Hall at McCormick Place. There are more than a few pics, most showing little bits here and there of this most highly anticipated Pontiac sedan... except for the one above, which shows the car in all its glory. Other pics, including one of the car's rear that show taillights creeping up onto the decklid, confirm that the G8 is a rebadged version of the Commodore SS-V wearing wheels from the ultra high-performance HSV GTS model. Enjoy, and thank to the boys and girls at G8board.com for the sneak peek.
Check out the rest of the pics in this gallery. Thanks to everyone who sent in a tip for this!
[Source: G8board.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
c_bear 4:02PM (2/05/2007)
If Pontiac could just restrain themselves and leave the hood scoop off, that car would look pretty good.
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Bob R. 4:08PM (2/05/2007)
Nice looking car, although it would be nice if it had "more American" styling, like the Ford Interceptor or Chrysler 300C.
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naggs 4:08PM (2/05/2007)
im not sure that it needs the hood scoops but i suppose that without them the car would only vagley resemble a pontiac.
regardless, its difficult to imagine this car not doing well. it just blows my mind that for years GM has not had a large RWD sedan with its excellent v8 engines.
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Atomicbri 4:09PM (2/05/2007)
Good job GM! LOL! SOmeone forgot about the cams...but hey, like Wagonner didn't show us a peek already last week on tv.... I think this car looks good. Better that any Grand Prix before it, looks-wise. I know there will be haters posting all over this, saying this GM sucks, blah blah blah. I am not by any means a GM fan, but I have noticed them to be hard at work lately trying to turn it around. Better styles, better decisions (using the Aussie platform, bringing Opels under the Saturn brand) and hopefully a better sense of quality. A friend has a GM Malibu and her car has been trouble free. It just feels cheap as hell inside, but it is well built. Better than my other friend's Camry, brand new and transmission has failed after 5000 miles!!! Go Toyota!
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Nixapatfan 4:17PM (2/05/2007)
You're welcome :D
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Michael Karesh 4:22PM (2/05/2007)
With so many leaks, it's hardly worth going to the show.
Can't wait to see how Aussie quality stacks up this time around.
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
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Patrick 4:23PM (2/05/2007)
Nixapatfan rocks! ;)
I can't wait for this car.
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FLR 4:25PM (2/05/2007)
Wow...that looks sweet! I was thinking about buying a new Camaro when they come out....but I think I just changed my mind!!!
4 doors, 6 speed with an LS2! Yes please!!!
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PuffyC 4:26PM (2/05/2007)
Looks awesome, except for the arse end. That's still a little too 90's GM for me. Should be a winner though.
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srivendel 4:27PM (2/05/2007)
Hey Karesh, why do you insist on using the comments section of Autoblog to advertise your site? Especially when your actual comments contribute so little?
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Be Oh Be 4:28PM (2/05/2007)
The G8 looks sweet. But the big question now is: what will it cost?
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che culattone 4:37PM (2/05/2007)
i agree with srivendel. just pay for advertising...
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mike355f1 4:40PM (2/05/2007)
Fantastic, another great product to add to the line up. GM is finally producing quality / desirable vehicles which can compete on a global level.
Keep up the good work.
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PJ 4:43PM (2/05/2007)
I love it, and--assuming that pricing is in Charger R/T territory--suspect the general public will, too.
The hood scoop needs to go before the BMW 3-Series/Infiniti G35 crowd will seriously consider the G8, but that seems like an easy fix. I'd be surprised if GM isn't including a no-cost delete option.
Can't wait to see the interior. The last full-size Pontiac I drove was a Bonneville GXP, so I plan on being pleasantly shocked by the G8's cabin quality.
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humbler 4:59PM (2/05/2007)
A little love for Humbler, please! Pontiac, home run!
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Robert Hammen 5:03PM (2/05/2007)
This car will be build in Australia by Holden. It's an Americanized, Pontiac-ized version of the VE Commodore SS.
If you've seen the GTO, which was also built by Holden, you'll see that the interior material and build quality surpassed pretty much anything GM North America did before the Lambda CUV's and the next-gen CTS.
Lutz was quoted as saying that the Aussies did an awesome job for the $$$ with the interior quality of the VE... so, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
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Scott 5:14PM (2/05/2007)
My question is this: How is this G8 *really* that much different from the recently failed GTO? My dad bought a '69 GTO brand new off the dealer floor so I grew up with the notion that those cars were something special. Then when he and I saw it at the Minneapolis auto show a couple years back we were incredibly disappointed with the visual execution, which many others have lamented.
This G8 looks to continue the same trend, a monster V8 in a RWD configuration, with a totally uninspired exterior. I'm sure it will ride great and the interior will appear nice, but something which doesn't look like it belongs in a rental fleet would be great.
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Bob R. 5:17PM (2/05/2007)
Can someone tell me what size of car this is. Is it a 3 Series size, 5 Series size etc. I also have the same question as Scott (#17), what makes this car different from the now discontinued GTO?
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SSBR 5:20PM (2/05/2007)
Whats up with the "clear lens" tails? Those are sooo last year. And the hood scoop? At least this time, please make it a functional hood scoop if your going to put one on.
The G8 is definately a huge improvement over any previous generation Pontiac Grand Prix and Bonneville. But Pontiac is a little late in the game to try to catch up. Better late then sorry.. right?
http://www.rolesor.com
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Robert Hammen 5:22PM (2/05/2007)
The GTO didn't sell on looks... but, many people who test-drove one found out what a great vehicle it truly is. It's by far the best car I've ever owned.
The G8 is based on a clean-sheet platform (which is replacing the one that the GTO was based on). Unlike the GTO, which needed a bunch of changes to fit American standards, this vehicle was designed from the start for North American assembly and sales. The assembly part is still two years away but sales of the imported Aussie version will happen by early 2008.
Strong suggestion to test-drive one of these when possible. Bob Lutz has described it as a "magical vehicle"... it won the Wheels COTY award in Oz (which had several vehicles, not just Aussie-made - they don't play favorites with their homegrown vehicles)...
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