VIDEO: Fifth Gear takes on the Vauxhall VXR8 (aka the Pontiac G8)
Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear crew aren't the only car show on British television. In fact Top Gear was canceled by the BBC and the producers relaunched it as Fifth Gear before the Beeb eventually revived Top Gear as well. Fifth Gear is still around and they recently got a chance to spend some quality time on a race track with the Vauxhall VXR8.
If that car looks familiar, it's because we saw a lower-end version sporting a Pontiac grille at the Chicago Auto Show as the new G8. Fifth Gear spent a lot of time getting seriously sideways in the 414hp VXR8 and even got to do a top speed run. For a preview of what G8 buyers can expect whenever GM gets around to doing the all-but-inevitable GXP version, check out the video after the jump.
[Sources: YouTube, Fifth Gear]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Viv 11:30AM (9/10/2007)
Can't watch the video at work, what did they say?
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Tsunami Racer 11:30AM (9/10/2007)
I HEART VICKY!!
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bhupi 11:38AM (9/10/2007)
Really a bargain. Just cannot wait until it hits american roads. :) OR simply buy a used GTO 6.0Litre even better bargain considering the depreciation. Its a mystery why the GTO wasnt a success. I love that car and this one too...!
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MikeW 3:26PM (9/10/2007)
The 5.7 GTO did not have an equalized exhaust system.
don't remember (don't care) if the 6.0 GTO got that, in addition to the 'stereo' exhaust pipes vs. the dual on one side.
Also the rear suspension of the GTO was/is less sophisticated than the rear suspension of the '06+ Honda civic, and that is front wheel drive.
Sahil 11:35AM (9/10/2007)
If Pontiac would sell this exact same car in America (the 400+ horses sound like a good idea) it would sell pretty well, In my opinion: I would buy it if I had the money.
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Jons 11:39AM (9/10/2007)
I dont like the look of that car. The back is just such an ugly Mazda 6 wannabe.
Craig 9:28PM (9/10/2007)
Mazda 6? What drugs are you on?
The new VE Commodore wagon has a lot of Mazda 6 in the arse end, but the sedan looks nothing like a 6. Decklid is too high, taillights are not clear or ovoid in shape, a lot more squared off corners, number plate is much higher... so not much in common there at all.
TriShield 11:41AM (9/10/2007)
Top Gear magazine just ran a comparison between this car, the Chrysler SRT-8 and a 4.2L Audi. The VXR8 won handily. Stig also ran the fastest lap in it.
Next year this car will recieve the LS3, and the same hood scoops as the G8. It's looking increasingly likely it will be sold through Pontiac as the G8 GXP.
Can't wait.
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J.Crew 11:42AM (9/10/2007)
Two hot rides! A good looking woman in a a hot car driving the a$$ off of it... nothing better. That and she loves the car. C'mon G8!!
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AnonyMust 11:51AM (9/10/2007)
There's nothing wrong with the look of that car. Pontiac will ruin it with their styling elements.
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F451 11:52AM (9/10/2007)
This automobile, in its morphed G8 guise, is guaranteed to erode Cadillac CTS sells.
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Dave 12:30PM (9/10/2007)
Only a small number of Caddy buyers will be lured away by the G8. It doesnt make the same impression.
Realtors, for example, will not cart their clients around in this car.
F451 12:42PM (9/10/2007)
Realtors? I have never used a realtor to purchase property as a lawyer is a better way to handle those transactions. Besides, if a realtor tried to impress me with a vehicle versus what they bring to the table (little to nothing) then why use them anyway?
PONTIAC_MANIAC 4:44PM (9/18/2007)
Amen! That has been Pontiacs problem for along time, GM does not want Pontiac to outsell the Caddy. But Pontiacs have always looked better to me, now they have the horses too!
TriShield 12:02PM (9/10/2007)
Let's see Agony - big wing, some cladding, split grille up front, the HSV/VXR already look like a proper Pontiac.
You are right though, when it's sold here it probably won't retain most of the body parts HSV added. Cost and production capacity would be the primary reasons. You never know though, we might get lucky and get the car looking as is.
If not, you can always buy those parts from http://www.jhp.com.au for the G8 easily.
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Blake 1:41PM (9/10/2007)
Lol...F451, way to be an ass because somebody disagreed with you. Most people use realtors to look at houses, btw. Lawyers dont use the MLS either..Chill
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Tsunami Racer 2:45PM (9/10/2007)
using a lawyer only to buy a house is like using a lawyer only to cure syphilis. good luck with that....
i love this car but i'm just not sure if i'm ready to buy a "pontiac". you see, in california, the only people who drive pontiacs are rhys millen and tourists who rent from Avis.
doglet 1:02PM (9/11/2007)
pontaic g8 is a shoe in for car of the year
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PONTIAC_MANIAC 4:44PM (9/18/2007)
i concure wholeheartedly.
Guenther 3:54PM (9/10/2007)
Racer- Back here, If your truck is a GMC, your car's probably a Pontiac, and some Guy named Rex has sold cars to your whole family for 2 decades. Then again, we're a little biased, too.
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