Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Pontiac
Four-door Corvette? Pontiac G8 GXP may get LS3 6.2L V8
The upcoming 2008 Pontiac G8 has a lot going for it. There's the oh-so-hot-right-now rear-wheel-drive chassis, a base price under $28,000 and the high-performance G8 GT with a 361-horsepower 6.0L V8 starts below $30,000. It's the performance bargain of the year, and if a forum post over at G8GT.com is to believed, the bargain is about get a whole lot better.
A dealership employee somewhere has posted a pic of GM's inventory controls website in which the engine option for the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP is revealed to be none other than the LS3 6.2L V8. To refresh your memory, the LS3 replaced the LS2 as the base engine for the Corvette this model year. In the Vette, it produces 430 horsepower from 376 cubic inches, or 436 hp if you opt for a special dual-stage exhaust system.
There was a time when the Corvette kept all of its components to itself, but that ended when they started building the Cadillac XLR side-by-side with the iconic American sports car and began using its engines in the CTS-V. Nowadays, Cadillac regularly pilfers the Corvette parts bin, so why not Pontiac, too? An LS3-powered G8 GXP would be just short of epic in its degree of awesomeness, so let's hope the internet is right on this one. Thanks for the tip, John!
Gallery: 2008 Pontiac G8
[Source: G8GT.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Paul P. 2:08PM (2/21/2008)
I thought it was common knowledge the G8 GXP is getting the LS3, I know people have been talking about it for a long time.
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SkiD666 2:18PM (2/21/2008)
Actually, since the Holden R8 and Vauxhall VXR8 have the LS2 already, it is not common knowledge that the G8 GXP is getting the LS3.
ATL 2:17PM (2/21/2008)
There was a time when the Corvette kept all of its components to itself, but that ended when they started building the Cadillac XLR side-by-side with the iconic American sports car and began using its engines in the CTS-V.
Ummm, you're kidding right? The 1993 Camaro/Firebird had the same engine as the Corvette - LT1. How quickly we forget. Even before that, engines were shared...
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jgp 2:23PM (2/21/2008)
ATL,
Indeed. Even the Impala SS, Buick Roadmaster, and the Cadillac Fleetwood got the LT1. And the Camaro/Firebird got the LS1 in 1998.
Bryan 4:58PM (2/21/2008)
I love when the Corvette shares, it makes me happy.
Zeus.:God 2:06AM (2/22/2008)
Sharing is caring.
Christian 2:26PM (2/21/2008)
Welcome to 4 years ago, GM. Ever heard of SRT-8s?
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Christian 2:26PM (2/21/2008)
Welcome to 4 years ago, GM. Ever heard of SRT-8s?
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Frylock350 2:28PM (2/21/2008)
The G8 is actually competitive with the SRT8 with its L76 (not as quick but close).
Mike 2:41PM (2/21/2008)
And 4 years ago, I could have said the same thing about the Dodge. It just never ends, always a jealous hater out there.
I can't help it that the SRT-8 is dog ass ugly.
Tom 4:57PM (2/21/2008)
If you think the SRT-8 is dog ass ugly... your dog must have a real nice ass.
iSpec 2:26PM (2/21/2008)
They'll leave the shoehorn in the glove compartment as a momento.
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Frylock350 2:28PM (2/21/2008)
This bodes well for Camaro fans. Might have to change my mind about a Challenger.
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MajorGeek 2:46PM (2/21/2008)
They should chop 2 doors off it and call it the GTO. Oh, wait.
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DarkKnight67 2:51PM (2/21/2008)
More than likely, this will be a detuned LS3. There seems to be an "unwritten" law that while they may share engines, they will never exceed the horsepower for that level/trim of the Vette. I.E. - the base Vette is 430, nothing with that engine goes above it. The higher trim XLR-V is rated at 443 and an STS-V at 469, but both lie below the 505hp of a Z06. For the last (and possibly best) example, the CTS-V and ZR1 share the same supercharged LS9 engine - however, the ZR1 is rated at around 620 (give or take) and the CTS-V seems firmly set at 550.
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71cuda 3:00PM (2/21/2008)
True, and the differences for the Vette and TA/Camaro were LT1-300 Vette and 275 TA/Camaro, LS1 330 Vette and 300 TA/Camaro, not counting Firehawk/WS9/SS Packages, which were still lower than Corvette numbers.
Mez Jr 3:11PM (2/21/2008)
Yeah, lots of companies seem to do that, though it seems rather stupid. I thought GM had given that up when they put an unaltered LS2 into the GTO, and put a LS6 (later LS2) into the CTS-V.
The truth is, its more than HP that makes the Corvette. A 400hp CTS-V will be slower than a 400hp 'vette, as would a 430hp G8 be slower than a 'vette.
LMBVette 3:18PM (2/21/2008)
The ratings on the last gen F-body vs. the Vette were just that, ratings. There was no difference in the LS1 in the Camaro/TA to the one in the Vette, regardless of what it said on the window sticker. A 6 speed manual LS1 would dyno in the 310-320 range regardless of the name on the back of the car.
The LS6 in the Z06 Vette and CTS-V were identical. The LS2 in the Trailblazer SS and Vette were nearly identical, I believe the intake and exhaust manifolds were the main difference.
The ZR1's LS9 is actually a slightly different engine than the CTS-V's LSA. The Caddy's LSA has fewer psi's, slightly different valvetrain components and one fewer intercooler inside the valley housing and a few other differences. Autoblog posted the difference in the CTS-V story it posted awhile back.
In any event, I'm planning on having kids within the next two years and my Vette may not be the best choice. The Pontiac G8 GXP would be great for family hauling, hauling ass that is!!!
Corey W. 3:34PM (2/21/2008)
No other vehicle, in your model lineup, goes beyond the most powerful (factory) option of your flagship sports car, it's one of those unwritten rules…..
ATL 8:51PM (2/21/2008)
Not to mince words, but your statement is not entirely true. In 1996, the most powerful LT1 motor was not found in the Corvette. It was, in fact, the Pontiac Ram Air cars, at 305 hp. The Corvette came next at 300, than the Firebird/Camaro at 285, than the Impala SS at 275.
So, while rare, it does happen. And according to Mr. Settlemire, Corvette does not like it when it does happen.