It comes as little surprise, but Cars.com has all but confirmed that the "El Camino" moniker has been nixed as a potential name of the new G8 Sport Truck. The site reports from a recent media event that a Pontiac spokesperson said that there was internal strife regarding use of the Chevy-associated nameplate on a Pontiac vehicle. Frankly, we agree with this decision. If GM wanted a legit El Camino, it would have simply handed the Ute to the Chevy division. GM has mismanaged its vehicle naming process enough as is -- one needn't look any further than Pontiac, where it's nuthin' but a "G" thang, baby... unless you're talking Vibe or Solstice. Way to be consistent, guys. Like everyone else, we're curious to learn what the badge applied to the G8 truck's tailgate will read, and it sounds like we should hear something fairly soon. Now, can we have another contest to give the G8 sedan a real name, too? Bonneville sounds nice to us...
[Source: Cars.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
oby @ May 8th 2008 1:33PM
"El Camino" moniker has been nixed as a potential name of the new G8 Sport Truck"
Now clueless Motors should take the next step and nix the whole vehicle all completely. producing this abortion has got to be the stupidest idea out of RenCen since the SSR.
Secret Squirrel @ May 8th 2008 10:41PM
I don't car WHAT they're going to market it as... it's STILL an El Camino! ;) You still might even want to call it a "UTE" and the general population will STILL think this and the SSR are an El Camino Too!!!
Justin @ May 9th 2008 3:59PM
How do you reduce an abortion?
Manuel Mondragon @ May 13th 2008 4:53PM
What's wrong with spanish roots name? I like it. What about "el pollo del fuego"? It's so funny when americans use "el" or "la" to refer typical spanish names :D
Brill @ May 8th 2008 1:35PM
can i vote for the wagon over the ute?
IK47 @ May 8th 2008 10:55PM
what's an ute?
Torrent @ May 8th 2008 1:35PM
As for El camino, I knew that wouldn't happen. And name the G8 the BONNEVILLE!!!??
lolololololollllololololololollololollollololololollolololollllolollolololllol
havoc @ May 8th 2008 1:42PM
please don't use the 'B' word for the g8, PLEASE!
as for the 'el camino'
umm
how about 'el pollo del fuego'?
nah
G8 SUT (ala hummer?)
nah
how about some simpler moniker like G8X, or GX8?
Torrent @ May 8th 2008 1:51PM
I would call it the GT8.
Hank @ May 8th 2008 1:37PM
death row is the label that paaayys meeehhh...
LMBVette @ May 8th 2008 2:07PM
....LOL........you beat me to it!!!
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg 4 eva!!!!
Michael Warren @ May 8th 2008 1:38PM
One of the names I suggested was El Calle. It means The Street, much in the same way El Camino means The Road. Similar, but not exact. Kinda like Pontiac to Chevy.
Papi L-Gee @ May 8th 2008 2:01PM
"La Calle" would be grammatically correct.
Not a bad idea though.
Michael Warren @ May 8th 2008 2:09PM
Thanks Papi. Google Translator let me down.
Chris @ May 8th 2008 1:39PM
Negative, Bonneville has a very well deserved stigma for being a soft boulevard cruiser for older gentlemen who aren't smart enough to buy or can't afford better cars. The rocket propelled cow on roller skates GXP was a bad idea from the beginning, but done in typical 90's GM fashion.
Cire @ May 8th 2008 1:41PM
When I read the headline to this article, I thought GM might have possibly come to their senses and canceled this product for the Pontiac division. I don't care what name or alpha-numeric moniker they slap on it, it totally doesn't belong in Pontiac's lineup. What a joke! The addition of this product to Pontiac's portfolio just proves that GM doesn't have the foggiest notion as to what to do with Pontiac. I wish they would give the brand the appropriate products it needs to foster an exciting and appropriate image and relevance in the market, or just go ahead and pull the plug. I'm tired of seeing this division's image diluted by hand me down vehicles and indecisive product strategies.
TriShield @ May 8th 2008 1:42PM
It'll wear the G8 ST name, the purpose of the contest was to get the car out there and some big word of mouth.
I've been to Australia, I've driven the old VY Ute model, and it's an exceptional car. Far better and more versatile than you can imagine, like a Camaro that can do all of your errand, towing and hauling duties. These cars are the reason nobody buys trucks there.
However, this car and the Commodore sedan (G8) should have went to Chevrolet in the first place and not Pontiac. Both cars looked much better before GM put a different face on them for Pontiac, at least as Chevrolets only the badge would have changed.
As AutoExtremist wrote yesterday, Pontiac is dead. And from what I've heard on the inside there's literally no follow-up planned to the G8 at all.
Esprit bird @ May 8th 2008 1:47PM
From what i have heard, the G8 is just a stall car, just to take up time while the GM managers figure out what to do with the division, a lot of mention has come down to convert Pontiac to a scion type of dealer, appealing to younger buyers with Vibe and G5 variants. Others have suggested cutting the brand entirely, while the majority are fighting over bringing back the GTO on the Camaro platform or trying something completely new with a Trans am name on it.
tcc3 @ May 8th 2008 4:06PM
The GTO can only work if the design has some class. Some heritage design cues would be nice too.
If it looks like a Grand Am again, forget it.
Ted @ May 11th 2008 3:12PM
ru the STIG!