Lutz: '09 Pontiac G8 GT gets optional Tremec 6-speed stick
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
CarDomain recently sat for lunch with GM car czar Bob Lutz, and one of the topics that came up was the ever-vanishing manual transmission. Lutz explained that modern automatics are no longer the less efficient option by default, and with CAFE dictating so much nowadays, carmakers can actually improve their fleet average fuel economy more by going with automatics that can be programmed to deliver maximum efficiency (as far as the EPA is concerned, at least). He then went on to state that there will be manuals available in both the Camaro and the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT, which gets a 6-speed unit from Tremec. So if you waited on Poncho's new muscle sedan, your patience will be rewarded. Of course, your patience will also got you a price increase too, but at least those dopey digital auxiliary gauges will be gone, as well.
Gallery: Review: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
[Source: CarDomain]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TKOsoccer03 3:11PM (6/20/2008)
now i have to get one..
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Pacman 11:34AM (6/20/2008)
Crap, one less thing to complain about - GM haters
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Keat 11:35AM (6/20/2008)
Schweet! I'm not a fan of slushboxes.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:40AM (6/20/2008)
Interesting, you can get the stick without getting the GXP. That's great.
I didn't mind the digital gauges, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to pay more to get rid of them. At worst, I'd just put electrical tape over them, at least I wouldn't have paid more!
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Pete 10:31PM (6/20/2008)
The costs went up on all the vehicles. Material costs have gone up exponentially...
bakka 11:41AM (6/20/2008)
:)
Then the 427?
:)
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DS 11:44AM (6/20/2008)
YAY!!!!!!!
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Dave 11:47AM (6/20/2008)
This is great news for do-it-yourself types. Now where are the lovely family G8's with a V6.
Not all 300s and Chargers are Hemis.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:17PM (6/20/2008)
Been around for months.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/first-drive-2008-pontiac-g8/
DDL 1:52PM (6/20/2008)
Wow - GM has addressed the two major deal breakers I saw with the G8. As much as I hate to admit it, there was no way I was buying a G8 with those stupid gauges on the center stack. The though of looking at those for 100K miles made me want to vomit.
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MikeofLA 12:02PM (6/20/2008)
Nothing like clutching and shifting out of a big sweeper or into a tight hairpin yourself. Even though performance is better in DSG's SMG's and any other "auto Manual" I (and most enthusiasts) very much enjoy rowing my own gears and modulating my own clutch.
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Bah 12:06PM (6/20/2008)
What the EPA does to stick shifts is so stupid. The government dictates the upshift speeds for manual transmission tests. Consequently we get sticks with idiotic gearing that leaves the engine spinning far too fast at high speed. The few exceptions are cars like Corvette and Viper. I hope the G8 uses Corvette-like gearing instead of going more like BMW where the engine is over 3000rpm by the time you're doing real world highway speeds.
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jg 12:52PM (6/20/2008)
'I hope the G8 uses Corvette-like gearing instead of going more like BMW where the engine is over 3000rpm by the time you're doing real world highway speeds. '
Is that because of gearing or because my straight 6 just has no torque until 3000 rpm?
MikeofLA 1:07PM (6/20/2008)
the new 335i engine has 300 ft lbs at 1400 rpm and pulls like that to 5000+. I could shift it at 3000 and be more then happy with my acceleration.
Derek 10:51PM (6/20/2008)
Good grief, it doesn't take that much torque to cruise down the highway. My g/f's '86 Sentra had higher gearing than many manual trans BMW's and it got around just fine with a 69hp motor. Top gear is for cruising, make it a good overdrive for improved economy and downshift if you really have to. I don't care what the engine is, listening to an engine revving at 4000ish for hours on a road trip is just plain obnoxious, wastes fuel and adds needless wear and tear to the engine.
At least with many RWD cars you can regear the diff and get usable gearing.
Kaptain75329 12:07PM (6/20/2008)
This is awesome! Looks like I might not have to spring for a manual GXP if the price goes through the roof. :)
I like autos for a whole bunch of reasons, but when you really want to carve out corners, you need a stick to do it.
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chopsui 12:08PM (6/20/2008)
You mean RAISE fleet fuel economy.
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Alex Nunez 12:17PM (6/20/2008)
Doh! Indeed.
Kaptain75329 12:07PM (6/20/2008)
This is awesome! Looks like I might not have to spring for a manual GXP if the price goes through the roof. :)
I like autos for a whole bunch of reasons, but when you really want to carve out corners, you need a stick to do it.
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Kaptain75329 12:30PM (6/20/2008)
blast. AutoBlog needs a method for us to edit/delete posts.