Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, GM, Pontiac
Officially Official: Pontiac G8 ST it is
by Dan Roth on Aug 14th 2008 at 12:50AM 
Click above for hi-res gallery of the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST
We often go poking around General Motors' media resources, so imagine our surprise when we were searching for something totally unrelated and found fresh images of Pontiac's iteration of the Holden Ute. Still warm like just-baked cookies, the images show off a great looking dark-hued modern-day El camino. And for what do we deserve a new batch of G8 ute pics? They accompany word from on high that the official name for this trucklet has been decided. Meet the Pontiac G8 ST.
You may remember that GM solicited submissions, or rather suggestions, for what the G8 ST should be named. But after months of waiting and however many submissions, the best they could do was G8 ST? That's the name they started with! Now we feel all cheap and used, like GM knew what they were going to call this thing all along. Whatever, it will be holding court as the king of awesome in your local Pontiac dealer's showroom in late 2009 as a 2010 model. The 74-inch cargo bed and 3,500 lb towing capacity will allow you to haul more than just ass, though the V8 will surely facilitate that nicely. Pontiac's official press release can be found after the jump, and those new high-res images are in the gallery below.
Gallery: 2010 Pontiac G8 ST
[Source: GM]
Pontiac G8 ST at a Glance
- Sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities
- V8 engine with Active Fuel Management linked to six-speed automatic
- 74-inch cargo bed and 3,500 lb towing capacity
- Estimated fuel economy near top of vehicles with comparable cargo/towing capacity
- Available in late 2009 as a 2010 model
PONTIAC NAMES ALL NEW SPORT TRUCK THE "G8 ST"
Segment-Defining Vehicle on Target for Late 2009 Launch
Detroit - After sifting through more than 18,000 possibilities, Pontiac has chosen to keep it simple, naming the recently revealed G8 sport truck the "G8 ST."
Thousands of fans submitted suggestions during a "Tame the Name" promotion, which delayed a final announcement until each possibility was considered and cleared for possible trademark use.
"Frankly, we were blown away by both the volume and quality of the names that were submitted," said Craig Bierley, BPG product marketing director for cars and crossovers. "'G8 ST' was one of the most popular suggestions, plus we noticed a far broader trend toward simple, easy-to-remember names."
"El Camino" was also a sentimental favorite, given the G8 ST's resemblance to the classic Chevy.
"We actually thought very long about El Camino," said Bierley. "In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honor the El Camino's unique place as part of Chevy's heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac."
Perhaps the ultimate reflection of the blurring line between cars and trucks, the G8 ST will create a unique niche segment in the marketplace: a sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities. Sharing the basic architecture and 361 hp V8 engine as the G8 GT performance sedan, it will offer a 73.9-inch cargo bed that has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry a payload of 1,000 pounds (453 kg) or tow a 3,500-pound (1,587 kg) trailer.
Thanks to its six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management system, the G8 ST should offer some of the best fuel economy numbers for V8-powered vehicles with similar cargo/towing ratings while still turning in zero-to-60 times of 5.4 seconds.
The G8 ST will be available in late 2009 as a 2010 model and will be backed by GM's industry best 100,000 mile, 5-year powertrain warranty. Pricing will be announced closer to availability.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
RussianVolga 12:57AM (8/14/2008)
I like it. Very fresh and definitely some room for one of these in the market.
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Chase 1:00AM (8/14/2008)
I love the G8 and all, but this thing brings back the wrong memories from my childhood...
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mike 8:54AM (8/14/2008)
This can turnout to be a flap...however at least GM is thinking outside the lines.
Think about it, that is better, this ST or simply another SUV?
why not the LS2LS7? 1:00AM (8/14/2008)
Poolboys across America rejoice. Or at least they will once this car is available cheaply on the used market.
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The Talking Hamburger 1:08AM (8/14/2008)
I think this is the Chevy SSR all over again.
G-Meister 1:12PM (8/14/2008)
the huge difference between this and the SSR is that GM has almost no investment in this vehicle. If they sell a few thousand, they're fine.
The SSR would have made a sweet panel van.
Eddie 1:24AM (8/14/2008)
I really like the G8 sedan, but I see the ST being a big flop. A coupe would have been a much better move.
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Torrent 1:35AM (8/14/2008)
I agree. pure sex.
http://spbcar.ru/news/en/i/2008-04-02/g8_cpe_450.jpg
why not the LS2LS7? 2:13AM (8/14/2008)
Coupe (GTO) already flopped.
As to this, all I can say is that the incremental cost of producing this vehicle versus just the sedan better be VERY low.
azzo45 7:38AM (8/14/2008)
"Pure sex" torrent? Its a damn pick up with car proportions... "Pure" is an exotic sports car, built for one purpose & sculpted for speed. The G8 ST is a car based utility truck... about as sexy as "drunk sex" (IMO)!!!
This is just a confused Ozzie Chevy ElCamino, wearing a Pontiac badge. It looks like it belongs in the G8 family... but its family purity? More like a cute mutt!!!
Paul 9:58AM (8/14/2008)
agreed - flop 100% - they wont move many at all.
Torrent 1:25AM (8/14/2008)
FAIL! So no one wins the truck? So damn stupid.
It looks alright.
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Richard 1:29AM (8/14/2008)
Richard: Mr. Lutz! Mr. Lutz! If sales of our domestic trucks have gone into the toilet because their gas mileage is too low, why don't we import a UTE from Australia that gets about the same mileage as a Silverado.
Robert: Richard, you're a genius, my boy. There will be something extra in your envelope this month.
Richard: Thank you, Mr. Lutz. You're the greatest!
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jamie 11:35AM (8/14/2008)
Richard:
Bob asked me to include this personal note with your paycheck. Your fired!
- Rick Wagoner
Par for the course GM. 10 years too late again. The G8 ST would have been a smash hit a number of years ago. But the tanking dollar and skyrocketing fuel prices have shot this mule right out the starting gate.
There is still hope for the breed if you can quickly adapt it to the Camaro platform in Oshawa and pop in a turbo 6 or turbo 4 cylinder instead.
Paul P. 1:33AM (8/14/2008)
I really don't think this will sell that well. Regular cab, short bed, and 2wd-only never was a very popular combination on pickups (other than for performance.) If they offered an AWD version it might sell more, but otherwise I doubt it will be a huge seller.
Then again, they probably don't need to sell a lot to make money since there wasn't a huge developement cost.
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why not the LS2LS7? 3:20AM (8/14/2008)
Well, short bed you're right about, but until the late 80s, 4WD accounted for only a small fraction of pickup sales and any crew/extended cab only a little bit more. Remember, before then, trucks weren't about image or hauling the family, they were for work.
I think in a small vehicle like this, people expect a short bed.
I just don't see an issue. This isn't supposed to be a half ton.
Dan 1:35AM (8/14/2008)
After they threw out all the votes that said "El Camino" they looked in the hat and there were no more votes.
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Matty 1:41AM (8/14/2008)
I wonder why GM can't turn a profit. I have seen 1 G8 on the road (see my previous comments). Good luck selling a sedan that wants to be a pickup truck.
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BrokenMonkey 1:41AM (8/14/2008)
Wow... I wanted to enter G8 ST as the name but there was no option for a space, so I entered G8ST instead... I should win that damn truck!
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The Luigiian 2:01AM (8/14/2008)
Just as when GM asked Americans to vote between the Beat/Traxx/Groove, the decision to name it the ST makes them look cynical and deaf, like they just refuse to listen to Americans' opinion, even on simple things like styling and vehicle names.
This is a poor choice for versatility. It's a great sport truck, to be sure, but most people would be better off with something closer to the old Subaru Baja. I'll be holding off a new purchase till they make something closer to my needs.
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