Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Pontiac, Rumormill
Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled
Click above for hi-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 GXP
Pontiac hopes to clear things up with a post on Pontiac blog regarding the future of its current products, namely the G8 and Solstice. It was just the other day that rumors of the brand's two rear-wheel drive vehicles possible being canceled hit the interwebs, and we dutifully reported on the story as we always do. According to Pontiac, though, those rumors are nothing more than speculation and should not be taken as gospel unless you hear it from the horse's (or Mr. Lutz's) mouth, which we have not. Still, the rumor in question indicates that the G8 will live on at least another five years, assuming it continues to sell that long, but would not be replaced after that. This could still be the case. Likewise, the Solstice has not been canceled, but it's replacement in GM's lineup still seems unlikely given the low volume of sales the vehicle attracts. In short, nobody can predict the future, but sometimes the handwriting on the wall isn't that tough to read.
Gallery: 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP - Live Reveal
[Source: Pontiac Underground]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gabagool 8:38AM (10/28/2008)
This car seems to get good reviews, if GM can bump that MPG number by 4-5 these G8s will sell.
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Ligor 8:38AM (10/28/2008)
when the Solstice came out everyone said lets see how hte Miata takes that,
I guess the Miata is just so much better of a car, that buyers gave the Solstice with that horrible, crappy interior and ergonomics not much better than in the 1970s, the middle finger and now its up for extinction
If the new Cruze interior can find it's way into the Solstice, and it looses about 300lbs then the car will get closer to the Miata. this now seems very unlikely
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Gabagool 8:47AM (10/28/2008)
You know after all this time i have yet to see a Solstice on the street. I saw Sky many, many times, but not a single Solstice.
Dude 9:20AM (10/28/2008)
FYI, the Solstice outsells the MX-5 in America.
adrenalnjunky 9:35AM (10/28/2008)
Here in North Louisiana, I see 5-6 Solstice/Sky's for every 1 Miata (of any generation), and this area with 3 colleges in 30 miles of each other, used to be chock full of the Miatas.
Miata may be a better car - not arguing that, but it's so pricey that no one is buying them here - they sit on dealer and used lots forever.
rem83 9:36AM (10/28/2008)
Um, wow, it's amazing how brand perceptions influence you. I test-drove a Solstice when they first came out and did not notice any appreciable quality difference between the interior of that and the new MX-5 (I've only sat in one of those at an auto-show). I think the Solstice looks a lot nicer on the outside, and if I was in the market for a small, 2-seater convertible, I'd probably buy that or the Sky. And I'm not a Miata / Japanese car hater - I currently drive a 1990 Miata and love it.
Adam Marcello 9:41AM (10/28/2008)
You do realize the solstice outsells the miata on a regular basis. I see lots of older miatas but not too many new ones.
Maybe people gave Miata the middle finger with its subpar styling and outdated powertrains.
John 10:35AM (10/28/2008)
You obviously do not know what you are talking about. Have you ever driven a Solstice GXP?
GM has built a superior car to the MX-5 in ALMOST every way. The interior quality isn't the highest (even I admit that), but I love how every ignorant fanboy just has to go on about the trunk to justify the lack of power / refinement in the MX-5's engine and the soapbar (invisible) looks. Where is your holy Mazdaspeed Miata?
I'll tell you what, when the Miata gets 130.0HP/liter out of the factory, underrated torque (dyno sheets on the Solstice forum show some cars dynoing at 250RWTQ bone stock), and with some actual exterior design then come talk.
Until then, I'll enjoy all the compliments I get on the car, about its looks, "Holy Sh*t" power, and superior technology.
TMC 12:46PM (10/29/2008)
John clearly does not understand the MX5.
It has never been about specific output, acceleration, or refinement.
It's about the drive, the feel, the experience. Jinba Ittai FTMFW.
Ligor 8:42AM (10/28/2008)
the G8 is a good car, but i've driven the V6 and it's not worth the money, the V8 its just happens to come out in a time when pwople do care about the fuel economy cause it is a very nice package
the car needs to mloose 300-400 lbs - imagine the G8 Gt coming in at 3700lbs instead of over 4k and now you pretty much have a G37 sedaon with more power (but not as nice an interior) for about $3k less
yeah, i guess i'd still opt for the G37, for $33k it can't be beat.
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Ian 10:10AM (10/28/2008)
The ZETA platform, which is the G8 basis, was designed and engineered during an era of relatively inexpensive gasoline and therefore the V8 option was expected to be a big seller. Therefore the car was engineered on that basis. I believe any replacement will be engineered around both 4 cylinder and V6 as the major options. With perhaps a low volume high end V8 offering. That new car would necessarilly be lighter in weight to meet newer CAFE regulations.
So to say the G8 is being cancelled and NOT replaced in 5 years is really a truism. Either the ZETA platform will have a major revision by that date, with weight reduction being the main theme, or GM will have to begin engineering a completely new platform for cars offering higher mileage. That's reality.
Serge 10:15AM (10/28/2008)
LOL... even at 4,000lbs the G8 GT is faster and handles better than a G37 sedan. Plust you can't forget about the fact that it's a full-size car. And Infinitis have just as much plastic as the Pontiac, it's not like the G has a full leather dash...
The funny thing is that there isn't that much of a difference in MPGs:
G8 GT - 15/24 MPG
15000 miles per year
19.5 avg mpg
769.231 galons per year
$3.30 per galon (although G8 takes regular)
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$2538.46 gas money per year
G37 - 17/25 MPG
15000 miles per year
21.5 avg mpg
697.674 galons per year
$3.30 per galon
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$2302.33 gas money per year
So you saved a fortune ($236.15) in gas money by opting for a smaller, slower and more expensive ride...
Brn 10:37AM (10/28/2008)
Ligor, According to CarsDirect, the going rate for a baseline G37 is just under $35K. The going rate for a V8 G8 is just over $27K. There's about a $7800 difference between the two. The G8 looks like a much better deal.
MikeW 2:34PM (10/28/2008)
The G8 isn't that much of a larger car than the G37.
The wheelbase is only 2.6" longer, length 9" longer in the G8, 0.5" taller, and the big one, 5" wider.
The mileage 15/24 of the V8 (on premium, if you want the full power of the engine) vs the G37 18/26 (also on premium)
The curb weight is 400lbs more on the G8, hence the lower city mileage
The G37 isn't any slower than the G8 in the 1/4 mile.[compare summer tires vs. summer tires]
and get the sport package and the handling should be better than the regular G8 and probably on par with the G8 GXP
Red 8:56AM (10/28/2008)
This car should've been the Impala, personally. The Impala name has more cache' than the G8 (although, it's been sullied over the past two decades or more). Just my opinion.
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stevereportdotcom 9:41AM (10/28/2008)
1 out of 2 isn't so bad (I believe 50% on a test is still failing though in grade school). The Solstice can be a competent Miata fighter. I have rented a Solstice and can honestly say I would pick it over a Z4 any day. For about 22k, you can't beat that price.
The G8 on the other hand.... sigh......
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Chase 4:03PM (10/28/2008)
What about the G8 is worthy of "...sigh..."? I drive a VW and at least I can admit that it is an amazing car. It quite possibly has the highest value of any full size car on the market. Its fast, it has nice styling, its interior is awesome, and its a damn bargain for having all of those qualities in one package.
JZeke 10:13AM (10/28/2008)
Sports Car International magazine did a compelling piece on the Solstice last year, where they argued it was really a new breed of compact muscle car, instead of being a true Miata competitor - a baby Vette, really.
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TriShield 11:07AM (10/28/2008)
The G8 is planned to run through 2012. Why 2012? Because Holden will stop building it in favor of the next generation model by then and it's a Holden car.
It was no different with the GTO which was always planned to run three years regardless of sales. 2006 was the last year because Holden phased it out to phase in the then-new Commodore which is what the G8 is. That plan was already set before Lutz even had the idea of importing the Monaro.
It also hasn't been a huge secret that GM doesn't have a follow-up to the G8 planned. They aren't going to redesign the Solstice when it's product life is up. They may or may not import the next Commodore to continue the G8 but I would put my money on they won't.
The G8 has razor thin profit margins on it's business case and the fact that it hasn't sold well at all probably makes it a money losing proposition for GM no different than the Saturn Astra and a lot of other stuff they sell. There isn't a real business case to continue it or Pontiac as a brand really.
Pontiac as a brand is dead and unrecognizable from it's heyday. Kia, a brand known for cheap, crappy, fairly goofy looking cars with long warranties handily outsells it. In fact Kia outsells Pontiac, Buick and Saturn combined. That should tell everyone something about just how damaged GM's brand image is.
Other than the upcoming Solstice coupe I don't think Pontiac is going to get any more unique products and I would be surprised if it (and GM as we know it) are still here by 2012.
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Avinash machado 11:28AM (10/28/2008)
If the Pontiac brand is culled, they could rebadge the G8 as the Chevy Caprice. The GXP model could be badged the Caprice SS.
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