SEMA 2008: Pontiac G8 GXP Street Concept gets rave reviews on show floor
Click above for high-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 Street Concept
We couldn't help but listen to the comments of other onlookers as we closely inspected the G8 GXP Street Concept in the G8 booth. Every reaction was overwhelmingly positive, from the overall design to the motor. After all, what's not to like? For starters, the standard 6.2L V8 has been replaced with an LSX454 crate motor that uses the LSX Bowtie block, six-bolt LSX cylinder heads and a forged rotating assembly. In total, the 7.4L V8 pushes out a massive 638 horsepower and 600 lb-ft torque that's directed through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The exterior gets a makeover with new front and rear fascias, rocker panels, custom upper and lower grilles and black chrome trim. Inside, the G8 GXP Street Concept also gets custom leather trimmed seats, a new gauge cluster and more black chrome. Yeah, it's basically a four-door ZR1. You can look at all the details of the car in the gallery of live high-res photos below.
PRESS RELEASE
G8 GXP Street concept
Both the Pontiac G8 GXP and the LSX454 crate engine from GM Performance Parts are new this fall. GM engineers figured there was no better way to highlight them than combining them in an intimidating street machine.
In factory form, the G8 GXP features a 6.2L (376-cu.-in.) V-8 rated at 415 horsepower (309 kW) and 415 lb.-ft. of torque (562 Nm), but the new LSX454 (part number 19166972) delivers 7.4 liters of unadulterated grunt. It cranks out 638 horsepower (476 kW) and 600 lb.-ft. of torque (813 Nm). The engine uses the LSX Bowtie cylinder block, new six-bolt LSX cylinder heads and an all-forged rotating assembly. Backing the LSX454 is the GXP's Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission.
Handling and stopping performance are enhanced with a lowered ride height, stiffer springs and a disc brake package borrowed from the Cadillac CTS-V. The calipers are painted red and feature CNC-milled GXP logos; they're visible through a set of customer 20-inch aluminum wheels with a sinister black chrome finish. They're mounted on performance rubber.
The exterior of the silver G8 GXP Street concept wears custom front and rear fascias and new rocker panels that give it a more aggressive appearance. The front fascia features unique upper and lower grilles, while the rear fascia incorporates a racing-style diffuser. All of the exterior bright trim has a black chrome finish. There's also a performance exhaust system with custom-cut aluminum tips exiting through the rear fascia.
Inside are custom, leather-trimmed seats with "GXP" embroidered on the headrests. There's also a new gauge cluster with unique graphics and the silver-finish factory trim has a new, black-chrome, metallic look.
Overall, the G8 GXP Street concept can be summed up with one word: menacing. And with 638 horsepower on tap, it has got the muscle to back up the attitude.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
LoneWolf 11:06AM (11/05/2008)
Would be a bit better if the packed a 455 under the hood of a Pontiac ;)
I like it. It looks good, no TFTs in it, and serious power.
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Torrent 11:08AM (11/05/2008)
idk why, but over the weekend, that grille has grown on me.
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s13hybrid 1:37PM (11/05/2008)
You better go see a doctor about that. It may be a tumor.
BoxerFanatic 11:09AM (11/05/2008)
Wow.
Can you say OVERKILL?
It is nice, don't get me wrong... but this shows what GM is capable of, why not actually try aggressively selling a few of the actual cars on the lots. A stick shift might not hurt, rather than more horsepower than two tires can handle on the "street."
And the front end is not an improvement. the "nostrils", or "kidneys", or whatever people call them, went from a tad too big on the production car, to FAR too small on this thing.
They should come down to the horizontal line molded into the bumper cover just under each headlight. Can pontiac just not see proportion? Between this and the G6 GXP, they cannot get the size right at all.
The gaping maw underneath that is a bit odd, too. The Holden HSV bumper covers, with PROPERLY sized pontiac grilles would have been fine.
But all they really need is the revised gauges, and a 6MT in the G8 GT, or a VERY price competitive G8 GXP on the pontiac lots, and a lot of advertising. Maybe then a non-enthusiast might actually hear about this car. Enthusiasts know the car inside and out by now, but hardly anyone else knows it even exists.
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CB 11:21AM (11/05/2008)
I really like the G8 and this one is just sick. If they made an awd one or I could afford a summer car, I would have one in my driveway. I'd get that body kit and wheels with just the standard G8 GT motor.
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JDMlover 11:37AM (11/05/2008)
I like the fact it has four doors and is powerful and fast.....but that's it.
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RamblinReck89 11:42AM (11/05/2008)
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. But wait, it's got an AUTO? You're kidding me, right?
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Red 12:45PM (11/05/2008)
I love a good manual transmission as much as the next guy, but I'm pretty sure the CTS-V that ran the 'Ring pretty much squashed this whole manual vs. auto bit...
JDMlover 12:56PM (11/05/2008)
+5 @ RED
RamblinReck89 12:00AM (11/06/2008)
Red, next thing I know, you're going to tell me that a mouth's a mouth.
ph00ny 11:47AM (11/05/2008)
It's a SEMA car not a production vehicle. Not sure why everyone is so angsty about a car that's not going to be sold on the lot
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jg 12:08PM (11/05/2008)
Too many doors.
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Lee 1:09PM (11/05/2008)
Buy a Corvette.
jg 10:13PM (11/05/2008)
But then I'd have no backseat.
NightmareMX6 1:17PM (11/05/2008)
Wow over kill is right. 7.4L that is massive. But WHY did they have to make it auto?!? It would be nice if they made a coupe of the G8 and had manuals for all models. IIRC the Holden has manuals for all trims.
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montoym 4:33AM (11/06/2008)
Neither of those options would cause it to sell much more.
Manuals don't sell well, especially in larger cars and coupes don't tend to sell well either, especially in larger cars.
Name me a couple coupes that are the size of the G8 and also a couple larger cars available with a stick. I bet the sum total you could count on one hand. That tells me that they are not big sellers. If car companies saw sales there, they would build them. The only ones I can think of off-hand come from BMW and M-B.
It is unfortunate, as I wouldn't mind seeing both available, but I just don't see it happening.
TigerMil 2:02PM (11/05/2008)
Love it...makes way more sense than a blown small block Chevy in a ZR-1. Lots less expensive too.
Now, if GM had only put the LSX454 (or better yet a 502 aluminum big block) into the ZR-1.
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HotRodzNKustoms 4:52PM (11/05/2008)
The blown small block barely fits. So forget about a big block! haha
mikemaj82 2:58PM (11/05/2008)
You guys wouldn't even be able to handle this car if it came in a stick lol. The auto can shift much better and faster than any human can...especially with this much power on tap.
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Mark 5:39PM (11/05/2008)
"Yeah, it's basically a four-door ZR1."
*cleans pants*
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