REPORT: Pontiac G8 Sedan, Wagon and Ute to be sold... in Australia
by Alex Nunez on Aug 19th 2009 at 8:59AM 
The ill-fated Pontiac G8 ST - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's sad enough that the dizzying, platform-sharing, don't-call-it-rebadging upcoming product extravaganza General Motors unveiled to the Twitterati and media last week did not include the terms Zeta, Pontiac, G8, or any derivative thereof, but if a new report out of Australia is accurate, Holden is about to pour salt in America's wound – with an iodine chaser. Carsales.com.au claims to have an internal Holden memo stating that our friends Down Under will not only be able to purchase a Pontiac G8 SS-V sedan, but Wagon and Ute variants as well. (SS-V is the equivalent trim level to the U.S.-market G8 GT.)
These final Pontiac G8s will reportedly be offered through Holden dealerships (natch) as special limited-edition models. The reason? Simple: a final run of G8s made specifically for the Aussies will allow Holden to clean out some of the remaining Pontiac G8 part stock it currently has sitting around with nowhere to go. Dealer sources told Carsales.com.au that they expect the total run to be in the neighborhood of 1,500 cars, with the breakdown split fairly evenly among the three body styles.
Pontiac G8: the car that didn't deserve to die, that no one wants to see die, and that, so far, refuses to die quietly. Thanks to Stephen for the tip.
Gallery: 2010 Pontiac G8 ST
[Source: Carsales.com.au]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Chuck Noris 9:07AM (8/19/2009)
And how are they selling LHD cars to the RHD market?
Or are they just using up the last of the badges and front fascias?
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Alex Nunez 9:30AM (8/19/2009)
It's going to be a badge/fascia deal for sure. So easy for them to do.
Affalterbach 9:18AM (8/19/2009)
Australian law demands that all vehicles sold be RHD, so I'm not sure what exactly is happening.
Chuck Noris 9:37AM (8/19/2009)
Just thought the article should have pointed that out more. Its more about using up a warehouse full of G8 bumpers and hoods than anything.
Bloke 9:53AM (8/19/2009)
"And how are they selling LHD cars to the RHD market?"
Australia is the only RHD country which demands that only RHD vehicles be used on public highways. In all others, LHD cars can be legally sold and driven, although it can affect insurance premiums and almost always accelerates depreciation rates.
Timboj 10:58AM (8/19/2009)
Guys, guys. They're manufactured as RHD cars. That's what a Commodore is. You guys were getting the special, LHDs for the G8s manufactured here and then shipped over to the States.
Chuck Noris 11:02AM (8/19/2009)
@Timboj I realize that. I was at the plant in Elizabeth, the port in Adelaide, and drove some HSV cars at the proving grounds in Lang Lang.
My beef with the article was that they wrote it like the left over G8's will be sold locally - which is not really true. Its just the bumpers/hoods and the pontiac badges will be applied to some Commodores so they don't have to junk the built up stock.
And I've been in a LHD Buick (China) in Melbourne, of course it had a "LHD Test Vehicle" sticker on the back bumper.
Bloke 11:22AM (8/19/2009)
"My beef with the article was that they wrote it like the left over G8's will be sold locally - which is not really true. Its just the bumpers/hoods and the pontiac badges will be applied to some Commodores so they don't have to junk the built up stock."
Which is all the G8 ever was. So I don't see your "beef".
Timboj 2:41PM (8/19/2009)
Yeah, they didn't really go into enough detail, but open to interpretation, I spose.
Rboyett 9:12AM (8/19/2009)
GM is totally stupid for letting this car die. There is very little cost involved in selling this car as a Chevy and the demand is there.
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Big Mola 9:23AM (8/19/2009)
If all the G8 lovers on the internet spoke with their pockets in 2008 instead of their keyboards, then the G8 would probably have lived on. As it is, the G8 is selling only at fire sale prices.
Aprime 9:24AM (8/19/2009)
Where's your market study to back up your claim, holmes?
'Pretty sure GM already had theirs, and it was called pathetic sales results.
I'm failing to see how selling that same car as a Chevy would change anything, aside for an increase in fleet sales (police).
Aprime 9:26AM (8/19/2009)
Fire sale prices? You sure? Because there are already a couple on the used market over here, and they barely depreciated. I'm talking about 30-40K+ here, which is about what they retail for. :| The base V6 presently retails for 24K excluding delivery and taxes.
I guess it became desirable?
Philthy 9:28AM (8/19/2009)
And round and round we go. This is where I point out the G8's actual sales are more indicative of wearing a badge on its way to the morgue, no marketing and less than a year on sale than of the actual product, which has a lot of appeal if marketed right.
Ok, now your turn to ignore all this and say people should have voted with their wallets.
Noidor 9:48AM (8/19/2009)
Guys it's yet another example where lack of proper advertising contributed to weak sales, but don't forget we also went through period of $4 gallon prices, shrinking economy from 12/07 which is still getting worse (losing jobs)
This is not a case of consumers not wanting to pay the money, but simply unable to. You look at segment of $35k for sedans, and everything went down drastically, all brands. Only thing that held up decent was the non-sedan luxury market...crossovers.
Solution? Keep G8 in US even in low numbers, but keep it. It's such a brilliant car, so full of character, and a tremendous image booster for GM in eyes of those who prefer these sorts of cars. Even mentioning M5 and G8 in same breath is already a big deal.
Aprime 10:08AM (8/19/2009)
Well, think of it this way - they're refusing to keep the import program going because it's unprofitable (I which I could underline this 20 times, it may have been bailed out and all but it's STILL a business) - so instead they're using the extra parts they had to make money with it. I'm personally happier with them wanting to bring in cash to pay us back.
Not THAT Matt 11:57AM (8/19/2009)
My friend's 09 G8 GT, black exterior with black leather and red accents is a beautiful car. Incredible acceleration, unstoppable power, well-appointed interior and a gorgeous car.
Only thing that bugs me is the huge, non-navigation screen.
Why?!
Jamie M 3:57PM (8/19/2009)
"Only thing that bugs me is the huge, non-navigation screen
Why?!"
The position/angle of the screen does not meet US regulatory requirements. There are aftermarket components that allow the screen to be used to play video, show a feed form a backup camera, and add GPS.
CB 9:18AM (8/19/2009)
Does Pontiac have any history in Australia?
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Timboj 11:01AM (8/19/2009)
Nope. We're aware enough of the brand and it'd be such a niche that enthusiasts will probably go for it, though.