Autoblog

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We told you pretty much all you needed to know about Saab's new 9-7x Aero when The General dropped the big news last week. With its 390-horse LS2 V8, the SUV has some giddyup awaiting the commands of your right foot, and the presence of the Saab-ified interior removes any doubt that this is easily the nicest Trailblazer SS ever. Who says badge engineering's all bad? GM's gone and released a whole bunch of new photos of the Saab's performance SUV, and you can scope 'em out in the attached gallery.

[Source: GM]

click on the above image for a bunch of high-res shots showing the new Pontiac G8

The last decade has been difficult for General Motors enthusiasts who desired an affordable V8 RWD sedan (we love the V-series Cadillacs, but alas, they're not exactly budget rides). With the introduction of the Pontiac G8, however, all is forgiven, for this muscular four-door appears poised to offer a blend of attitude and sophistication appropriate for the brand that claims to build excitement.

This Poncho is based upon GM's new Zeta platform, and the base model offers up a 261-hp, DOHC 3.6L V6. GT models get the 362-hp, L98 OHV 6.0L V8 with Displacement on Demand. No bonus points will be awarded for correctly guessing which we'd pick. The V6 will come with a five-speed slushbox, while the V8 will initially be backed with GM's new 6L80 six-speed auto, and a row-your-own manual with a half-dozen ratios will follow at a yet-undetermined later date. Naturally, the GT gets a bigger wheel/tire package and larger brakes, and a sport package will be offered for either engine type. Under the skin lies a McPherson strut suspension arrangement in the front and multi-link in the rear, with the full array of adjustments available at each corner.

Elements of the show car that won't make it to production include the big brakes, lowered ride height, 20" wheels, and custom interior trim. Note the new badge design; what we're seeing here is a concept version of a new Pontiac logo that eschews the traditional red coloration for a metallic sheen.

Click on the photo above for a gallery of Pontiac G8 live photos and studio shots! Also, check out the exclusive VIDEO of the G8 and Bob Lutz introducing the new rear-wheel drive sedan after the jump.

Click to enlarge

What choices does the dedicated GM "car guy" have when he wants to drive something that has all-around performance, is a rarity on the road and isn't a Corvette or Cadillac? Hopefully someone at The General has the insight to see that such a vehicle is already being produced and well within our reach.

Yesterday at the Sydney Auto Show, Holden's HSV group (Holden Special Vehicles) unveiled the HSV Grange saloon, yet another addition of its new E-Series family. Based on the new full-sized Caprice and aiming to join the ranks of the BMW's M, Mercedes' AMG, and Audi's S division offerings, the HSV Grange is designed to not just get into the fight, but to be the last one standing

The car looks great from any angle, can accommodate 5 adults comfortably, and should be able to hang with the best in straight-line acceleration and cornering. Power comes from a GM-sourced 6.0-liter LS2 V8 making 412 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque and all of it is channeled through GM's new 6-speed sequentially-shifted automatic transmission.

This is a car that could help provide GM entry into the exclusive club dominated by the German big boys. With the economy booming and demand for high-end products greater than ever, having this vehicle join the upcoming Pontiac Grand Prix (another Holden-sourced product) could help lure the luxury performance enthusiast back into GM showrooms.

Well, if the price is right, that is. You see, the cost for the new HSV Grange in Australia? Roughly $100,000 AUD, which works out to around $76,000 USD. That kind of number could be a tough sell here.

Thanks to Ben for the tip!

(Press release, add'l photos after the jump)

[Sources: drive.com.au, GM Holden, HSV]

General Motors' announcement last week to build the Camaro and other rear-wheel-drive product at its soon-revamped Oshawa facility is a perfect ignition source for all sorts of RWD product rumors, so let's get things started with talk about the Pontiac G8. The cancellation of the Bonneville has left the Poncho brand without a full-size vehicle, and the end of the GTO's run means that a combination of RWD and a V8 can no longer be found at a Pontiac dealer. So much for being the "excitement" division, huh?

Well, that may quickly change, as Pontiac wants to build a full-size RWD vehicle on the Camaro's Zeta platform. This would provide a flagship vehicle for the faltering brand, and would likely be the sportiest RWD GM sedan this side of Cadillac's V-series (Buick and Chevrolet are also likely to be receiving Zeta-based four-doors). Such a vehicle would likely follow the Camaro's showroom appearance in late 2008.

To us, this seems like a no-brainer. SUV buyers seem to be looking to migrate to a car without giving up much in the way of size or performance, and of course vehicles like the Chrysler 300C are doing well because of this market trend. Such a vehicle would give GM a way to flex its V8 powertrain prowess, would help Pontiac live up to its billing, and should be a strong contender in that oh-so-densely-packed $35-40K near-luxury segment.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

Chrysler picked a pleasant midsummer afternoon on Tuesday to show off its upcoming Challenger pony car to the media, but the party was briefly interrupted by the appearance of its soon-to-be showroom rival. The boys from Chevrolet picked this moment to roll through with a car transporter carrying its Camaro concept, which was on its way towards a media event of its own.

Jason Vines, Chrysler's VP of communications, dismissed the "lameness" of what he claimed was a "wuss" stunt, and pointed out that his company's muscle car didn't need to be brought to the event on a trailer. The Camaro is very much drivable, as we know, so maybe the best way to handle this little squabble would be for each automaker to stop jawing and head over to Milan Dragway to settle the dispute like real men. We'd pay extra to see the PR guys take the wheel and line 'em up; that'd be some quality entertainment.

[Source: Detroit News]

If your slow-ass pickup truck is making you late for work, perhaps Holden's HSV tuner division can offer a solution in the form of the Maloo R8 Ute. With 400 HP courtesy of a General Motors GenIV LS2 small-block V8, the almost-a-truck ran a two-way average of 168.66 MPH on a 0.6-mile course, in compliance with guidelines established by the Guinness Book of World Records. This beats the 154.58 MPH record previously established by the Dodge Ram SRT10. Yes, it is fair to call into question the utility of either vehicle, but we wouldn't suggest challenging either vehicle to a race.

The record was set as part of Mobil's "Drive Around Australia" promotion, where a Maloo R8 Ute was driven for 25,000 miles without an oil change to demonstrate the company's Mobil1 synthetic product.

[Source: Car.co.nz]

Call it what you will - "Blue Devil", "Corvette SS", or just "#%$&ing fast" - but even though we don't yet know the moniker of the upcoming ÜberVette, a clearer picture is being painted of the 650-hp supercharged lump that should propel it past most of the supercar elite. A sharp-eyed and well-connected member of the Digital Corvettes forum managed to have a camera in the right place at the right time, and grabbed three shots of the blown GenIV V8 that is said to carry the SPID designation of LS9.

Most notable is the blower setup, which puts the compressor down low in the valley, with the blower drive snout sneaking past the front-mounted throttle body. Air flows upwards through an air-to-water intercooler (note the yellow caps on the coolant fittings at the rear of the IC), and then drops straight down into the intake ports. The arrangement is similar to that of Cadillac's supercharged Northstar, but this engine appears to be significantly more compact despite providing 40% more output. There's also a bit of bling in the form of valve covers and a intercooler housing formed from polished aluminum, which is certainly more fitting to a $100K vehicle than the usual plastic or stamped steel.

Speaking of GM's luxury brand, rumor has it that a lower-output version of this engine will make its way into the Escalade. That would seem to contradict Caddy's claim that there will be no V-series SUVs.

Is it too early to start wondering when this will be available as a crate motor?

[Source: DigitalCorvettes]